The Philippines Society of Plumbing Engineers, Inc. (PSPE) in compliance with its mandate of corporate social responsibility and in response to national leadership’s call for an all out effort to prime up the crisis economy have conducted its outreach Training and Seminar for Plumbers (TESDA National Competency II) at Gapan City, Nueva Ecija from March 6 to April 18, 2009 at the Social Hall of Virgin Divina Pastora National Shrine.

The program is in partnership with MEDWEST Technical Institute thru the Major Sponsorship of THE FLOCK OF DIVINA PASTORA FOUNDATION, INC. (FDPF), Engr. Ronnie Yap and Mrs. Socorro Yap, together with the officers and elders of FDPF recruited the trainees coming from all walks of life and the different barangay's of Gapan City. Five (5) termer NAMPAP President and new PSPE Vice-President Abet Cabael headed the Specialist Trainors who included Engr. Arnold B. Ravago, Engr. Ignacio M. Aguito and Engr. Tony C. Padrinao. These trainors are all graduated of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) Assessment Methodology and Trainors Methodology AM/TM Course, a pre-requisite for the training and assessing of TESDA authorized courses.

They were ably assisted by the PSPE Secretariat headed by Administrative Manager Romy Collado and the MEDWEST Technical Institute (MTI) headed by its CEO-President, Engr. Lino Diamante. The training consisted of Ten (10) modules covering subjects in Plumbing History and legislation, Materials, Tools and Equipments, Plumbing Systems, Mathematics and actual installation of a one (1) unit Plumbing joints and fixtures among others. It took the trainees 282 hours to graduate including On-the-Job Training. Come April 10, 2009, the tripartite organization of PSPE, MTI and FDPF were all very busy preparing for the much awaited 4^th Commencement Exercises of Plumber’s Training/Seminar NCII. The graduation ceremonies is befitting of a regular college graduation complete with a baccalaureate mass at the National Shrine of Virgin Divina Pastora celebrated by no less than the Parish Priest, Monsignor Antonio Mangahas. The formal ceremonies begun with a processional march of graduates dressed in ‘toga” followed by the sponsoring organization and guest speaker. Mr. Cabael was opening speaker while MTI Ms. Julia Singson was Program moderator. Ms. Annaliza Neri presented the graduates while MTI-CEO-President Lino Diamante confirmed the same. Top five (5) of the graduating class included 1^st placer Ricky Baustista, 2^nd placer Jonard Gatbunton, 3^rd placer Umverto Paulo Yamsuan, 4^th placer, Renato Dichoso and  5th placer Victor Calanoc. Special awards presented to Sofronio Salaysay, Romina Ternida (Basic Competency), Rodolfo delos Santos, Miguel Parial (Common Competency), Frederick Sagusay, Reynaldo Guanio (Core Competency), and Victorino Muyot, Ruel Hipolito, Antonio Almogeno, Jr (Leadership).

Engr. Lino S. Diamante was very proud to say that the commencement exercise was a great success for it gather the best personalities and speakers in the Plumbing Profession who included the Guest of Honor and Speaker, Hon. Virgilio D. Simbulan who is the incumbent Chairman of the Board of Master Plumber BOMP-Professional Regulation Commission. Former BOMP-PRC Chairman, Engr. Fortunato H. Amosco, PSPE Past President, Engr. Alberto J. Azarcon, Jr., the representative of TESDA Cabanatuan and PWWA Regional Director completed the list of Guest Speaker.

Chairman Simbulan expounded on the legendary history of plumbing way back in the 6,000 B.C thru the years of the Roman Expire, the Greeks, to the modern age plumbing popularized by the English and the American. He focused his inspiring talk to the very importance of sanitation and the plumbing system and the best opportunity available to plumbers here and abroad. In closing, he extolled the graduates to be more pro active and apply their learning during the training in uplifting not only of their own economic standing but also their fellowmen. Both Engr. Amosco, Engr. Diamante and Mr. Cabael inspired the graduates by confirming the job matching capabilities of plumbers that could propel them to greater heights.

PSPE National Secretary, Engr. Antonio C. Padrinao, in his closing remarks likened the support extended by sponsoring FDPF and the partnership of MTI-PSPE to “Confucius” “give men a fish and he’ll live a day; Teach him how to fish and he’ll live forever”. The knowledge and expertise acquired by the trainees in this particular program will guarantee them job opportunities and brighter future.

To date, a similar program is being conducted by the PSPE in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy and the University of Sto. Tomas dubbed as “Escuela Taller”. This time, it is for the benefit of our brothers and sisters from BASECO Compound, Tondo Manila.

Truly, the Philippines Society of Plumbing Engineers (PSPE) is doing its best not only for the upliftment of the plumbing profession but for the common good as well of our poor fellowmen.