15 September 2014
After finishing their technical vocational courses, they have found employment and are secure in their workplace. But resting on their laurels was not one of their qualities, especially in a competitive environment.
They studied some more, many of them earning a college degree, and trained even harder to perfect their skills and constantly hone their performance at work.
For these, seven tech-voc graduates were chosen regional winners for the wage-employed category of the Idols ng TESDA for 2014. They are King Pual Gabertan, Gina Faigao, Kenneth Lim, Edlyn Casal, Bayona Baon, Renante Gustilo and Ronnie Aboa.
Gabertan, who represented Region 3 in the regional division, works as an instructor at the Tarlac School of Arts and Trade and at the ETO School of Science and Technology in Nueva Ecija. He landed the job after finishing a two-year Hotel and Restaurant Services course, and securing National Certificates in various training programs, namely: Food and Beverage Services, Housekeeping, Bartending, Commercial Cooking and Tour Guiding.
The 24-year-old Gabertan counts winning at the 2014 National Skills Competition as one of his achievements, and continues to get closer to his dream of being a chef. Because of his accomplishments at a young age, Gabertan was awarded TESDA Best, Batang TESDA.
Faigao finished her tech-voc course in Office Management and then moved on to earn a Bachelor in Elementary Education degree in 2006 in her native Oriental Mindoro. In 2013, she also finished tech-voc courses on Food and Beverage Services and Bartending.
Since 2006, she has been serving as instructor at the Paradigm Colleges of Science and Technology, where she also serves as career guidance coach in charge of the Youth Profiling for Starring Careers program. Faigao is also a pastor at the Libertad Assembly of God church since 1993.
Lim is into cooking and hotel and restaurant operations. Even before he completed his ladderized Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management course in 2012, he has already earned several National Certificates in Housekeeping, Food and Beverage Services, Commercial Cooking and Bartending.
He further honed his qualifications with additional short training programs and has been a TESDA-certified trainer. Currently, he is taking up a Masters in Business course at the Osmena Colleges in Masbate.
With his qualifications, he easily got a job at the Liceo de Masbate as head of its technical education and skills development department.
Edlyn Casal is a holder of National Certificates on PC Configuration and Troubleshooting and in Computer Hardware Servicing and Programming. With his skills, Casal was taken in by the 4WD Computer Training Center as instructor. He was instrumental in transforming the small training center into the Computer Hardware and Service Department of the Metro Dumaguete College.
He is now the chairman of the college’s Tech-Voc Department of the college, has obtained a degree in Information Technology and is completing his Masters degree in the same field. Active in advocating tech-voc education, he often gives talks in his community and spearheads a community service program that provides computer maintenance for free.
Baon finished a three-year diploma in Agricultural Technology course in 2010. He continued his studies in Bachelor of Agricultural Technology at the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology.
His star started to shine brighter when he was taken in as a leaf technician for Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. for its Project Tabuk initiative. So impressed were the tobacco firm’s executives that they decided to send him to Italy to attend a training program on tobacco management, curing and technology.
Baon's skills and perseverance have contributed to improving the area’s tobacco crop quality, which he hopes would also benefit the farmers.
Gustilo's exceptional skills were recognized early, having won gold medals at the Regional Skills Competition and at the National Youth Skills Olympics in Hairdressing. All these were accomplished while attending a one-year Cosmetology course at the Joji Ilagan Career Center in 1996.
He has worked as a freelance fashion designer and hairdresser since 1998, and was also an instructor and program head at the center. He is among the incorporators of the A.B.A. Cosmetology Training Center in Tagum City.
Academic advancement is also foremost in his mind. Gustilo has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Mindanao, and master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration from the Southwestern University.
Born to a family of meager means, Aboa was fortunate to secure a TESDA scholarship that allowed him to finish a two-year Diploma course in Computer and Electronics Technology course at STI San Francisco in Agusan del Sur.
A series of jobs followed after graduation in 2003 – at FC Consultancy and Resource Management Services, Agusan del Sur National High School Teachers and Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative and at STI San Francisco.
While working, Aboa managed to earn a Bachelor of Science degree at the Saint Francis Xavier College and a few units of Master in Public Administration at the Bukidnon State University.
In 2012, Aboa was hired as a permanent employee at the Irrigation Management Office of the National Irrigation Administration in Rosario, Agusan Del Sur, where he has stayed since.
King Paul Gabertan
Region III. Holder of several National Certificates in various training programs, winner at the 2014 National Skills Competition, he now works as instructor in a trade school.
Gina Faigao
Region IV-B. After completing her tech-voc course and after obtaining a bachelor's degree in elementary education, she secured a post as instructor in a college and simultaneously serves as career guidance coach for TESDA's youth program.
Kenneth Lim
Region V. A certified graduate of various training programs, he is now head of technical education and skills development department of a college.
Edlyn Casal
Region VII. Instrumental in transforming a small training center into the computer service department of a college, he is now the school's tech-voc department head.
Bayona Baon
Region X. Specializing in agricultural technology course, he was taken in as technician for a big tobacco company. He also helps farmers improve their crops' quality.
Renante Gustilo
Region XI. Winner in regional skills competition and national youth skills competition in hairdressing, he is now program head of a training center.
Ronnie Aboa
CARAGA Region. TESDA scholarship allowed him to finish a course in computer electronic technology, and obtain a college degree. He now works at the National Irrigation Administration.
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