Jen in Taiwan: FEU Diliman’s Pioneer Study Abroad Delegate

“I want to be independent and leave my comfort zone in the Philippines. I also want to gain life experiences in another country, to discover different cultures and new perspectives.”

Filled with fulfillment and gratitude, Jennylyn Obligado, fondly called by her family and friends as ‘Jen,’ shared in an interview why she bravely pursued becoming an international student: to achieve personal development.

In five months, the 24-year-old made history for FEU Diliman as the first delegate in its Study Abroad Program at National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU) in Taiwan.

Facilitated by the Industry-Academe Linkage, Alumni, and Placement (IALAP) Office, the program offers a unique opportunity for Tamaraws to experience global education and different cultures within a semester. NSYSU, a public university that boasts a culturally diverse environment and innovative research initiatives, is one of the esteemed international academic partners of FEU Diliman for its study abroad and student exchange programs.

Braving the Challenges

Growing up, Jen loved solving puzzles and math problems. She was always up for a challenge, and FEU Diliman’s competitive Bachelor of Science in Accountancy program perfectly fit her. The rigorous curriculum, tailored with courses designed to prepare students for the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam, motivated her to push her limits and strive for excellence—ultimately inspiring her to study abroad.

But this decision almost didn’t see the light of day. Jen submitted her application past the deadline, and IALAP had already sent the list of nominated students to NSYSU. Fortunately, the stars aligned in her favor when IALAP made a special request to nominate another student. After reconsideration, NSYSU approved the request.

Since then, Jen has received tremendous support from IALAP, from her visa application to her arrival in Taiwan. Furthermore, she was blessed with a family that provided her with the necessary emotional and financial needs to ensure a smooth, successful journey.

Even so, she faced one of the biggest challenges many encountered during their first few weeks away from home: homesickness. Reflecting on this, Jen expressed gratitude for the company of her co-delegates and fellow Tamaraws from FEU Tech, who became a strong support system to help her navigate loneliness.

“We cook Filipino dishes like sinigang and adobo para mawala ‘yung mga homesickness namin. Then minsan nagta-travel din kami sa iba’t ibang places sa Taiwan, pinupuntahan namin ‘yung mga magagandang places doon like the beaches.”

In addition to her co-delegates, Jen also made friends with European international students at NSYSU, with whom she is still in touch today.

Discovering Potential and Resilience

The opportunity to study abroad comes with several life-changing benefits. Beyond gaining academic skills in classrooms, the program empowers students like Jen to learn practical skills, emphasizing personal growth and professional development.

For instance, since joining the program comes with various expenses such as visa application, airfare, accommodation, and food allowance, Jen embraced the challenge of saving as much as possible. Using a money manager app during her stay in Taiwan, she was able to create and track her budget, allocating specific amounts for each expense.

Looking back on this, the FEU Diliman student couldn’t help but feel proud that she gained the confidence to manage her finances and make important decisions independently.

Additionally, immersing herself in a new culture significantly improved Jen’s communication skills. While her classes at NSYSU taught her to speak and understand Mandarin Chinese, her day-to-day interactions with locals allowed her to practice conversing in the language—making her realize the importance of cross-cultural communication in building harmonious relationships abroad.