top of page

A WORLD FULL OF DARKNESS BUT A HEART THAT OVERFLOWS WITH COURAGE AND SUCCESS

Posted February 9, 2017

Mark Lester Baliguat Artocilla is a 22 year- old visually impaired man. With a walking stick in his hand, he is able to reach places where he can find his bread and butter. Artocilla lives in Habana, Buruanga, Aklan. According to him, he was abandoned by his grandmother when he was only seven. He became one of the street children roaming around and asking for something to eat for almost nine years.

​

Artocilla just became blind after her mother’s death. It was believed that he became visually challenged because of the radiation and “pasma”. “Pumunta na rin ako sa ospital. Sabi ng doktor, may part sa inner eye na hindi mag- function. Ni- resetahan ako ng doktor. Baka sakali daw na luminaw pa ang aking mata.”, said by Artocilla while explaining the possible solution for his eyes.  Nag- iigib ako ng tubig sa mga kapit- bahay at kung anu- ano pa para makakain, added by Artocilla. “Mahirap po talaga”. According to him, he also experienced picking up anything from the street and eat the latter upon smelling or touching it.

ROLE BAUTISTA, THE GREAT TECHNICIAN

Posted September 20, 2016

 

Role Bautista. 27 years old from New Washington, Aklan.
 

A man who endlessly thank God for the good things that had happened after taking a short term course under TESDA. It was 2013 when Mr. Bautista took Consumer Electronics Servicing for one year and has been chosen as one of the TESDA Specialista’s.

“Nakipag- sapalaran ako sa Boracay. Naranasan ko matulog ako sa dalampasigan  dahil wala akong pera. Pumunta ako doon pero wala akong napuntahan. May nakita akong “available technician”. Sabi ko, Lord thank you! Nag- apply ako at tinanggap ako.

​

It has been almost 4 years that Bautista worked as a technician in a certain repair shop.

​

“Someday, gusto ko rin maging boss ako”, Bautista expressed his dream with a teary eye.

​

While working as a technician, Bautista decided to earn an amount to have his own materials. He dreamt of putting up his own repair shop to support his child and his wife’s needs.

​

The school has become his training ground and his experience in that repair shop developed his skills.

Going back to New Washington, Aklan with his skills acquired from the training and experiences, Bautista has put up his own repair shop.

​

He started his business alone but presently with his employed assistant technician.

​

“Mahirap ang pinag- daanan ko. My time na umiiyak ako kasi parang hindi yata ako aasenso. Yung inismol ako. Bobo daw ako. Pero ito ang nag- bigay sa akin ng inspirasyon. Pero hindi ako makapaniwala na ito na narating  ko na nag umpisa sa wala”, said Bautista.

​

“Partner ko si God sa aking business. Sa mga taong walang pag- asa, connect to God because the promise of God, Jeremiah 29: 11 for He knows the plans declares the Lord give a bright future not to harm”, said Bautista encouraging people to always connect to God.

​

Roljo’s repair shop is now operating for almost 4 years.

​

“Maraming salamat sa TESDA sa pag- bigay ng pakkakataon sa mga wala. Kung wala siguro ang TESDA, hindi siguro ako naging successfull”, said Bautista expressing gratitude to the management.

A SIMPLE WOMAN TURNS INTO AN OWNER OF AN ACCREDITED TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER

Posted September 20, 2016

 

“Kung uwa ro TESDA, siguro uwa man ako” (“I may have nothing without TESDA”), Mrs. Muyette Villorente, a 53- year old woman residing at kalibo, Aklan who has struggled to achieve what she deserves after she overcomes trials and discouragements. 

​

Mrs. Villorente is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce. She married a civil engineer and decided not to find for a job for the reason that her husband asked her not to.

She became a contractual employee in a local government unit receiving 80.00 pesos per day and has five children left with her. “Nahidlaw eot ang Nay it karne”, uttered by one of her daughters who misses eating meat. “Mitso gin- kumos rang dughan pagka- bati ko kato. Nagtalikod ako, ag rikato nag- tueo rang euha”, said Mrs. Villorente who seemed to remember the times that she was in need of a bread and butter to support her kids’ needs.

