September 5, 2019

TAGUIG CITY— The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) announced the two National Winners for this year’s Idols ng TESDA Award during ceremonies held inside the agency’s auditorium last August 30.

Imelda I. Blancia from Region III, a professional hairdresser who operates her own salon and training center is the National Winner in the Self-employed Category with a total score of 79.42%.  She is the owner of the Mel Blancia Learning Institute and the Mel Blancia Salon and Skin Care in Malolos, Bulacan.  Blancia has TESDA National Certificates (NCs) in Hairdressing, Beauty Care, Hilot (Wellness Massage), Food and Beverage Services, and Dressmaking.

Meanwhile, in the Wage-employed Category, University of Cebu college dean and instructor Dr. Richie L. Montebon was declared the National Winner with his total score of 81.83%.  He also received the Batang TESDA! TESDA Best! special award.  Montebon’s tech-voc qualifications include NCs Events Management Services, Housekeeping, Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery and Driving.

The other winners in the Self-employed Category include ex-OFW turned automotive trainer Marcelino C. Cotelo from the National Capital Region who came first runner-up, while tech-voc trainer Zander Amadeo M. Prospero from Batangas, was named the second runner-up. 

Completing the winners’ roster in the Self-employed Category was Marvin G. Eslava, a tech-voc trainer and owner of Mr. M’s Events and Catering in Isabela, who received the Batang Technopreneur special award.

Under the wage-employed category, declared first runner-up is agriculturist and author Dr. Donata L. Valler from Bicol, while second runner-up is electrician and academician Engineer Rennie E. Miculob of Northern Mindanao.

In the Self-employed Category, winners were screened from a total of 10 nominees from 10 regional offices.  Meanwhile, there were 14 nominees from 14 regions in the Wage-employed Category.

All regional nominees received trophies and plaques.  In both categories, the National Winners were given P25,000 cash prize each, the first runners-up received P20,000 each, and the second runners-up got P15,000 each.

Special awardees of Batang TESDA! TESDA Best! and Batang Technopreneur also won P25,000 each.

The Idols ng TESDA Award, held to honor outstanding technical vocational education and training (TVET) graduates of the agency, is one of TESDA’s Institutional Awards held annually in celebration of the agency’s anniversary and the National Tech-voc Day.

Qualified nominees are TVET graduates who are Filipino citizens, at least 21 years of age, and with outstanding achievements in line with his/her trade within the last 3 years.  They must also be nominated by any legitimate civic, social, religious, labor or industry organizations whose membership affiliation is in line with his/her work or business.