How a Student Volunteer Became a Cebu Branch Execom Member and Agile Certified Practitioner

Romulo “ROM” Ericson Ng II, CAPM, PMI-ACP

The start of a new year often brings reflection. Where am I headed? What should I focus on next?

For Rom, those questions once marked a turning point. What followed was a journey shaped by service, learning, and the simple decision to show up.

While completing his undergraduate degree in Management Accounting, Rom experienced a profound personal loss. The passing of his father left him questioning not just his career path, but the kind of work he wanted to pursue.

“I discovered PMI during a pivotal turning point in my life,” Rom shares. “While finishing my undergraduate degree, I lost my father and found myself at a crossroads, unsure of where I wanted to head next.”

Although his academic background was in accounting, Rom began to realize that his interests extended beyond numbers. He was drawn to collaboration, structure, and the human side of turning ideas into action. Seeking clarity, he conducted a personal SWOT analysis, which helped him recognize his strengths in organization, working with people, and owning work from initiation to closing.

That realization led him to pursue the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and apply for an internship with PMI Philippines. It was his first step into the project management profession.

Finding His Footing Through Volunteering

What began as an internship soon became something more meaningful. Through volunteering, Rom gained hands-on exposure to real project work while becoming part of a professional community grounded.

“That internship was a defining experience,” he reflects. “It transformed me from a student seeking direction into a dedicated volunteer.”

As his involvement deepened, Rom took on greater responsibilities and began contributing to initiatives that supported the local project management community. Volunteering became a space where he could learn from practitioners across industries, build confidence, and give back. Over time, this involvement led him to contribute to leadership efforts within the PMI PH Cebu Branch.

Rom’s lock screen wallpaper for extra motivation

A Defining Experience: NSPM 2023

One of the most defining moments of Rom’s volunteer journey came during the National Symposium on Project Management (NSPM) 2023. After months of coordinating remotely from Cebu, the event finally came to life in Manila.

“Seeing all that hard work culminate in a successful, live event was the moment I truly felt part of the project management community,” Rom shares.

The experience reinforced the value of collaboration, commitment, and seeing projects through from planning to execution.

Choosing to Grow Through Certification

Alongside volunteering, Rom also chose to invest in his professional growth through certification. Although pursuing the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner credential was not part of his original plan, it became increasingly relevant as he worked in dynamic, fast-changing project environments as a Business Analyst.

“My biggest fear was that I would fail and would just be wasting time and resources,” he admits.

Despite those doubts, Rom committed fully to preparation. He studied with discipline, anchored his learning in real project experience, and focused on understanding Agile principles beyond theory.

Above Target! Rom recalls his hands shaking while taking a photo of his PMI-ACP results

“I wanted to leave no stone unturned,” he shares. “I made sure I understood how the concepts applied to the work I was already doing.”

When the exam ended, Rom was unsure of the outcome. The congratulatory message that followed came as a surprise.

“I immediately texted my mama when I got out of the testing room,” he recalls. “She replied, ‘Congrats, I knew you could do it.’”

Earning the PMI-ACP boosted Rom’s confidence and reshaped how he approached his work. It deepened his focus on delivering value early, adapting to change, and leading teams with greater clarity.

“I was truly able to become agile, not just do agile,” he says.

One Step Forward

For Rom, both volunteering and certification were deliberate choices made during uncertain moments. One built capability. The other built community. Together, they shaped his growth as a project leader.

As the year begins, his journey is a reminder that progress in project management does not require having everything figured out. Sometimes, it starts with one decision to volunteer, to learn, or to take that next step forward.