TESDA Idols 2018 winners proclaimed

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has proclaimed its two National Winners for the annual TESDA Idols 2018 awards.

The award is given to hardworking individuals TVET graduates who eventually became successful in their endeavors as a result of their technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs.

There are two categories for the award: Wage-Employed Category and Self-Employed Category.

Under the Wage-Employed Category, April Rose B. Flores of TESDA Region Xll and a graduate of a Food Preparation and Service Technology course was named the National Winner.

Flores is a beneficiary of the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) through which she was able to finish a three-year vocational course on Food Preparation and Service Technology at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM)-Kidapawan City.

She finished Industrial Technology major in Food and Beverage Preparation and Service Management in 2012 and Master of Technology Education in 2017. At present, she is completing her doctorate degree in Philosophy in Technology Management.

1^st Runner-up is Dr. Leomar A. Liboon ng Region Xl, an Agriculture and Tourism graduate, while 2nd Runner-up is Fernando Yap Ramos of Region ll, whose qualifications include Food and Beverage Services, Bread and Pastry Production NC ll, Front Office Services NC lll, Housekeeping NC ll, Cookery NC ll, and Bartending NC ll.

Alfred D. Santos, a Tourism graduate of Region llI, was given the Batang TESDA! TESDA Best! special award.

Under the Self-Employed Category, the National Winner is Tina M. Ronato of Region Vll who completed a TVET course on Cookery/Commercial Cooking.

Ronato's knowledge in Cookery and Commercial Cooking was a big factor when he founded his own training center offering TESDA-registered programs.

Rolando M. Rocapor of TESDA Region l, Agriculture and Fishery, was 1^st Runner-up while Johnny N. Nambong, of Region Xll, Food and Beverages Services NC ll, was awarded 2^nd Runner-up.

Nambong also received the Batang Technopreneur special award.

Each National Winner received P25,000 as cash prize. The two 1^st Runners-up each received 20,000 while the 2^nd Runners-up got P15,000 each. The Batang TESDA! TESDA Best! and Batang Technopreneur winners each went home with P25,000. Awardees also received trophies and plaques.

The awarding ceremony for TESDA Idols 2018 was held last August 23 at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City.

The winners were chosen based on the 20 nominees nationwide from TESDA’s 17 regions.