Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) held a Career Talk for its mining scholars recently, the first of two sessions to be held in 2025.
The initiative in April aims to guide high school scholars in proceeding with their course programs in a timely manner.
Jhon-Art Tatel, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator of RTNMC, said the program was tailored for their Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) scholars held in Rio Tuba, as they wanted students to be confident in their choice of college program.
Tatel explained that in previous years, barangay LGUs would request scholarships for their students, which RTNMC has supported since the implementation of the SDMP.
However, monitoring data from earlier batches of scholars prompted the intervention of a career talk to help beneficiaries maintain their scholar status.
“We have a set of five speakers for them para ma-encourage sila, or [alam] yung kukunin nilang strand… Hindi yung saka pa lang sila magde-decide kapag pa-college na. Ang iba kasi kumukuha lang ng general strand during senior high, kasi undecided pa rin. Yun yung nakikita namin para sa aming mga scholars sa RTN, maka-decide sila ng tama at hindi masayang yung scholarship grant na meron sila na pinagkakaloob ng LGU at ng IP community sa tulong ng SDMP,” Tatel relayed.
The Career Talks event featured discussions on various course paths typically taken by some previous RTN scholarship graduates. These talks were delivered by different professionals from different fields and some of them were former SDMP scholarship recipients themselves.
Speakers included Engr. William Lagrada, who gave insights on engineering and STEM courses; Nurse Geneva Tirapan, the first indigenous nurse at RTN Foundation Inc. Hospital, who discussed the health profession and industry; Bobit Alihan, RTN employee and current barangay council member, who promoted entrepreneurship; Dr. Jergen Jel Cinco-Labaria, administrator of WPU-Quezon, who offered advice for those pursuing a career in academia; and Atty. Jenny Lou Tatel, a local CPA-Lawyer, who provided guidance for aspiring lawyers.
Tatel noted that RTNMC has produced a total of 478 graduates from its scholarship programs since launching SDMP-1 in 2004, during its joint venture with Coral Bay Nickel Corporation.
Since 2018, RTNMC alone has recorded 38 college graduates who benefited from its scholarship.
“Ito yung successfully na nag-graduate na scholars. Pero siyempre meron tayong hindi nakapag-continue. Isa sa mga rules kasi namin, kailangan walang asawa or anak. Ito ang madalas na dahilan kung bakit nawawala ang kanilang scholarship grant maliban sa failing grades. Karamihan sa IP communities namin, yung scholarship grant during planning ay nakalaan sa high school, kasi maka-graduate ng high school is already a success to them. Bihira yung nagko-continue to college, pero naglalaan pa rin sila ng pondo para sa mga gustong mag-college. Yung iba, decided na na mag-asawa after high school, yung iba naman college-level na na nag-a-asawa (both IP and Non-IP scholars). Pero sa aming datos, marami-rami na rin kaming napagtapos sa kolehiyo na miyembro ng IP communities ” he said.
Tatel stated that most of the graduates completed education degrees, with a particular focus on science teaching.
This aligns with the fact that many RTNMC scholars grew up in or around the company’s scientific community. He added that the second-most popular field among scholars is engineering.
Other plans for the Career Talks include check-in sessions for 3rd and 4th-year college scholars to prepare them for post-graduation employment.
“Ang goal doon is magkaroon sila ng decent work after ng nilang makapagtapos. Nagkakaroon kami ng monitoring, at nakikita namin na bibihira ang nagkakaroon agad ng trabaho after graduation, siyempre ng maayos at permanent work,” Tatel said.
He added that graduating scholars will also be trained in resume writing, interview skills, and effective communication.
The department aims to continue the Career Talks as a bi-annual activity to reach a larger pool of future scholars.