​

Mrs. Villorente met “nang” Juling. An old woman who knows “pah- hihilot”. “Nang” Juling asked Mrs. Villorente’s permission if she could utilize their “payag” (kubo) in front of their house. At first, Mrs. Villorente refused to allow her but then agreed to help the old woman. After months, “Nang” Juling’s skills of “pang- hihilot” caught Mrs. Villorente’s attention and curiosity that she decided to be with the old woman whenever there were clients.

​

A year has passed and Mrs. Villorente went abroad to be an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). It has been two years and went back to the Philippines and became a Sales Supervisor in a company. She also worked as a receptionist at Boracay, Aklan and has been hired also as a personal secretary of her superior in a resort.

​

Year 2008, Mrs. Villorente attended a 20- day community- based training in Massage Therapy under TESDA to develop her skills and to know more about proper execution of massage. After that, she took Trainer’s Methodology at New Lucena Polytechnic College under Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). ‘‘Mabahoe nga bulig ro TESDA”, said Mrs. Villorente expressing gratitude to the management stressing that TESDA is a very big help. From then on, she became a trainer of massage Therapy NC II. It was 2015 when she became an accredited assessor. She trains and assesses. “Uwa it imposible kung naga- tinguhaa” (there is no impossible if you persevere), she added.

​

“Ag nag- abot si Director Jamero. Imaw ro nag- push kakun nga mag put up it school”, Mrs. Villorente said thanking Dr. Jamero, the present TESDA Provincial of Aklan for pushing and encouraging her to go into a new phase of progress. 19th day of January 2016 when they were accredited as an Assessment Aenter. December 15, 2015 was also there accreditation of their Training Center.

​

Presently, Mrs. Villorente and her children have their 30 trainees to finish Hilot (Wellness Massage) NC II under Bottoms- Up Budgeting (BUB) which is also under TESDA cunducted in her very own Villorente Training and Assessment center, Corp. and aiming to register another qualification this 2016.

​

Mrs. Villorente, a woman, a mother, a person who deserves success.

“Kung uwa ro TESDA, siguro uwa man ako”. (“I may have nothing without TESDA”).

SUCCESS STORIES​

He was then adopted by a Pastor who assisted him to his daily needs. “Doon ko narinig ang magagandang balita tungkol sa TESDA kaya nagpunta ako sa opisina nila. Nakilala ko si Sir Julius ng Aklan Provincial Office na nagsabi sa akin kung willing akong mag- aral sa Saint Gabriel College para makakuha ng National Certificate II sa Massage Therapy. Nakilala ko din si Maam Muyette Villorente (Villorente Training and Assessment Center Corp) at Ma’am Lenore O. Medina ng Saint Gabriel College, Inc. na tinuruan akong mag- massage.

​

Artocilla was provided with food, transportation and allowances by the Saint Gabriel College. Ms. Lenore O. Medina as the TechVoc Department Head of the said institution with her colleagues helped support the young boy. Kumuha ako ng boarding house. “Nag sa- sideline po akong mag-massage para meron din naman akong pamasahe papuntang Saint Gabriel College”. Para sa akin, mas okey na na ganito kaysa dati na hopeless talaga ako”.

​

Artocilla was granted with a scholarship by the Saint Gabriel College, Inc. in Massage Therapy NC II. Happy pa rin ako kasi di ko ma- feel na blind talaga ako. 

​

While attending the daily training, Artocilla was also enrolled to Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Braille, a system of reading and writing by touch used by the blind. He also works as a part- time guest in a certain radio station who gives advices to callers and advertises business related matters and any announcements from certain clients.

​

 “Uwa kamo nagsala sa inyong gin-sudlan. Walang rason na hindi pag- seryusohon daya ngara kasi malaking opportunity ang makapag- aral ng libre”, said by Artocilla extending his encouragement to all trainees of TESDA.

​

“Sa pag-mamasahe, bukod sa kabuhayan na matatanggap mo, makakatulong ka pa sa ibang tao.  Kung gusto mong maging successful, walang makakapigil sa iyo. , said by Artocilla as he ended his words with gratitude to the people from TESDA Aklan Family who supported him towards the achievement of his dreams.                                    

bottom of page