The Phenomenon Called Niner

If Efren Penaflorida is the CNN hero who helps educate the masses, Ervin Nil Temporal is The Filipino champion who empowers professionals so they can qualify to work or migrate to any First World English-speaking countries by passing the IELTS. Filipinos pride themselves with ability to mimic almost any foreign language from Arabic, to English, to Italian, to Japanese, to Mandarin, ad infinitum. They can carry out conversations in any foreign tongue whether in person, on the phone, or via the net. However, regardless of this aptitude for languages, fear of the English examination hinders people from venturing outside the Middle East. (Personally, I think Filipinos are always anxious about examinations of any sort.)

Come the 9.0 Niner Review Center, within a relatively short span of 3 years, it has carved a singular niche for itself, being the only review center to churn out students with scores of 9, 9 being the perfect score in the IELTS. Such unprecedented results propelled the 9.0 Niner Review Center to the top, making it the premier English language review center in the archipelago for all 3 years of its existence, having bested the likes of Kaplan. 9.0 Niner is also recognized and lauded by both the British Council and the IDP as the all time bellwether among English review centers in the country.

Ervin Nil Temporal was only in his teens when the idea of founding an English review center began to brew. As a full-time Mass Communications student in UP Diliman, needing to augment his meager allowance, he joggled a heavy plate of university studies and activities together with tutoring English to professionals in his boarding house and another job at Ortigas. Teaching a swiftly protracting number of potential emigrants, which spilled outside the house so that some were standing by the windows just to listen to his lectures, definitely warranted a proper learning place, hence the birth of the first 9.0 Niner Review Center in Quezon Avenue.

Ervin is himself a niner,someone who bagged the perfect score of 9s having aced his exams in 200X. Lecturers, facilitators and coaches in the centers are certified niners as well, conducting classes particularly tailored to address and strengthen grammar. These classes unfailingly showcase tips and exercises which infallibly improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, virtually ensuring passing the IELTS with flying colors.

Now, Ervin is no longer a pimply-teenager, having blossomed into a fulfilled 22-year-old last November 30. Together with his journey towards maturity, 9.0 Niner has also secured a strong and reliable image among countless English review centers in the Philippines. In an unparalleled history of entrepreneurship, 9.0 Niner has opened 14 branches nationwide, with more to open soon. 9.0 Niner is also offering online review which commenced in February early this year to extend services to OFWs and facilitate learning for busy professionals. It is only a matter of time before 9.0 Niner becomes THE English Review Center in Asia.

To date, Ervin has succeeded in conquering most of his Goliaths and whatever hindrance may present itself at any time shall definitely be handled with the same grace, courage and fortitude employed in the past.

Looking back, being a precocious child, he had an awareness at a tender age that he was cut from a mold above the rest. Remaining true to himself, Ervin grew up focusing his energy in harnessing his talents and language proficiency. His extra-ordinary discipline and training paid off when he consistently garnered the paramount honors and awards in school, graduating valedictorian in primary and secondary school and becoming the best debater and writer. Ervin's continuous efflorescence was unstoppable and persisted when he entered UP Mindanao. It prevailed even when he transferred to UP Diliman.

When Ervin decided to transfer to UP Diliman in Quezon City, his parents agreed to support his financial needs. Clearly, cost of living in Luzon is higher as he will be paying not just for food and transportation, but for lodging as well. So in order to supplement to his allowance, he mustered courage and the very young Ervin
decided to apply for work. The rest is history.


Ever impassioned and untiring, Ervin Nil Temporal, the Philippines' IELTS Guru, is actively involved in conducting major lectures in all 9.0 Niner branches, as well as being a professor and researcher. He is success personified, an avatar, who has shown me and others man's unbridled capacity to expand his skills and abilities in order to overcome boundaries, to exceed limitations, and in the pursuit of excellence, translate his strengths into a system designed to spur others to persist in the making of their dreams.

Attending his lectures and being coached by him was both a treat and an honor. Ervin's story screams with life's laughter and pain, joy and sorrow, a plenitude of faith interlaced with audacity, stick-to-it-iveness and genetically endowed inherent virtuousity with relentlessly manifold and powerful contributions to society. The telling of which is its own reward.

Now, after being enriched by his lifestory, I take a bow, pick up my pieces and continue my journey. Thank you Sir Ervin.


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