Sheila Matorre Carillo: A Profile

Sheila Matorre Carillo: A Profile

by

Melchor F. Cichon

October 8, 2013

     "My goal is to become the Manager of our unit."

This is the response of one of the most successful Lezonians in Alaska, USA today.

Sheila Carillo was born in Carugdog, Lezo, Aklan and finished  her early education in Carugdog-Cogon Elementary School. She continued her studies in Aklan College for her high school. In 1988, Sheila enrolled at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City,  for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majoring in business management. After her graduation, she worked in her boutique at Kalibo Shopping Center, Kalibo, Aklan.  In 1994, she worked as a Customer Service/Front Desk Attendant at Duty Free with Manila Jeepney Shopping Center.

Then in 1995, she got married to Morris Invina Carrillo. And then, she went to Alaska, USA.

There she worked  in various establishments as a clerk and  as a bank teller.

But in 2008, she started working at the Department of Labor, State of Alaska as a Security Specialist. But now she works as a Program Analyst.

I asked her for some explanations of the work of a Program Analyst.

She explained: "I work for the Dept of Labor in the State of Alaska. My title is Employment Program Analyst. Our clients are the people in Alaska and all over the US and even Canada who were employed in Alaska but became unemployed for whatever reason. Those unemployed workers have unemployment insurance that they could collect while looking for another work. That's where we come in. "

She further said that: "My position acts as the liaison between the programmer analyst and the end users of our department's mainframe and web-based computerized systems. I am responsible for analyzing the scope of the project/task in terms of the needs of the end user and balancing that with the data processing. I'm responsible for the initial analysis of the project to ensure it is complete, compatible, achievable, reasonable and testable within the existing data processing environment."

She continued: "I do the testing of a program. I test the product before it is placed into production. Each task is unit tested and then the whole system is tested. During the testing stage, the product is examined for matching design requirements, completion, impact on the other systems or transactions, stress, user-friendliness, accuracy. This position is familiar with the procedures used in backing up files, updating batch files and maintaining extract files."

"Oh, that's a difficult task", I told her. "And it takes speed and accuracy, " I added.

"The challenges are errors and they can affect all staff, individuals, clients and employers being served by staff. Example, an incorrect analysis and testing of a fix or enhancement can lead to incorrect program logic which could lead to incorrect Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax and incorrect amount of UI benefits paid. "

"And I hope that you have not experienced that so-called error," I told her.

"In one way or another it will come, but that's part of learning this job. My superiors are very patient and supportive." 

Switching our topic to Lezo,  I asked her if she has any message for our kasimanwa.

She said that "we should go back to being self reliant, resilient in what we believe in and be more open to how we can serve and help each other out. Listen to our conscience more and be able to look at yourself in the mirror and say you did the right thing. "

Lastly, I inquired about her child. She said that she has only one child.  Her name is Maureen Grace M. Carrillo, 16 years old and a Junior student at the Juneau Douglas High School. She considers Maureen Grace as her most precious gift she has ever received from God.

      Sheila further said about Maureen: "Maureen has a big heart and a shiny personality, has lots of friends and takes pride in her sense of loyalty. She’s on top of her class and is a performer. She’s a varsity dance team member at her school and will be competing in the Nationals in February of next year in Florida. One thing I’m sure of about my daughter is she has a good head on her shoulder. My husband and I did our best to share with her our values, cultures, traditions and our belief in God. One can only hope that when the time comes, when she has to make important decisions in her life that she will remember all the things we’ve taught her. We have planted the seed in her heart and I can only hope and pray that that seed will grow to lead and guide her to the right path later on in life -- when I may no longer be there for her."