TACLOBAN CITY- The recent 22nd Commencement Exercise by TESDA Region 8’s automotive servicing training saw to the graduation of 18 young scholars who received their training certificates hoping these could land them with gainful jobs to support themselves and improve the lives of their families,
The 18 graduates, composed of 15 males and 3 females, are part of the new generation of auto mechanics of the TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban City through the Heart and Smile Project funded by Isuzu Philippines, with partners World Vision Development Foundation and TESDA which has already produced more than 400 scholars since it started.
Koji Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Isuzu Motors Limited Sales Division offered words of encouragement to the graduates, saying that with courage and determination, they will definitely achieve their aspirations for their families.
Key officials of Isuzu Motors Limited Japan, World Vision Development Foundation Incorporated and TESDA-8 were in attendance mostly left teary-eyed as well, as the graduates expressed their gratitude to their sponsors and their families, and felt their sincere desire and courage to help themselves achieve a better future.
TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez, who graced the Commencement Exercises held at TESDA Region 8, said the project may well be replicated in other parts of the country considering the employment rate of its graduates ay 95%, with 21% of whom are employed abroad, and 71% are hired locally.
The currency of the future is skills. These are skills that can improve the lives of young people and their families
TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez
TESDA is proud of its role in the partnership which has produced graduates who have become productive members of society while improving the lives and welfare of their families.
One of this batch’ graduate, Jomari Nale, eldest of five siblings from Borongan City, whose parents work as farmers in the city’s farming area, said it has been his dream to lift his family up from poverty and help his parents provide a much better future for his siblings.
Nale said he is hopeful he would land a good job with the sponsoring company with the project’s hiring rate pegged at 95%.
“Nais ko lang pong matulungan ang aking pamilya. Malaki ang aking pasasalamat sa proyektong ito dahil ang talagang pinili nilang mabigyan ng oportunidad ay yung talagang malaki ang pangangailangan,” Nale said,
He added that young Filipinos have the desire, courage, and drive to better themselves and all they need is help in getting the education they need.
Meanwhile, Nale’s mother, Resy Rapada, on the other hand said, she has high hopes her son would do good with the skills he had earned, and that she is hopeful, his son’s graduations will be the beginning of a brighter future for their family.
Started in 2008, the current graduates form part of the 22nd batch of scholars from AMTraC’s automative servicing Heart and Smile Project. The graduates who come from poor families from the different parts of the region were meticulously selected by partner World Vision Development Foundation.
