Ang pangarap ni Robert Christian Flores Patani, 22, tubong Pan-ay, Capiz ay maging certified public accountant.
Kuwento niya nang makausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) noong October 15, 2022, sa pamamagitan ng Facebook Messenger, “Back then, I was certain about my career plan, and felt that I already had perfectly planned out my college life.”
Pero nagtapos siya ng Bachelor of Science in Fisheries sa University of the Philippines Visayas noong July 21, 2022 bilang cum laude.
Tumanggap din siya ng Academic Excellence Award mula sa Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO).
Top 7 din si Robert sa October 2022 Licensure Examination for Fisheries Professionals.
May rating siya na 84. 50 percent.
Aniya, “Fisheries was never part of my plan.
“I never heard of the course, and given na its a hardcore science degree, it was never an option since I was aiming for the field of business.”
At kung paano siya napapunta sa fisheries, ani Robert, “Iba pala ang plan ni Lord for me.”
NABIGONG MAKAPAG-ENROLL SA DREAM COURSE
Dahil pangarap niyang maging Certified Public Accountant o CPA, sa senior high school ay accounting ang kinuha ni Robert na strand.
“By the grace of God, I graduated with Highest Honors.
“When I applied for UPCAT, I was pushed by my parents and grandparents to include BS in Fisheries as my primary choice of degree.
“Mag-shift na lang daw ako after a sem or a year sa accountancy.”
Hindi niya sinunod ang payo. Accountancy pa rin ang inilagay niyang first choice of degree, at kasunod lang ang fisheries.
Nang lumabas ang UPCAT, hindi siya nag-qualify sa accountancy, at sa halip ay sa fisheries.
“It was kind of a bittersweet moment for me kasi I got accepted to my dream school, the most prestigious university in the nation. However, I did not qualify for my dream course.”
Ang plano sana niya ay i-give up ang kanyang slot sa UP.
“I was even selfishly trying to convince my parents na mag-pursue na lang ako ng accountancy from a private university para tuluy-tuloy na.”
Sinabi ng kanyang parents na irerespeto at susuportahan ng mga ito ang desisyon niyang mag-aral sa private university.
“Which we all know na expensive talaga ang pag-aaral. But it would be as if I was turning a blind eye sa financial situation namin, which wasn’t good at that moment talaga.
“They were telling me na kakayanin nila yung tuition sa private university, but I also knew na hindi yun magiging madali sa kanila, given na lahat kaming magkakapatid ay nag-aaral.”
Eventually, itinuloy niya ang fisheries.
“With hope and prayers na maka-shift nga after a year sa dream course ko.”
Yun nga lang, “Hindi umabot ang first year General Weighted Average [GWA] ko sa minimum grade requirement for shifting to BSA. [Bachelor of Science Accountancy].”
Kahit hindi kataasan ang grades niya, nag-apply siya sa DA-Biotech Scholarship.
“I had my interview for that scholarship, and I honestly told the panelists about the situation of my family. Yung plans ko of shifting to BSA.
“Despite my 2+ na first year, first sem GWA, which was really not good enough to qualify for the scholarship, they still encouraged me to stay sa BSF and offered me the scholarship.”
Aminado siya na nalungkot nang hindi nakapag-shift sa kanyang dream course.
Pero happy na rin siya dahil masaya ang kanyang parents scholarship.
“I was able to pay for my dormitory and boarding house rent, help my parents in paying bills in our home during the remote learning, and buy my personal and school needs.
“I was able to finish my thesis covered by the scholarship and many more. Pati pagpapaayos sa bahay, nakatulong yung scholarship.”
MINAHAL NA ANG FISHERIES COURSE
Fast forward, sa nakalipas ng apat na taon, ani Robert ay marami nang nangyari.
“From being a frustrated accountancy student, I actually embraced my degree. I fell in love with it, kasi it’s an uncommon degree to most Filipinos, despite being an archipelagic country.
“Minahal ko ang kurso ko, dahil na-realize ko na our country needs more fisheries professionals who would help bolster the fisheries industry and its primary stakeholder, the fisherfolks.
“Our country needs more frontliners in achieving food security for Filipinos, contributing to rational and sustainable conservation and management of our aquatic resources, and most importantly, advocating for the rights and welfare of the marginalized fisherfolks of the country.”
HINDI INAKALANG MAGIGING TOPNOTCHER
Naging malaking challenge kay Robert ang lack of time nang maghanda siya para sa board exam.
“Two months preparation lang po talaga.
“It really was a struggle to condition myself to study again, kasi I felt like I was still on a break after just having graduated.
“But thank God, naka-develop ako ng study pattern, where I attend to my responsibilities in the morning and in the evening, while studying every afternoon.”
Nagkasakit din siya ilang araw bago ang board exam.
At nasira ang scientific calculator 12 hours bago ang pagsusulit.
Buti na lang at may nagpahiram sa kanya.
Aminado rin siyang nahirapan sa exam, pero mayroon siyang sariling technique na ginamit.
“My strategy during the exam was to make sure na meron akong at least 75 ‘sure-na-correct’ items per subject.”
Gayunpaman, naroon pa rin ang takot niya na baka hindi siya makapasa.
Pag-amin pa niya, nangarap siya na maging topnotcher.
“Given na yung sa previous batches, marami sa kanila ang naging topnotchers. They were really inspiring.
“Pero after my sickness and the incident with my scientific calculator, I really did not expect anymore. Kasi napakahirap din po talaga ng exam.”
Nang lumabas ang resulta ay una niyang tiningnan ang list of passers.
“When I saw my name sa complete list, I immediately ran to my parents and we were immensely overjoyed and jumping all over the place.”
Sa group chat na niya nalaman na Top 7 siya.
“My friends were congratulating me. When I checked again the list of Top 10, I saw my name, and grabe po talaga yung sigawan namin sa bahay, especially my mom!
“We were crying and jumping, even yung mga tita and grandparents ko. And we couldn’t believe ourselves po talaga na napabilang ako.”
Inialay ni Robert ang tagumpay una sa Diyos, sa kanyang parents, mga kapatid at lahat ng kaanak, pati na rin sa mga kaibigan sa school at grupong kinabibilangan niya.
Hindi pa niya tiyak sa ngayon ang kanyang career plan.
“All I know is that the overarching mission is to pay it forward—to help the marginalized fisherfolks, to share with others who aspire to become fisheries professionals and frontliners in attaining food security and to bolster the fisheries sector of the country.
“Para sa Diyos, sa bayan at sa sektor ng pangisdaan.”