Amongst 866 successful examinees, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 7 Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Scholar Dexter Perral, bagged the fourth place in the recent Architect National Licensure Examination held on Jan. 29 and 31, 2016.
Dexter is a graduate of Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) with Bachelors Degree in Architecture last March 2015. For 5 years, he has been a consistent OWWA EDSP Scholar who diligently complies all requirements and actively participates in OWWA 7’s activities. To note, he was also the President of OWWA 7 EDSP Scholars last School Year 2013-2014.
EDSP is a scholarship grant of OWWA given to qualified dependents of active OWWA members who intend to pursue a 4-5 year baccalaureate course in any preferred college or university with a financial assistance of Ph60,000.00 per school year.
“I cannot be where I am today without OWWA, who gave hardworking OFWs different benefits and opportunities that they are very grateful for! Thank you so much OWWA,” Dexter said.
“He is a serious and responsible scholar and son. He complies with all the requirements on time and enthusiastically participates in our activities. As the in-charge of EDSP, I’m very proud of him on what he has achieved,” OWWA EDSP In-Charge Romyl Cabillo said.
The newly licensed Architect is the youngest son of Mr. Mansueto Perral and Mrs. Rosalia Perral, both Registered Medical Technologists in King Fahad Hospital, Albaha, Saudi Arabia. His father, Mansueto was an OFW for 30 years upon his retirement last Sept. 2014 while Dexter’s mother, Rosalia, was an OFW for 27 years when she retired last December 2015.
OFW Rosalia Perral and OFW Mansueto Perral in Saudi Arabia
At the very moment when Dexter’s family saw his name on the list of the top 10 successful examinees, they were all overjoyed that Dexter himself was brought to tears.
“I could not believe what I just read, my hands were shaking and tears started falling on my cheeks, people around me started cheering, and I became even more grateful, extremely happy and above satisfied with the extra blessing that God has given me!,” he exclaimed.
In an interview, Mansueto made mention that it was their ambition to see their children become successful that has strongly driven them to work hard abroad. And with what Dexter has attained, all their sacrifices indeed paid off.
“We want to give them the best education that’s why we went overseas for their tuition… so that in the future, they would get a noble profession,” Mansueto said further.
As of this writing, Dexter is planning to take up Master’s Degree in Architecture while doing freelance projects. With a grateful heart, Dexter is beyond blessed for what he has, not just of the rank but also the family he has found in OWWA.
“The OWWA scholarship’s main purpose was just to sponsor financially the tuition fees of their scholars, but actually it did more than that, OWWA gave me friends through my co-scholars, gave me advices during times of struggles in school matters, and most especially OWWA gave me another family, where every scholar is not only encouraged but as well as being loved,” he mentioned.