Bridging Education and Vocational Training between PTC – Davao and Tacunan National High School

A meeting between representatives from the Provincial Training Center–Davao (PTC–Davao) and officials from Tacunan National High School (TNHS) in Barangay Tacunan, Tugbok District on July 23, 2024, marked an important milestone in improving educational outcomes. The inception of an Adopt-a-School Program occurred during this coordination meeting, aiming to strengthen the connection between academic and vocational education.

Personnel from both sides came together for the meeting. PTC–Davao was represented by Engr. Sammy S. Cameros, the Center Administrator, Jonathan D. Samillano, the Vocational Instruction Supervisor and CGAP Focal Niel Ven L. Bacalangco. The representatives from TNHS were Master Teacher I Cristina B. Florida, Brigada Coordinator and Teacher II Vincent G. Ultiano, and Teacher II Maria Rhea S. Dizon.

This initiative seeks to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between PTC–Davao and TNHS. The partnership aims to exchange expertise, enhance the skills of TNHS TVL track teachers, and provide training opportunities. This approach acknowledges the changing demands of education in a fast-paced job market, where technical and vocational skills are becoming more important.

The proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) will solidify this partnership, establishing a foundation for a structured and lasting collaboration. This agreement could be a model for future partnerships, bringing about significant changes in the education sector of Davao City and surrounding areas.

The Adopt-a-School Program exemplifies a progressive approach to education. Merging academic and vocational training seeks to enhance students’ readiness for the demands of the modern workforce. This partnership provides TNHS teachers valuable professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching methods with practical, industry-relevant skills.

This program shows an increasing acknowledgment of the necessity for comprehensive, interconnected educational methods. Encouraging collaboration across different educational institutions paves the way for eradicating educational isolation and nurturing graduates with versatile expertise.

PTC-DAVAO AND JCI DAVAO PROVIDE ENHANCEMENT TRAINING FOR PROJECT BAKERS GRADUATES IN BRGY. BAGO OSHIRO

On June 30, 2024, TESDA Provincial Training Center – Davao has teamed up with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Davao to boost the baking skills of Bread and Pastry Production NC II graduates under Project BAKERS. This initiative aimed to provide advanced training for women, refining their skills in bread and pastry production and empowering them to achieve their dream of opening “Panaderya ni Juana,” their own community bakery.

The activity was attended by Jonathan D. Samillano, TESDA Specialist II and Special Project Focal, Hon. ImeldaB. Bajao, Barangay Kagawad and GAD Focal, and JCI Davao representatives led by its President Carlo Franco Santos, Secretary General Marc Leo Esponilla, and international baker Mike Hingpit. Mr. Samillano acknowledged the potential of the collaboration, emphasizing its significance for women’s economic empowerment.

Our objective, as Esponilla explained, is to inspire the association with the additional knowledge and skills needed to establish their own Panaderya ni Juana. With the combined support of JCI Davao, TESDA, and the Barangay Council, we are here to turn your dream into reality.

The participants engaged eagerly in learning the intricacies of baking various breads and pastries. Impressed by their commitment, Hingpit remarked that they would thrive as bakery owners. At the end of the training, the participants proudly presented their freshly baked Pâte à Choux (Choux Au Craquelin), showcasing their newly acquired skills.

The women felt a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. The enhancement training not only enriched their baking abilities, but also ignited an entrepreneurial spirit within the Bago Oshiro community.

A MESSAGE FULL OF INSPIRATION, A CALL FOR A MISSION! REPAIRING A BROKEN PAST TOWARDS A FUNCTIONING PRESENT - Ruben Villacencio’s Ring to Success

A 34-year-old technician named Ruben Villacencio was born and raised in Davao Oriental, San Isidro. He’s the sixth child in their family. He has two elder brothers, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers, and he did not mention the rest of his siblings since he came from a large family. Just like the others struggling financially, he is also a victim of circumstance. His life in the province was quite difficult; his parents couldn’t afford to send him to school. For them to have something to eat, he had to cultivate crops like corn, bananas, and coconuts. Despite this, he finished his elementary education at Laak Davao de Oro.

His parents were even constantly fighting because of different matters; one day, a fight between his parents changed his life. When his father was about to hit his mother, it was Ruben hit at the back and front of the head. It bled a lot. His eyes were affected, which caused him to be half-blind. He recalled it was a painful experience for him, and he can’t even put it into words. At 12, his father died, and he had to stand as a father for his family to survive. He said to himself that he had to multiply his efforts to live a comfortable life. These bitter experiences pushed him to venture into the city and decide to be a working student to sustain his basic needs. The drive he had in his heart to get out of poverty gave him strength.

