About Me
Hi, my name is Joel Magsisi and I am a Civil Engineer by profession. I currently work as a Project Manager managing various projects for an Architectural and Design Firm in Pasay City. I have a loving wife and an adorable son for whom I dedicate and get inspiration for all my works.
Before I came to this…
Like most people who dreamed of making it big, I started out as a kid with a big dream of achieving my goals and also goals of my poor parents (then) – a hardworking carpenter father and a loving housewife mother. They had great dreams for me of being a successful man so they did the best they can to provide me with my most valued education. As many of a Filipino family, I too was a son to an OFW father; my father had to sacrifice a long time away from his beloved family to work hard in order to provide what most of us Filipinos thought would alleviate us from poverty – a college education. So to make the long story short, with all the sacrifices, I finished my college and got my professional license.
Soon after that, my father decided to retire and stay in the country for good. It was now time for me to provide for my family.
Before I decided to practice my profession…
As I was in a review course for my licensure exams, I came across an advertisement from the Philippine Air Force inviting applicants to become “Aviation Cadets” – civilians who have completed at least 4 years college education are eligible to apply to be trained as regular officers and at the same time have the opportunity to study in the Philippine Air Force Flying School to become an Air Force Pilot. I was excited to file my application there and then - (it was my dream before to enter the PMA after I graduated in high school but father did not approve). I filed my applications and passed the written and physical exams in the Air Force while attending my review classes for the Civil Engineer licensure exams. Shortly after that, I took my licensure exams. As the results of the exams reached me informing me that I have passed with fairly good ratings, similar news reached me telling me that I was schedule for a final interview before the “Board of Officers” to qualify for the “Aviation Cadet Program.”Again to cut the story short, I got to the training but circumstances developed that prevented me from finishing the training course. I was hospitalized and almost died. But by the Lord blessings, I fully recovered and got back to my old self again. Unfortunately, I was never given the chance to go back to finish my training. I was let down and was told that I have to go back to civilian life. There’s no use crying over spilled milk, so I decided to pick myself up and start to practice what my parents had hope for me – to become a successful engineer.
The shock of my life…
So there I was, armed with my proud college degree and license, confident to find a high paying job, I started to look for job opportunities in my field. But to my biggest shock, even with my good scholastic records and good ratings in the licensure exams, I found it hard to find a job in my field that offer what I expected and what my parents had also expected.
You see, their conception and what they had drilled in my head was get my college degree and all else will smoothly follow. I would have a high paying job with my least effort. Companies would even seek after me and offer me good benefits even a car just to join them. At least that’s what my parents knew, but the harsh reality taught me otherwise.
Most of the companies I applied for require a minimum length of experience and others that accept fresh graduates but offer modest even below minimum salary at that time. My pride then won’t let me accept such offers. There even got a time when I accidentally did apply for a job not related to my profession for a promise of a high pay. But that was not what I was looking for, I finished my course because I love what my father do, I inherited the passions for building and constructing houses and structures. So I decided to set aside my pride and accept a modest paying job in the construction industry. I was determined to gain experience in the shortest time possible so that I can achieve the high salary my parents and I always expected.
My First JOB
The first job I got was as Project Engineer for a Construction Management company. My first project was a 7-Storey Commercial/Residential Building with Mezzanine and Roof Deck. My immediate superior was my Boss since it was not a large company, staffs were only composed of one engineer per project (those times, you can count our projects with the fingers in your hands), 2 office engineers and a secretary. I was the highest ranking authority in my project since my Boss only visits the project site during the weekly meetings. At first I was at a lost since I have no one to seek guidance from regarding the project. My Boss only told me very little about project management. He was satisfied with the idea that he had an engineer at the site monitoring and reporting to him, he was the one to decide/manage the project anyway (he thought). But I was not sold to that idea, my pride can’t take the idea of accepting a low pay even less the idea of being a good for nothing engineer, my pride surely won’t agree me with me.
So what I did was decide to learn in my own efforts, I didn’t need my Boss to tell me & educate me. I began to religiously read and study the plans and specifications of the project. I constantly read and study the “National Structural Code of the Philippines” and the “National Building Code” for every subject applicable in the current stage of the construction. I would occasionally ask my colleagues on other process & procedure of the company. I would also often ask the foreman and lead men, even some of the workers on the trick of the trades. Slowly I began to increase my knowledge on the concept and actuality of the construction. The knowledge I gain from the short period of time regarding construction of a structure was way more than what I learned from all my years in college. I have also proven that what most of my professors said regarding the subject was not applicable in reality. (since most of my college professors on the subject of construction themselves don’t do actual practice).
