Salacan was among the batch 8 building and fixing computer class graduates last year.
He took the course through the free livelihood training program of the Philippine Consulate General in collaboration with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The other graduates were Edihuel C. Necesito, Johnny C. Beating, Joel D. Fernandez, Marlon E. Regaton, Edgar A. Caras, Manolita Z. Basa, James R. Abuy and Leonita C. Tumaquip.
Mar Masilungan, volunteer instructor of the computer class at the Filipino Workers Resource Center, said all the graduates took a review class to prepare them for the Competence in Software Technology or CST examination.
“We stayed and guided them for almost six months during the reviews every Friday and Saturday night,” he said.
As a certified test administrator for the Electronics Technician Association based in Indiana, Masilungan said he can conduct an examination that allows a computer class graduate to become a certified computer technician.
The group of Salacan joins the 33 other computer technician who got certified last year. These comprised batches 1 to 7 of the fixing and building computer course.
“I would like to say that over all, the Philippine Consulate General, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are the main reasons why there so many successes in the computer literacy program,” he said.
Consul General Medardo “Dary” Macaraig said his office has always been supportive of efforts to upgrade the skills of Filipino workers.
He said the consulate, through POLO-OWWA, has always offered skills upgrading and livelihood courses to Filipino workers.
“The success of the graduates of the building and fixing computers course in passing the certification examination for computer technicians is proof of the skill and right attitude of Filipino workers here on Saipan. I understand that not everyone, even from the rest of the U.S., who takes the examination passes it. It would take a great deal of understanding and logic for examinees to hurdle the questions,” he said.
He congratulated the newly certified computer technicians and Masilungan for their accomplishments.
Masilungan said the graduates had to pass the Basic Computer Operation 1 and 2 courses before qualifying for the building and fixing course.
Once they completed this course, they underwent training with the Saipan Building and Fixing Computer Users Group, which Masilingan organized, in preparation for the CST examination.
Zaldy Quebral, the current president of the Users Group, handled mostly of the review.
When they were ready, Masilungan said he received the examination papers by mail from the U.S. and once they were answered, they were sent back to the Electronics Technician Association.
The examination fee is $75 and nonrefundable. It should be paid through credit card, Masilungan said.
