TAGUIG CITY -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has named this year’s winners for its annual “Search for Idols ng TESDA” which aims to honor the agency’s outstanding technical vocational education and training (TVET) graduates. 

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz said this year’s winners of the award are true witnesses to the empowering and life-changing effects of technical vocational education and training, and of TESDA’s commitment to its mandate, in providing quality training.

“Kayo ang nagsisilbing patotoo sa pagbabagong hatid ng TVET training at skill sa buhay ng nagtataglay nito.  Ang patuloy na pag-unlad ng inyong buhay ang nagpapatunay na nananatiling tapat ang TESDA sa pagtupad ng kanyang mandato. Kayo ang mga TVET ambassadors sa inyong mga circles of influence. Ikinararangal kayo ng TESDA,” he said.

“Sa anumang kalagayan, hindi titigil ang TESDA sa paghahatid ng mga programa at serbisyo na tutulong upang maabot ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang mga hangarin sa buhay,” he added.

Deputy Director General Aniceto D. Bertiz III also congratulated the awardees as he vowed to further strengthen the Agency’s skills development training programs to produce more graduates whose skills are at par with the international standards.

“We congratulate our outstanding graduates who showed exemplary accomplishments in their respective fields.  We hope that through their examples, they would inspire more Filipinos to improve their skills and create opportunities for others,” he said.

This year’s winners were feted during the awarding ceremony of the “Search for Idols ng TESDA” last Aug. 30 as part of TESDA’s 28th anniversary celebration.

The award seeks to give recognition to tech-voc graduates who have attained remarkable success in their chosen field or occupation and have contributed to the economic improvement of their respective communities.

Adriano Necisito, a farmer from Region III, was named the national winner of “Idols ng TESDA” in the self-employed category.  He was likewise conferred with the “Senior Idol ng TESDA” special award.

Necesito manages the Azbahaen Leisure Farm Inc., an accredited agri-tourism farm site by the Department of Tourism, and an accredited farm school for Organic Agriculture Production NC II by TESDA.  The site is also an accredited venue of training for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Farmers Field School (RCEF-FFS). 

For the wage-employed category, the national winner is CARAGA’s Jhun Victor Quebral who heads the TVET Diploma Programs at Saint Joseph Institute of Technology in Butuan City.  He leads his office in organizing extension services for the community adopted by the institution.

Other winners in the self-employed category are IT expert Dr. Luisa Macatangay who placed first runner-up, and coffee farmer Melvin Olicia who also placed runner-up and also a “Batang Technopreneur” special awardee.

Rounding up the winners for the wage-employed category also include Instruction Supervisor Michael Gonzales and trainer/assessor Jayson Silva, who placed first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.  

Agriculturist Christine Joy Rocapor was hailed as “Batang TESDA! TESDA Best!” awardee.

The Idols ng TESDA is one of the agency's Institutional Awards and is usually conferred to coincide with the TESDA’s annual anniversary celebrations and the commemoration of National Tech-Voc Day.

Qualified nominees are TVET graduates who are Filipino citizens, at least 21 years of age, and with outstanding achievements in the last three years that are in line with his/her field of study or training.  Nominees to the “Idols ng TESDA” need to be endorsed by legitimate civic, social, religious, labor, or industry organizations. (TESDA)