05 May 2014
They are your everyday, unheralded people who took chance on enrolling in a technical vocational (tech-voc) course and succeeded.
When TESDA launched the Tatak TESDA Video Making Contest in October last year, hundreds of institutions and technical vocational graduates all over the country sent in their entries telling their success stories through a short video.
A polio victim, a young farmer, and a computer technician were among those adjudged winners on the quality of presentation, creativity and the overall message conveyed.
Last May 1 at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Grand Theater, the winners were awarded with plaques of recognition, trophies and scholarship vouchers. Winners in the individual category and tech-voc graduates featured in the school category were awarded with cash prizes and tablets sponsored by Col. Alejandro Escano, president of MFI Technical Institute and TEVSAPHIL.
"The contest inspired young people to find their voice and educate their peers about the benefits of technical vocational education and training, and how this can help change lives," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said.
"Immortalized in their award-winning videos, the success stories of our graduates hope to inspire people to embrace the value of tech-voc education," Villanueva said.
The winners in the Individual category are as follows:
Best in Video
Noel Japitana, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II
Villakananga, Butuan City
Best in Story
Elnard Ympal, Horticulture NC II
San Juan, Siquijor
People's Choice
Omar Kevin Mohammad, Graphic Design NC III
Paranaque City
Grand Winner
Bryan Hernandez, Call Center Training
San Pablo City, Laguna
The winners in the School category are as follows:
Best in Video
Negros Occidental Language and IT Center- Bacolod City
Name of Graduate: Mark Joseph Escora, Finishing Course for Call Center Agents NC II
Best in Story
I-Link College of Science and Technology - Midsayap, Cotabato
Name of Graduate: Allan Diola, Automotive Servicing NC II
People's Choice
United Christian Academy College of Asia - Paranaque City
Name of Graduate: Jetson Mabalot, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II
Grand Winner
United Christian Academy College of Asia - Paranaque City
Name of Graduate: Jetson Mabalot, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II
Mabalot, 19, was disheartened when he was told by his father that he had to stop going to school so that the limited family resources could be used on his brother who was about to finish his studies.
But Mabalot did not leave everything to destiny and started searching for opportunities until he found a scholarship from TESDA. He took a course on Computer Hardware Servicing and excelled in class. After graduation, he was absorbed by the school as teacher-aide and assistant computer technician. He also took the course on training methodology and is now a certified trainor.
"I want to be an instrument of hope to the youth," Mabalot said.
Japitana was a polio victim, but struggled to study and find work. An aunt, who was based in the United States, helped him undergo an operation so he could walk again. After his operation abroad, he returned home to study in a private tech-voc institution.
"Life must go on, ...we must work hard to rise above the barriers," he said.
Just as determined was 27 year-old Elnard Ympal, who said everything started with a piece of paper – an application form for a tech-voc training.
To attend classes, Ympal said he had to walk five kilometers everyday. After finishing the course on horticulture, he began working in a farm, but that the long dry spell made it hard for him to earn from his produce.
Ympal improvised an irrigation system made from softdrinks bottles, which watered his crops.
"Because of a simple idea and my learnings from TESDA, I was able to keep my farm alive," he said.
In 2007, Ympal was feted as one of the young outstanding farmers in his region, and in 2010, was awarded Outstanding Young Farmer of the Philippines.
Hernandez lost his mother when he was nine years old. At an early age, he had to peddle wares in the streets to help augment the family income. He tried applying for a job, but could not get one because he lacked the skills.
In 2006, he enrolled in a call center training course, and this proved to be the key to his success. After working in a university, he established his own review center, and now has three tech-voc school branches in their area.
The winners were chosen during the awards night from a list of 20 finalists, composed of 10 finalists each for the individual and school category.
The 137 entries that passed the criteria of the screening committee were uploaded at TESDA's Facebook page.
The Board of Judges were composed of Robert Labayen, head of Corporate Communications Management of ABS-CBN; former Ambassador Donald Dee , honorary chairman of the the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries; Efren Lingcoran Jr., head of DZMM Integrated News and Current Affairs; Erwin Galang, head of Regulatory and Industry Relations Affairs of Cignal TV; and Carlos Santos Jr., director at ABS-CBN Corp.
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