Villanueva: Use social media to push tech-voc

Post date: Jun 10, 2015 1:57:6 AM

"As among the most sociable in the world, Filipinos, specially the youth, can harness the use of social media in promoting technical vocational education", Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva said.

On a Press Statement, dated May 22, 2015, Villanueva said tech-voc graduates who are fanatics of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and other social media sites can also make use of these platforms to market their skills and connect to potential employers.

He cited the graduates who joined the TESDA Video Making Contest Year 2 as among those who have taken to the social media in sharing their success stories to inspire others. The entries came in the form of dramatization, storytelling, music video, and other creative format and were uploaded in Youtube and Facebook. The winners for the individual category and the school category for the Best in Story, Best in Video, People's Choice Award and the Tatak TESDA Grand Winner were awarded last May 12.

"Social media sites offer a creative and meaningful way to connect with a huge audience, including potential employers." Villanueva said.

"By now, the stories of hundreds of our tech-voc graduates who took part in the TESDA video contest have already been viewed by thousands. Opportunities may just come knocking one of these days." he added.

The school category winners were dominated by our very own, Westmin Institute of Technology, Inc. and graduate Celso Pobadora, Jr. (Automotive Servicing NC II) who bagged the grand prize and the best in story awards.

Born to a family of farmers, Pobadora started working at a young age to help augment the family income. An accident left him crippled and unable to continue schooling. After his recovery, he started helping in the machine works of a shop in their community, and found his calling. He enrolled in a tech-voc course and finished as a certified mechanic. He is now assistant trainor at the Westmin Institute of Technology, Inc.

"These graduates are proof of positive change because of tech-voc," Villanueva said. "Because of quality and relevant training, better opportunities now await them. The future is no longer uncertain for them," he added.

The awarding ceremony was held last May 12 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), hosted by television actress Pauleen Luna and Maximo Closa, a tech-voc graduate and TESDA-certified event organizer who was among last year's winners in the TESDA video contest.

The top video entries were evaluated by prestigious personalities who served as judges: Eugenio Villareal, chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB); Herman Basbano, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas; Ramon "Bong" Osorio, vice president and head of corporate communications of ABS-CBN networks; Francis Cardona, chief operating officer of Radio Corporation of the Philippines; Dante Velasco, former undersecretary of Department of Transportation and Communications; Rachelle Villanueva- Munji from the Las Piñas city government; and, Rosauro "Uro" Dela Cruz, film writer and director.

The entries to the TESDA video making contest may be accessed at the agency's website: www.tesda.gov.ph and Facebook account TESDA official.