Free computer courses help Pinoys in UAE

MANILA, Philippines - Taking up free computer courses proved to be a great help for a batch of United Arab Emirates-based Filipinos. Online news site Khaleej Times reported Sunday the Filipinos availed of free courses on network essential, PC assembly and network administration. A Filipino computer club, in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, is among those offering these computer courses to help those who want to upgrade their skills. Of those who took up the courses, 15 have become Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) after spending 10 Fridays to study and train on network essentials, network administration and managing Windows 2003 Server with Danny Eramiz, a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), with a registration fee of only Dh220 (P2,866). Jose Carlo Rentar used to receive only Dh2,500 (P32,568) as an IT technical support staff but is now earning much more as system administrator of an international cargo forwarding firm. He passed the Microsoft Certification Professional in December 2008. “To get an MCP, we normally have to spend Dh13,000 (P169,357) for the course and review, on top of the Dh256 (P3,335) we pay for the examinations online," he said. Rommel Tala, who arrived in Dubai five years ago to make coffee at a Starbucks Coffee Store in UAE, is now a web developer of a government office in Abu Dhabi. Tala took up free computer classes on Web Designing, Adobe for the Web and Flash animation. Milo Torres, instructor of Web Designing, Adobe for the Web and Flash Animation, stressed that all the FCC instructors are volunteers. “They just want to see others benefit from a good life that ensues after upgrading their computer skills in these priceless computer classes," he said. - GMANews.TV