Dr. Edward Dampor Sr.: Brilliant craftsman

Edward Madroñal Dampor was born in Midsayap, North Cotabato on January 4, 1950, the third in a brood of seven of a couple of modest means, Juan and Pastora.

The family later moved to Jimenez, Misamis Occidental. Edward attended grade school there, at the Panaon Elementary School. After graduation from Purvill High School, he set out to pursue college studies in Cebu City but had to quit because of financial constraints.

But this cruel blow to his youthful ambition, he said, did not break his spirit. Armed with a comb and a pair of scissors, he struggled to support himself by working as a barber. Soon after, he said, he left for Bislig, Surigao del Sur where he found a job as assistant to a welder at PICOP or the Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines. However, an early marriage led him back to Cebu City to seek his fortune anew, he said.

He trained in basic welding at the National Manpower and Youth Council, now the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. In 1972, he landed a job at the Cebu Oxygen and Acetylene Co. Inc. in Mabolo where he honed his skills as a welder. As the grass is always greener at the other side of the fence, he decided to leave the company for abroad after dedicated service which lasted for eight years.

While in Dubai, he was awarded twice for his exemplary performance. Recognizing his potentials, his employers at the Dubai Aluminum Co. Ltd. sent him to the Dubai Technical School to study advance welding. This investment paid off in terms of the quality of service he had rendered which was duly recognized by the company. Mr. RC Harris, the workshop superintendent, described him as “one of our better craftsmen…he often displayed his talents by tackling unusual jobs with enthusiasm and flair.”

Edward worked as a welder/fabricator for Dubai Aluminum Company from February 1, 1980 to February 10, 1986 and was recognized for his “best suggestions in improving steel and fabrication works such as jig for straightening anode rods” and “angular cutter guide and adjusting stopper and side roller for plate roller bender.”

“Those are the remarkable feats I had attained during my work stint in a foreign land for six years,” he said. “Work and learning was not easy. A welder has to swim daily his own puddle of sweat and blood from work injury,” he added.

He was able to save money not only for his family, but also for putting up a business of his own. As work abroad made him miss his family so much, he decided to come home.

“Even at home, my study and research works on welding have no letup,” he said. He narrated how he would bury his nose in books and other manuals and put into testing and experiments things he had learned. Then he started a small welding shop.

He mentioned of befriending a welding trainor of the NMYC in making his shop a conduit for learning. He had shown his selflessness in helping the poor youth learn the skills of his craft. His shop has been gaining reputation among businessmen and industrialists who sought knowledge on new welding technology. The small shop grew to become one of the biggest contracting companies today in construction, shipbuilding, repair and other industries.

Edward himself demonstrates to his workers and students intricate welding procedures and inspires them to continue exploring new techniques; above all, to share this expertise to neophytes and seasoned welders alike. He is committed to helping underprivileged youths who want to seriously take up welding as a career. His company, the Brilliant Metal Craft and Machine Design in Mabolo is a TESDA-accredited venue for welding.

As a TESDA welding consultant, he then put up a training center – the BMC Training Center for Welding and Fabrication which specializes in steel fabrications, wrought iron works, piping installation, ship repair, centralized medical pipeline systems for hospitals, and welding training (3G to 6G).

The center also serves as a venue for continued study and research in welding especially the present needs of the industry. Also, he envisions of a review center for welders.

Several established firms had contracted the services of BMC like the North General Hospital – a branch of the Cebu Doctors Hospital; Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Inc.; then WG&A, among many others.

Edward’s achievements were marked by recognitions as the 2004 Regional Awardee for Self-Employed Category-President Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Workers Award, 2005 1st National Galing Pinoy Awardee, recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Individual Awards (Science and Technology) on the 69th Cebu City Charter Day, 2007 Meritorious Service Award-Philippine Hospital Association in Quezon City. And in 2006, the Doctor of Technology Education degree was conferred upon him at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College in Cagayan de Oro City.

The launch of his “Handbook on New Welding Technology” capped over three decades of being a brilliant craftsman. The handbook now serves as the “bible” in welding of his students; some of them are already working abroad after graduating from a 45-day training offered at the BMC Training Center.