TESDA showcase skills excellence in Baguio-Benguet Skills Competition

BAGUIO CITY – The Technical Educational Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) continues its tradition of skills excellence and global competitiveness through the 2019 Baguio-Benguet Provincial Skills Competition held at the Baguio City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT) Compound on March 14-15, 2019.

BEST AMONG THE BEST. Winners of the 2019 Baguio-Benguet Skills Competition pose for posterity during the Awarding Ceremony held at the Baguio City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT) Compound on March 15, 2019. The winners will represent the province in the Regional Skills Competition this April. //Bernice B. Lee

According to Engr. David B. Bungallon, Provincial Director of TESDA Baguio-Benguet, the theme, “Gearing for Skills Excellence,” represents the competition’s goal to select and train the best contenders to represent the province in the Regional Skills Competition in April, with the end view of participating in the national and international levels.

“Baguio and Benguet has contributed to the participation of the country in skills competition, with the challenge to sustain these gains,” said Engr. Bungallon, noting the various recognitions that Baguio achieved in local, national and international skills competitions in the areas of Restaurant Service, Cookery, and Web Design Development.

Moreover, guest speaker and entrepreneur/businessman Michael del Rosario challenged the 29 participating competitors from 10 different schools in Baguio and Benguet to give their best and leave no room for regret.

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT PREPARATION. Entrepreneur and guest speaker Michael del Rosario suits up for the cutting of the ceremonial chain to open the 2019 Baguio-Benguet Skills Competition on March 14-15, 2019 at BCSAT Compound. Behind him are (L-R) Marlyn G. Necesito, Chief of the Regional Operations Division of TESDA-CAR, Arlene L. Cadalig, BCSAT Administrator, and Hector L. Laguardia, Regional Training Center-Baguio Administrator. //Jonathan B. Castillo (BSU DevCom Intern)

“Many champions can come from our city; World-class is nothing, we just have to set our hearts to it,” said del Rosario, noting that Baguio has also won five years in a row in prestigious international speaking competitions.

In addition, Engr. Bungallon said that the competition aims to promote skills standards and quality Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among students, technical institutions and workers primarily to enhance their employability, and ensure that their skills are globally aligned.

He added that the contest packages of the competition were designed from the ASEAN standards and that the system of judging used the WorldSkills Competition Information System (CIS) to ensure international alignment and competitiveness.

SETTING THE GOLD STANDARD IN SKILLS EXCELLENCE. TESDA-Baguio Benguet Provincial Director Engr. David B. Bungallon sets the challenge for the competitors and experts during the 2019 Baguio-Benguet Skills Competition held at the BCSAT Compound. With him are (L-R) Engr. Carol M. Paran, Vice-President of the Baguio Association of Private Technical Vocational Institutions (BAPTI); Dr. Angeline T. Bugtong, President of the Association of Technical and Vocational Institutions in Benguet (ATVIB); Marlyn G. Necesito, Chief of the Regional Operations Division of TESDA-CAR; Arlene L. Cadalig, BCSAT Administrator; and Hector L. Laguardia, Regional Training Center-Baguio Administrator. //Jonathan B. Castillo (BSU DevCom Intern)

The skills competition produced 10 Gold awardees, five Silver, and six Bronze awardees in the eight competition areas. Competitors from Blue Phenix bagged the Gold in two areas through Iris May E. Wanawan who competed in Beauty Therapy and Jayson S. Martin for Hairdressing.

Meanwhile, Informatics-Baguio dominated the three IT-related areas through J.M. C. Natividad for IT Software Solutions for Business, John Ross B. Alba for Graphic Design Technology, and Jayrod S. Galaus for Web Design and Development.

BCSAT also bagged three Golds through Jonathan S. Supsupin in Cookery, with Sweeney C. Reyes and Kris Dan P. Atas for Restaurant Service, while Manuel P. Aclopen, Jr. and Kevin Lloyd P. Umali of the Regional Training Center-Baguio each achieved Gold in Welding Technology.

Twenty-nine competitors participated in the competition representing 10 different schools, including the University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, SKD Academy, VIVIXX, Benguet Technical School and BENECO Skills Training Center. #