From prison to purpose: DetainEE who finished Engineering in jail earns 4 PRC licenses

MANILA, Philippines – At 27, Daniel Villamor Quisa-ot of Don Carlos, Bukidnon, has transformed his darkest chapter into a shining testimony of resilience and hope.

Photo courtesy: Daniel Quisa-ot

In an exclusive interview with The Summit Express, Daniel shared that he was once a DOST Scholar, Dean’s Lister, and recognized Quizzer and Math Wizard, but his academic journey took a painful turn when a case led to his imprisonment.

“I have a smooth life before because I grew up in Christian community,” he recalled, reflecting on how drastically his life changed.

“When I was imprisoned, feel ko wala ng pag-asa, kahit mabait na bata ako bilanggo lang pala yung ending ko, to the point na marami nasasayangan, pero nagpatuloy ako,” he said.

Despite being behind bars, he was allowed to finish his last semester at Central Mindanao University and even worked on his thesis inside the jail.

Photo courtesy: Daniel Quisa-ot

He admitted that his grades slipped during detention, costing him Latin honors, but his determination remained firm.

“From incarceration to inspiration,” Daniel said, “I finished my engineering degree inside a jail cell, worked on my thesis in the hardest of circumstances, and never stopped believing.”

Trials, Loss, and Board Exams

After almost two years in prison, he was released only to face another heartbreak: his bedridden father, suffering from stage 4 colon cancer, passed away a week later.

Determined to honor his family and dreams, Daniel braved the 2021 licensure exams for Electrical Engineers and Master Electricians without the benefit of review classes.

“The reason why I filed on the two exams because if ever I can’t pass the first exam, the other one will give me hope but the two was difficult and when I got home, I said to my mom, ‘Ma, magiging Engineer man ako o hindi, anak mo pa rin ako,’” he recalled.

By God’s grace, he passed both exams, later adding two more PRC licenses as a Registered Master Plumber in 2023 and a Certified Plant Mechanic in 2024.

Purpose and Inspiration

Now serving as an Electrical Engineer II in a government institution, Daniel is also a sought-after motivational speaker at graduations and engineering events.

Photo courtesy: Daniel Quisa-ot

“Just trust God’s timeline,” he advises aspiring board takers, encouraging them to prepare well but always rely on faith.

Looking ahead, he hopes his journey will reach a larger audience.

“Kahit suntok sa buwan, my goal is to have a movie of my real life story me being the actor to inspire others,” Daniel shared.

Grateful for every blessing, from his home and car to the platform of inspiring others, he sees his journey as proof that God’s timing is always perfect.

“The road to success isn’t always straight, but it’s always worth it when you keep pushing,” Daniel added.

— The Summit Express