“Some were humbled. Some rose to the challenge. And some simply excelled.”
An alumnus of PSU had not only created a name in the elite group of ASEAN Engineers and ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineers (ACPE) but also left a legacy in being an inspiration to his fellow EE students, community and country.
From being one of the notable alumni of the Electrical Engineering program, Engr. Edgar B. Bernardino had yet attained another milestone. A graduate of PSU-Urdaneta in 1992, Bernardino reiterated how PSU contributed a big part in achieving his success.
“Thankul ako na mayroong PSU na pwedeng mag-aral ang mga mahihirap na tulad ko. During my time sa PSU, 10 pesos lang per unit noon kaya’t kung hindi dahil sa PSU, baka hindi ako nakatapos ng BSEE,” Bernardino recalled.
Ironic as it may sound, but according to Bernardino, poverty was the main reason behind his success for it became his guiding force that pushed him to continue dreaming and making that dream turn into reality. At a young age, Bernardino had to work for a living. This was his life as he grows. He experienced being a cleaner, tricycle driver, porter and farmer. With his eagerness to bail out of poverty, Bernardino never chose to stop and never felt tired and this made him to where he is today.
“Walang naging mahirap sa akin kasi kapag may ginusto akong makamit, nagagawa ko dahil naging madali nalang ito kumpara sa mga napagdaanan ko,” stressed Bernardino.
Bernardino became the first and so far the only Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE) as of to date in PSU after passing the Professional Electrical Engineer Licensure in 2010. He is also a registered “Grade A” Electrical Engineer at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning in the State of Qatar where he is currently a Senior Consultant Engineer of a British Company.
His mentor, Engr. Alicia Angelo, the EE Department Chair of PSU-Urdaneta admired the commitment and dedication of her former student.
“In behalf of the Engineering department, we are very proud and happy because somehow, we became part of his journey in harvesting the fruits of his labor,” attested Engr. Angelo.
Bernardino is a Senior Member and a Former President of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers – State of Qatar Chapter (IIEE-SQC). During his term, the chapter was awarded the 2013 Most Outstanding Chapter (Foreign Category) and 2013 Chapter Excellence Award (Platinum). He is also instrumental in the realization of a remarkable milestone for IIEE Middle East Chapters which is the holding of the “1st Middle East Regional Convention” in 2013 where he was the Overall Chairman.
In addition, he has more than 20 years of professional working experience in Electrical Engineering with various recognized construction companies, project management and design/consulting firms in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Republic of Palau and Qatar.