He was a working student throughout high school and attended only Sunday classes. He worked as a salesman for cellphone accessories at Brgy. Mintal. He had done this for four years until he finished high school. He decided not to enter college, and in 2011, he decided to set up a small business, which is a cellphone repair business. When he was just starting, he was only selling chargers, SIM cards, and cellphone cases. He even borrowed 10,000 pesos as capital from his elder brother. After only a year, his business grew and continues to expand up to this day. 

In 2015, he underwent an assessment in Consumer Electronics Service, which was amended in 2016 to Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing NC II, at the Provincial Training Center Davao. He passed the assessment but wasn’t able to get a national certificate because he lost his claim stub. Years passed, and he decided to enroll in Electronic Product Assembly and Servicing II at the same center because it offers free training and assessment for technicians. According to him, it helped him hone his skills, learn new knowledge, and apply it to his existing business. 

In addition, he has a branch in Tibanban, Governor Generoso, and Davao Oriental. According to him, his business is going well. Both shops offer cellphone accessories and memory cards; he also repairs LCDs and offers mobile wallets to allow his customers to accept cash-in and cash-out. By doing so, he can compare his life and income before moving to the province with what he has now. He is hoping that what he learned in TESDA will help him help other people as well through his business. [SMAC – Ira Monica M. Tan]

MY HOLY LAND FARMING EXPERIENCE! A Success Story of John Paul Olandria

“TESDA PTC–Davao is the key to rev up my Israel Agro-studies”, quips John Paul Olandria, a 27-year-old hopeful from Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City. His journey to secure a slot for the Agro-studies internship in Israel was challenging because he lacked the requirements to support his bid. However, with his persistence and his family’s encouragement, he prospered. In October 2022, he fulfilled one of his bucket lists as he set his footprints on the Holy Land.

Jepoy, as his family and friends called him, graduated from the University of Southeastern Philippines–College of Development Management (USEP-CDM) Campus in Mintal, Davao City. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Agricultural Business Management, and passed the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists, which made him a licensed agriculturist. 

He confessed that even though he was in agriculture studies before, and had already tackled the principles of agriculture, it did not provide additional necessary skills while studying at the university. It prompted him to continue his studies.

He enrolled in Organic Agriculture Production NC II at TESDA Provincial Training Center–Davao. He remarked that “the institution provides very effective skills on trades. It further enhances your knowledge in your specialization, even if you are already in the industry.” He shared further that he took the qualification in OAP NC II, which enriched his understanding of the ideologies of the organic way of farming and trained him a lot of inputs not using synthetic as opposed to the usual conventional farming where excessive use of these artificial chemicals is present. The ideas they teach about organic farming principles conform to the country's standards, which is why every trainee who took the program from TESDA PTC–Davao institution becomes confident enough to be equipped with natural farming.

While attending his OAP NC II training, he learned about the Agro-studies internship program in Israel offered by TESDA to young and aspiring Filipino agriculturists. He pursued his interest and secured the documents needed for his internship application. After his OAP NC II training in July 2022, he took the national assessment and secured the National Certificate Level II. Then, he accomplished his community-based training on Trainers Methodology Level I at the Regional Training Center–KorPhil in Buhisan, Tibungco, Davao City. After his productive stints at TESDA, he continued applying for the Agro-studies internship grant in Israel. All his hardships paid off when his name was listed among the successful applicants. On October 21, 2022, he flew to Israel together with other young agriculturists.  

He shared, “Although the training is still ongoing, I can observe a big difference of improvement in terms of knowledge, and I am positive that it elevates my confidence–it equipped me with agriculture principles. I think there is a gap between the knowledge that is being taught in the Philippine Academes compared to the Israel Agro-studies. But in terms of hands-on skills, TESDA can cope with international practice.”

He added that the most remarkable experience he had from the Agro-studies was the field trips in demo farms, where they could see the operations and production protocol of different farms and be able to understand the topics taught through actual demonstrations. Plus, the experience of working with different people coming from different nations and cultures.

The Agro-studies run for eleven months and provide a unique internship training in agriculture, combining advanced studies and based on the ‘learning by doing' method in various agricultural fields. 

After his internship, he plans to venture into the propagation production of herbs and ornamental plants, just like from the farm he worked with. Also, he sees himself in teaching and transferring the knowledge he gained to other people, especially the youth. [Jonathan D. Samillano–SMAC Focal]