A former broadcast journalist becomes an engineer

Former news anchor Victor Andal fulfills his childhood dream in Canada

By Michael T. Esmino

Managing Editor

WHO WOULD forget the guy who gave us the news on TV in the Ilocos Region every afternoon? Of course, this was before the afternoon local TV news war began. That news anchor migrated to Canada some years back, definitely leaving a big vacuum to fill for the regional television network.

Now, the former news anchor has become what he had always wanted to be since he was a child: an engineer.

Victor U. Andal first earned a civil engineering degree here in Laoag City. After his graduation, however, he shed the shy-and-silent image he had at his school as he tried his luck in the broadcasting media industry.

He believed then that this would be his lifetime job so he decided to take up another course—mass communication. Living his “new” media person image, Victor also delved in radio broadcasting as correspondent for a Manila-based radio station, and the print media as a correspondent and columnist for The Ilocos Times.

All these, however changed when an opportunity to migrate to Canada came. Packing his bags and leaving his profession behind, Victor was transplanted to Alberta, Canada.

Alberta, being the second largest exporter of natural gas and fourth largest producer, was in need of engineers to buttress its burgeoning petroleum industry. Seeing the opportunity, Victor rolled up his proverbial sleeves and prepared to work hard to attain the same success he had in his hometown.

Like many newcomers in Canada, he started from scratch. He tried different jobs and experienced working twelve hours a day and six to seven days a week; all the while he was also taking an online course in power engineering. But as a laboratory course was required for his new course, he was forced to cut back his work time to attend night and Saturday classes.

Early this year, his sacrifices paid off. After finishing his course, he was given a job offer as technician in the Operations Department (well-known as Engineering Department) in the company where he is currently working. His new role in the company proved challenging for his, and on top of this, he also needed to review for a government exam for a power engineer license and prepare for his citizenship examination as well.

Just this April, he passed his citizenship examination and took his oath as a Canadian citizen.

Victor's work station

A few months later, he also passed the first part of his power engineer license test. The second part though would have to wait as he needs to fulfill prerequisites of either taking another laboratory course in school or having a two-year work experience in a heating or power plant.

Obtaining his license as a Power Engineer, Victor was given another job offer in his company as building operator; this in effect is a second promotion in just a year. As a building operator, he is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the building automation system and all the building equipment including HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning), mechanical, plumbing and electrical equipment.

Through all these, Victor is astonished on how he was able to survive after all that he went through. And through it all, he said he learned that life may be simple but it is never easy.

“Believe that as long as you have faith in your dreams, someday your rainbow will come smiling through,” he stressed.