By Niña Christelle M. Sumintac and Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Students of the MMSU College of Industrial Technology (CIT) reaped awards in the 2022 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Regional Skills Competition held August 29-31 at the TESDA Regional Training Center in San Fernando City, La Union. 

Jenifer Asuncion, a junior food processing and service management student, and Maricar Manuel, a sophomore garments and fashion technology student, won gold medals in cooking and fashion technology contests. 

Asuncion and Manuel will have the chance to vie for another gold as they represent Region I in the forthcoming Philippine National Skills Competitions to be held in November this year.

Asuncion showcased her cooking skills which was carried out in a rotating modular format for a total project time of 16 hours during the contest held at the Pangasinan School of Arts and Trades. For her part, Manuel efficiently executed sketching, pattern making and lay-up, construction, and draping for 14 hours from the maximum of 18 hours set to finish the entire four modules. 

Also, Aaron Ralph Galanza, a second-year industrial technology student, got a silver medal in the electrical installation and maintenance contest. 

CIT faculty who coached the students were Prof. Judelyn Mandac (cooking), Prof. Floribelle Javier (fashion technology), and Engr. Jerick Batilo (electronic installation and maintenance). Prof. Janet Rivera is the college’s focal person for TESDA. 

CIT Dean Cesario Pacis expressed delight with the students’ outstanding performance in the regional competition, saying their feat shows they have already acquired appropriate technical competencies while studying at the college. 

In congratulating the winners, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis said the achievement of the students is a big merit for the college as it builds its name in providing quality technical-vocational education in the region. 

Embedded in the TESDA Act of 1994, skills competition is held annually to promote quality skills development in the country by providing opportunities for young individuals to compete and demonstrate their vocational and technical competencies. (HLY/JVBT/DPTJ, StratCom)