After a couple of months, I found myself presiding the weekly meetings which my Boss previously did. My main function then was to read and prepare the minutes of the meeting which my Boss presided, monitor and report the progress of different scope of works to my Boss of which he also gave the deadlines to. But after those months of studying and actual application, my Boss noticed my improvement, he would then entrust the meeting all to me. I would even challenge some of his recommendations because I had seen the actual results of his idea. He gave me his full confidence to handle the project by myself, of course I would still seek his advise on matters I had no experience yet. I was studying while earning that time although the earnings were not that significant. But what really matters is the value I was getting through my actual education on construction.
After my first project was completed, I was entrusted two more projects at the same time. My Boss gave me his full confidence to handle 2 projects simultaneously because he saw the results of my first project. Unfortunately, I did not facilitate the turn-over of the 2 projects because I would soon leave the company for reasons of irreconcilable difference between my Boss & I.
After I Left My First JOB
Soon after I left my first company, I was 24 then, an opportunity presented itself. A small renovation project was staring me at the face. I worked it out and closed the deal. I had enough confidence then to take on the challenge of being my Own Boss because you see it’s in my nature not to take orders from anyone.
I’m too proud; my ego wouldn’t let me take orders from someone whom I thought was inferior to my intellect. I thought (mostly of my Boss) that “you don’t deserve to be my boss because I’m smarter than you, but I have no choice since you have the position and I need my JOB.” That’s the way of thinking I had then.
Back to the project, everything was working fine (or so I thought). How could it not be, “I managed a construction of a 7 Storey Building from scratch to completion, how can I not manage this small renovation project,” I said to myself. (Mayabang talaga no?) Let’s cut the story short and move the latter part. Well to say the least, I didn’t complete the project (renovation). Not because I can’t but because the client wouldn’t let me.
With all the technical skills I had, I lack the more important skill – the skill to talk to people. When it comes to human behavior and relations, I was a big MORON. I always thought that if you can’t see it my way, well it’s your problem. Don’t get me wrong, I have a solid foundation of what is right and wrong and firmly believes in fair play. But what gets me in hot water is my temper, if I thought that you’re wrong, I’ll tell it to your face. I couldn’t care less; I need to establish my point.
I continued to be a Freelance Engineer. But when I had no projects, I would occasionally apply for a JOB in a company. I would get easily hired because of my credentials. My bosses liked me for my work habits but hated me because of my attitude (ill tempered). It continued like that for quite some time – jumping over projects and companies. You see, I didn’t care that much, I earn more than enough. I only had my parents to support aside from myself. I value my freedom then more than anything else.
Start of Change for Me
But things would change when I met my wife. Little adjustments and fine tuning in my life (and attitude) were beginning to take place especially when the news of a baby greeted me. I was excited, a great feeling I could not completely explain.
I was in Subic, Zambales then, working as Shipwright Engineer for Subic Shipyard – an affiliate of Keppel - Singapore. I didn’t know how I ended there but I knew I had to have a JOB then because of the forth coming baby. I needed money. I thought of all the sums of money from my previous projects that I threw away because I was too irresponsible. I thought to myself “Where are the projects when I badly needed them?”
Where are the times when I would earn 10k to 15k a week and just throw them away on good time and cheap whores? If I had known that this would happen there and then, maybe I should have known better. But as the saying goes - "you won't know the value of things until you have lost them."
The amount I was earning as a Shipwright Engineer was a little more than half compared to what I earn in Manila as a Project Engineer in construction. But somehow, we could still make ends meet. We could still find ways, but I was not satisfied with that kind of set up especially when the baby was soon coming. We needed to save for that time and with that earning, I couldn't comprehend how could it be possible. I again was compelled to go against my pride. The proud man was again forced to swallow his pride... Oh, the irony of life!
I decided to leave the shipyard without even filing a formal resignation. I went back to my previous Boss and asked to have my previous position in his company. I even asked him for a loan there and then. I didn't have to say a second word and he gladly accepted me back. I also negotiated to have a salary raise as I come back, which he also approved.
Where are the times when I would earn 10k to 15k a week and just throw them away on good time and cheap whores? If I had known that this would happen there and then, maybe I should have known better. But as the saying goes - "you won't know the value of things until you have lost them."
The amount I was earning as a Shipwright Engineer was a little more than half compared to what I earn in Manila as a Project Engineer in construction. But somehow, we could still make ends meet. We could still find ways, but I was not satisfied with that kind of set up especially when the baby was soon coming. We needed to save for that time and with that earning, I couldn't comprehend how could it be possible. I again was compelled to go against my pride. The proud man was again forced to swallow his pride... Oh, the irony of life!
I decided to leave the shipyard without even filing a formal resignation. I went back to my previous Boss and asked to have my previous position in his company. I even asked him for a loan there and then. I didn't have to say a second word and he gladly accepted me back. I also negotiated to have a salary raise as I come back, which he also approved.
Working to complete this....