52-year-old architect earns 4 PRC licenses through self-review

Earning a PRC license is a significant milestone for any professional, and for 52-year-old architect Abulkhair Pandapatan Ali of Marawi City, it marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of learning that would eventually lead to four professional licenses.

Provided photo: Abulkhair Pandapatan Ali

In an exclusive interview with The Summit Express, Ali shared how he earned four PRC licenses through self-review while working full-time and raising a family.

After passing the January 2020 Architect Licensure Examination (ALE) at age 46, he went on to pass the February 2022 Master Plumber Licensure Examination (MPLE) at 48, the September 2024 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) at 50, and the May 2026 Environmental Planner Licensure Examination (EnPLE) at 52—all without enrolling in a review center.

“I am a lifelong learner who believes education has no age limit,” Ali told The Summit Express.

Inspired by the teaching of Prophet Muhammad that seeking knowledge is an obligation from cradle to grave, Ali has continued pursuing education long after many people would have settled into a single profession.

His journey began with a childhood dream of becoming an architect, but the road toward that goal was marked by challenges long before he entered college.

Because he was accelerated a grade at a young age, he endured years of bullying from classmates who mocked his height, called him “Pandak,” and often excluded him from activities.

Rather than allowing those setbacks to define him, Ali focused on developing his abilities and making the most of every opportunity to learn.

He eventually earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Cagayan de Oro College in 1994 despite the financial challenges of completing one of the country's most demanding degree programs.

The years that followed were devoted to building his career at Mindanao State University, raising a family, and managing a small business.

Between 1994 and 2020, Ali focused on his responsibilities as a professional, husband, and father while continuing to learn through experience.

“My return to formal education and board exams happened after my children became more independent,” he said.

That decision led to an extraordinary achievement: earning four PRC licenses between the ages of 46 and 52.

“With 100 percent self-review, the hardest part is having no one to ask except your books,” he said.

“No one guides you, you don't get tips on what might come out in the exam, and there are no mock exams to assess your readiness,” he added.

To overcome those challenges, Ali relied on discipline, careful time management, faith, and prayers.

“I create a time schedule for every second, minute, and hour, and I make sure no time is wasted,” he said.

His commitment to learning remained constant even during his busiest years, including when he pursued law studies at Mindanao State University–Main Campus from 2000 to 2003.

Faced with the demands of being a husband, a father of three young children, a law student, and a working professional, he eventually chose to prioritize his family.

Rather than giving up on personal growth, he continued pursuing education and later completed a Master in Management major in Environmental Planning at Philippine Christian University-Manila in August 2024.

Among his proudest accomplishments is seeing his children succeed in their own academic journeys.

Today, his eldest child is a registered nurse, his second child is about to graduate in Civil Engineering, his third child is finishing a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) as a cum laude student, and his youngest is a DOST scholar taking up Nutrition and Dietetics.

Now serving at Mindanao State University, Ali hopes his story will inspire others who feel limited by age or circumstances.

“Never lose hope because nobody is born dumb; it all depends on how we use the mind God gave us,” he said.

“It is never too late to pursue your dreams because neither age, capability, nor time can hinder you from achieving your ambition,” he added.

His life philosophy can be summed up in a simple but powerful reminder: “Not late, not early, just on ALLAH's time.”

— The Summit Express