What brought you to Lithuania?

It’s a bit of a long story. So, how it started was that I was approached by one of my old bosses at Continental in the Philippines. I wasn’t working for the company at the time, and my old boss was based in Illinois. He’d taken on the role of heading an operations team for the new AUMOVIO production facility in Kaunas, and was looking to put together a team. Guess what? His wife is Lithuanian.

This boss really loved going to the Philippines and he knew my team at the Continental factory in the Philippines very well. Our department was one of the best, if not the best in the factory. So, when he was asked to set up a factory here in Lithuania, he just said I want my engineering team from the Philippines, and they found us. He was very persistent!

I had some experience of Europe before but had only gone there for short support projects, and if I’m being honest I’m not that great in geography. So, when he told me that the factory was in Lithuania, I had to ask him where it was. And he told me Europe, so I said ok. I didn’t expect it to be kinda cold.

Setting up operations from scratch was a new experience for me. We had to wear hard hats and high-visibility vests when we started because they were still installing some of the machinery around us.

Do you think that Lithuania is a good place for engineers?

Yes. It is. For a start, the country is very welcoming, so the working environment is very supportive. It’s still a growing market, and there are a lot of young people that are looking for something new. I remember how in my first months here people were so excited and eager to learn. The attitude is great. People are so receptive to you sharing your experience, which is great because I love sharing my knowledge and learning. There’s also the fact that because the industry is not as competitive or saturated here it’s easier to move up the career ladder. I chose to take my time to move up, but I could have chosen to take advantage of a promotion to manager within the first two years.

How was the whole relocation process? How is your family settling in?

Well, it was an adventure! When I first came here I’d just got married and my wife was six months pregnant. So, we were processing our papers, visas, and everything in the middle of it all. It was a once in a lifetime experience, a real transformation. Thankfully, AUMOVIO were amazing, they took care of everything. They had a company look after all the administrative stuff, and when we got here they helped us find somewhere to live. So, our firstborn was born in Lithuania, and our second child was born here as well. We decided to put them into a state kindergarten because it’s important for us that the kids are properly integrated into the community. I’m embarrassed to admit that their Lithuanian is better than ours now.

What is your working day like and is the working culture in Lithuania any different than back home?

Right now I’m working more at a management level. I’m done with the actual leg work, and I would say it’s a good choice. I start my day at 8:00 – bringing the kids to kindergarten and then straight to the factory in the morning. It’s more meetings, checking with my team, seeing how they are, and we discuss how the last day went. It’s production-based, so we spend quite a lot of time reviewing performance so that we optimise things. Then we discuss the activities for the day and get on with it.

It took me three years to move from operational to managerial – from 2022, so that was very quick. But it was also my choice. It could have been quicker, but I said to my boss that one of the reasons I came here is to teach people. So if you put me in a teaching role rather than doing leg work, that works better for everyone in the end.

Working culture wise, I can’t say there’s a huge difference, because AUMOVIO is a well oiled machine and it works to the same standard across its sites. One of the things you do need to be prepared for in this line of work is that you may need to work outside the usual office hours, as the factory operates 24/7. It is worth mentioning, though, that this industry is one of the strictest when it comes to working hours — needless to say, in obedience to the law.

The people here are very friendly and genuinely interested in getting to know you and your culture. It might take a bit longer for people to open up, but when they do it’s very genuine. They will help you with anything.

How does your work at KTU inform your work? Why did you choose to teach?

I really love sharing my experience, and it’s a privilege to be able to teach, nothing is more valuable. I would like students to learn about the industry so that they get more interested and involved in what they’re studying, especially in electronics. I come in about once or twice a year, and talk to third year students at KTU. The intention is to let them see the reality of what’s outside the university and how they need to prepare so that their adjustment for the world of work will not be so difficult. AUMOVIO also donates some technical equipment to the university so that the students can get to grips with the kind of technology they’ll be using. We also run an interim program and I’m to say that some of the talents in my time came from that program!

What do you like about Lithuania, is there anything you would like to say to people who might be interested in coming here?

Yes, definitely. So first, first and foremost, what I like here is the internet. Of course, I’m a little bit joking, but it is really fast.  It’s so much better than it is back in the Philippines. I joke to my family back home that even if you’re underground here you’ll get a signal. And the culture itself, it’s really no different than in my country. I’m talking here about the kindness of the people and the importance of family.

Of course, not everyone can speak English, especially the older generation, but they’ll do everything they can to communicate with you and help you if they can. Then there is the love that they show to their families, which is something that is very dear to my heart. It’s also great for families because it is very safe. I can walk around at night and not need to worry.

Talking about the food, there are a lot of potatoes, but I joke with my colleagues that maybe it’s the potatoes that make everyone so tall here. That’s why I’m eating as many potatoes as I can! The weather can be cold, yes, but you get all the seasons, and the summers are very nice.

If the Philippines was closer to Lithuania, most of my friends and family would be here already as I’m always telling them they need to move to Lithuania. What else can I say? I love living here. I love working here.

The interview was conducted in August 2025.