Randy Tolentino grew up in a small barangay in Tagum City, where most people knew how to fix something motorbikes, old radios, broken fans. His father was a tricycle mechanic, and from a young age, Randy learned the sound of problems before even opening the machine. He had magic in his hands, they said.
After finishing a vocational course in Electronics Technology at TESDA, Randy worked for years in a local appliance repair shop. He was good people would line up to have him fix their TVs, washing machines, or busted aircons. But despite his skills, his salary was barely enough to cover his family’s needs. His daughter had just started school, and his wife had a medical condition that required regular check-ups.
That’s when he heard from a cousin about an opening for electronic technicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
At first, Randy hesitated. He’d never been abroad. But with rising bills and a dream of giving his daughter a better future, he decided to apply. The interview went well, and two months later, he found himself boarding a plane for the first time.
In Riyadh, Randy was assigned to a large electronics service company that handled repairs for everything from air conditioners to industrial control panels. The work environment was different structured, fast-paced, and surrounded by people from all over the world: Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Filipinos, and Saudi.
He was nervous at first. The language barrier and cultural differences were intimidating. Once, during his first week, he mistakenly used the wrong voltage meter and triggered a short circuit. His supervisor scolded him in front of the team. Embarrassed and unsure, Randy thought of quitting. But he didn’t.
Instead, he went back to his room and studied. Every night, he watched YouTube tutorials, read manuals, and practiced on old boards his coworker gave him. Within weeks, he mastered the diagnostic system used by the company. He began troubleshooting complex issues others avoided.
Soon, he gained a reputation: “The Filipino who can fix anything.”
But more than machines, Randy was fixing something else his family’s life back home. He sent money regularly, enough to cover his wife’s treatment and send his daughter to a private school. He even helped his younger brother open a small electronics stall in Tagum.
On his days off, Randy volunteered at a nearby OFW support center, offering free appliance repair for fellow kababayans living in cramped accommodations. He believed that even the smallest help a working fan in summer, a fixed rice cooker could mean a lot to someone away from home.
After four years, Randy was promoted to lead technician. He now trains new hires, including young Pinoys, reminding them to work not just with their hands, but with heart.
His long-term dream? To open his own technical training center in Davao Region where out of school youth can learn skills, get certified, and find dignity through honest work. There’s more to fixing electronics, he says, you’re restoring hope, piece by piece.
Randy may work in silence, surrounded by wires and circuit boards, but his story hums with purpose a technician not just of broken machines, but of lives waiting to be rebuilt.
