Villanueva to Tech-voc Graduates: Pay It Forward with Service

Pay it forward by offering free services to poor communities and organizing the youth to engage in fruitful activities.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva left this message to the youth of Tarlac during a twin activity over the weekend that saw a wide range of community service in Paniqui and the launch of a youth group in Moncada town.

The Go Moncada Advance hopes to get the young people in the town in an organization that will help them tap their full potential to become productive citizens.

Its founder, George Michael Aguilar, knows that success can be achieved with hard work and the right opportunity. Graduating with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Aguilar worked overseas until returning the country to settle.

Lending support to the newly-founded organization were Moncada Mayor Benito Aquino and other local officials, and Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzback, who together with Villanueva delivered the keynote message.

Preceding this activity at the municipal plaza of Moncada, tech-voc graduates and 27 Technical Vocational Institutions treated to free services around 3,000 people who were either beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) or members of women’s cooperative or transport group in Lualhati Conjuangco Gymnasium, Sta. Rosa, Paniqui also in the province of Tarlac.

The “Serbisyo ng TESDA Specialista Handog ni Kalihim Joel Villanueva” is a community service, initiated by TESDA Region 3 in partnership with the Central Luzon Technical Vocational Institutions Federation (CLTVIF).

“It is heartwarming to see tech-voc graduates paying it forward by not only by offering services through their skills, but also giving lessons on those interested in their trade secrets – all in the spirit of livelihood empowerment,” Villanueva said.

“Giving back the good that one has received will give chance to people to make it on their own and rise out of poverty,” he added.

The TESDA chief also thanked the schools and organizations who helped in providing the resources for the skills demonstration of the tech-voc graduates.

Among the services made available were small engine repair, electronic products assembly servicing, massage therapy, pedicure and manicure, foot spa, haircutting, fish deboning, soap making and baking.

Source: www.tesda.gov.ph