16 September 2014
Imbued with entrepreneurial spirit and believing in their own business management skills, these two graduates of technical vocational (tech-voc) courses created employment for themselves.
Cristina Reyes of Dagupan City and Meliton Caraggayan of Tuguegarao City have shown the way that self-employment could spell success, too, for tech-voc graduates.
The two are this year's national winners at the annual Idols ng TESDA award (Self-employed Category), which fetes tech-voc graduates who have shown tenacity and dedication in pursuing self-improvement and excellence using their skills.
After an unpleasant experience as an overseas Filipino worker, Reyes returned to the country in 2004, and worked as manager of a spa in Dagupan City. She worked at night, so she could take short tech-voc courses at Greenmont Systems International during the day.
Greenmont later on took her in as training director as she completed programs in Massage Therapy and Basic Reflexology in 2009.
With her new-found skills, Reyes and five other fellow therapists ventured into a home service massage business, which got them many loyal customers. In 2013, she decided to establish her own massage business in Dagupan City, which she called The Massage Habitat Spa. The spa now has three other branches and employs 30 masseurs and reflexologists.
A certified trainer in the same course that she took, Reyes is often asked to speak in seminars and livelihood training on her success story.
Regarded as a self-made man with a nose for business, Caraggayan used his skills in computers in accepting repair jobs. While at this, he did not stop learning and took various courses to upgrade his skills, especially on troubleshooting.
In 2001, after two years as a freelance technician and having saved enough money, he set up the Aparri Computer Center in Cagayan. His computer business now employs tech-voc graduates, who help him man the center. Caraggayan is setting his sight next on putting up his own training center to offer various TESDA courses.
Cristina Reyes
Region I. A returning OFW, she turned to tech-voc and honed her skill and got a National Certificate in Massage Therapy and Reflexology. She has established her own massage service business in Pangasinan which now has three other branches.
Meliton Caraggayan
Region II. Finishing a tech-voc course related to computer repairs, he worked as freelance technician until he was able to set up his own computer business. He aims to put up his own training center to be able to offer TESDA courses.
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