Jeepney Press: pasaHERO

PASAHERO by Yellowbelle Duaqui

Daniel P. Tanciatco: The Running Engineer

On the wall of the living room of his home in a suburb southeast of Tokyo, Mr. Daniel P. Tanciatco’s medals from various top running marathons in Japan are proudly displayed. Each medal has a story to tell. If you are to get to know the man behind these medals more deeply, you will find out that the life of Daniel Tanciatco, our PasaHERO for this issue, is a reminder that we can always choose to change our life circumstances for the better through persistence, continuous education, and hard work.

Self-made Man

The second of nine children, Daniel Tanciatco lost his father at an early age and had to support himself all the way through college doing odd jobs from plumbing to farm work. He graduated with a degree in B.S. Mechanical Engineering from Central Luzon Polytechnic College (presently known as Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology) in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija in 1986. He reckons how he struggled with his studies since he had to do part-time work on the side. As a student, he had no books, no time for sports even when he wanted to since he must work to survive. He managed to put himself to school by himself and to graduate after six years in college. Soon after graduation, he opened his own refrigeration, airconditioning and metalworks shop in Nueva Ecija. Through this, he was able to help his mother support his other siblings.

While in college, he joined a fraternity, the Alpha Phi Omega. He also joined the Philippine Collegiate Association for Research of the Principle (PCARP), an umbrella organization of the Unification Movement, a non-sectarian religious organization founded in Korea with membership extending to Japan and the United States. Under PCARP, Daniel Tanciatco volunteered as a student missionary focusing on teaching leadership to the youth. At that time, little did he know that this organization will lead him to migrating permanently in Japan.

In 1995, this religious organization sent him to Seoul, Korea for an international marriage ceremony, where he got matched to a Japanese lady whom he had seen only from a photograph provided by the organization, together with some personal details. Around 30,000 couples had been wedded on that day. That day, he met the Japanese lady who would become his wife and mother to his children, all boys, who are currently doing university studies in Tsukuba University and in Hokkaido, respectively. It was in 1996 when they officially started married life when his Japanese wife migrated to the Philippines. It was in Nueva Ecija, where his eldest son Takuro, was born.

Becoming a Filipino Migrant Engineer in Japan

However, during the 1990s, rampant electrical shortages plagued the Philippines, and this affected Daniel Tanciatco’s refrigeration, airconditioning and metalworks business. This forced him to close shop and consider Japan for migration. A friend from the Unification Movement helped him find a job with a scaffolding company in Kanagawa, where he got his first job in Japan as a cleaner (a “gemba”), where he stayed on for a year and a half. After this, he worked as a driver for a door-to-door baggage delivery company in Japan. A bit perturbed that his professional skills and credentials as an Engineer were seemingly ignored during his application to his initial jobs in Japan, Daniel Tanciatco continued to look for work. Finally, he landed a job as a Service Engineer at the United States Embassy in Tokyo through the Pacific Architects Engineering (PAE), the agency that provided Engineering services to the embassy which considered his qualifications as a Mechanical Engineer. This started his professional upgrade in the career ladder in Tokyo. A year after, he was promoted as Team Leader, then he went on to win awards as Employee of the Month, Employee of the Quarter, and Employee of the Year. In 2006, PAE transferred him to Northwest Airlines, where he became the Site Manager for the next six years. Determined to broaden his skill set, he enrolled for online correspondence schooling in order to earn certifications as Heating, Ventilation and Airconditioning Technician, Boiler Technician and Pool and Aquatic Technician. This gave him economic stability and enabled him to help his siblings and some relatives in the Philippines.

In 2011, Delta Airlines took over Northwest Airlines. Due to his exemplary track record, Delta Airlines kept Daniel Tanciatco on his post, where he continued to perform as its Site Manager for facilities maintenance until 2017. From 2017, following the purchase of Delta’s hotel by a Chinese company, Daniel Tanciatco became part of the Engineering force of Radisson Hotel and Resorts in Tomisato City in Chiba Prefecture.

Multi-awarded Runner

If Daniel Tanciatco’s career as a Filipino engineer in Japan is of any indication, nothing can stop this man from improving himself. Even what appears to be a misfortune to some, can be turned into an asset, as far as this self-made man is concerned.

In 2009, doing office work (a desk job) led him to develop a problem with scoliosis. At first, he tried to undergo rehabilitation with a chiropractor. But after a few months, Daniel Tanciatco felt it was not going anywhere and he felt that sports might be able to help him. In 2010, he joined the Peace Riders Running Club International, where in the beginning he was only doing jogging and he could not even finish a 5K run. Despite this, he persisted and continued to challenge himself to do even better. By 2012, he started joining 10K marathons, which he all finished successfully. He also joined a running marathon sponsored by Northwest Airlines in Tomisato City. Several months after running 10K marathons, his back pain was gone and his scoliosis cured.

For the first time, he joined a half-marathon (21K) last 2015 in Yokohama, where he finished but it was overtime. In 2016, he finally completed a 21K marathon on time at the Kawasaki International Marathon. During the 2017 Tokyo Marathon, he ran a full marathon (42K) on time for the first time. Also in 2017, he joined a Spartan Sprint Obstacle Race, where he successfully ran 5K and hurdled 22 obstacles. Last 2018, he came full circle as he returned to Yokohama Marathon to run a 42K, this time accomplishing a successful finish on time. This same year, he also joined the 13th Shonan International Marathon, where he finished the 42K run on time. Also in 2018, he joined another 42K marathon during the Run Saitama 2018 -4th Saitama International Marathon, where he finished on time. This earned him a back-to-back victory, since he also finished well during the 3rd Saitama International Marathon in 2017. In 2018, he also ran for the Shibamata 60K Ultra Marathon, where he finished on time.

Never resting on his laurels, Daniel Tanciatco vows 2019 to be a phenomenal year as he prepares to gear up for his entry to the Shibamata 60K Tokyo Saitama Ibaraki Marathon this May 2019, aiming to become a Trifecta Finisher (winning three ultra marathons). He is also currently training for triathlons, where he will be running, cycling and swimming.

Seeing the health benefits of running, Daniel Tanciatco thought of a way to share this to fellow Filipino migrants in Japan. In October 2018, he enrolled as a Running Coach in an online course with the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA), in order the learn about running as a profession. Last December 2018, he received his official certification as a Running Coach by passing the UESCA certification exam.

Whether in his career or in sports, Daniel Tanciatco is a trophy of the human spirit to defy adversity. To his fellow migrants, his advice to attain success in Japan is to improve one’s Japanese language ability, to keep on educating one’s self, to develop a solid knowledge of one’s work, to build one’s capability through hard work, and most importantly, to relate well to others by respecting the elders.