Meet the TESDA Idols

MANILA, Philippines - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recognizes the talent of Filipino skilled workers as it promotes the successful skills training-to-job employment journey of 12 candidates who took TESDA courses.

Coming from different regions across the nation, the 12 are competing for the National TESDA Idol Search slated on Aug. 25, TESDA’s 15th anniversary. Winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and scholarships from TESDA director general Augusto Syjuco.   

The TESDA Idol finalists are:

• Emmanuel Noel Clemente is an instructor at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte, teaching refrigeration and air-conditioning;

• Bernardo Bacani of Quirino province invented an improvised timing light for auto engine and wood generator.  A graduate of a two-year course in Automotive Mechanic at TESDA, Bernardo worked as an auto welder before he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Education major in Automotive;

• Nelson Guzman went abroad to advance his skills but he soon realized that his heart is still in his country and for its people.  He came back and is now teaching Shielded Metal Arc Welding at the New Era University in Pampanga;

• Garry Buena is proprietor of SpringLuck Engineering in Camarines Sur; 

• Rodante Andres holds a TESDA Competency Assessment National Certificate for Masonry NC II. He has received a couple of awards for his skills, the latest of which was topping the Search for Galing Mason of Holcim, a multinational cement company; 

• Edgar Acero from Cebu City took up Consumer Electronics while working and is now a junior supervisor at Smart Philippines;

• Rene Hapona took up Furniture and Cabinet Making at the Kabasalan National Vocational School in Zamboanga. Today, he has his own business;

• Remegio Gonzales from Iligan City is the director of the School of Engineering Technology, Mindanao State University. He took up a two-year tech-voc Industrial Electricity course and then pursued higher studies, until he earned a Ph.d in Education; 

• Peter Guimare of Davao City rose from being a waiter to being the food and beverage supervisor at the Crown Regency Residences Hotel;

• Janice Reynes of Kidapawan City is a teacher and coordinator at the North Point College of Arts and Technology;       

• Raul Samson of Baguio City finished his General Machine Shop training at NYMC as a scholar of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, and later found employment in an international company;

• Alan Atega of Butuan City is the school director of AMA-CLC in Butuan City. Recently, he found the opportunity of supporting TESDA’s ambitious Jobs Bridging and Internship Program in CARAGA.  His school will be a hub for jobs online starting next month via his savvy linkages.