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TAGUIG CITY – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) headed by Secretary Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez has officially launched Juana Creatives, a multi-disciplinary co-working hub designed to empower women and aspiring creatives through skills development, enterprise support, and creative collaboration — while equipping them with artificial intelligence (AI)-resilient or “AI-proof” creative skills.
Held last March 30, the launch, led by the secretary, featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the hub.
He emphasized that the initiative expands technical vocational education and training (TVET) into the creative and cultural industries while making learning more accessible for Filipinos who want to explore creative skills outside traditional work hours.
“Juana Creatives reflects TESDA’s continuing commitment to empower women by creating spaces where creativity can flourish into opportunity, enterprise, and personal growth. At the same time, this initiative helps future-proof creative livelihoods by focusing on skills that remain distinctly human — craft, design, storytelling, and cultural expression — even as artificial intelligence reshapes industries,” Benitez pointed out.
Juana Creatives provides an inclusive environment for freelancers, hobbyists, cultural practitioners, and creative entrepreneurs. The hub offers short, industry-led courses and workshops across a wide range of creative disciplines, with flexible schedules that include evenings and weekends to accommodate working professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Participants can learn pottery and ceramics with Studio Roman, scent making with Fragrance Factory, leather craft with Everything Green, pattern making and fashion with SLIMS, gemstone and jewelry-making with Lapidary, photography and videography with the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), film production with the Film Academy of the Philippines(FAP) Guilds, digital embroidery with Norde, and animation with TESDA HRDC and the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACP).
By focusing on hands-on, craft-based, and culturally rooted disciplines, the hub supports the development of creative competencies that are less susceptible to automation, ensuring that learners remain competitive and adaptable in an AI-driven economy.
Juana Creatives will also provide mentorship, enterprise incubation support, and market access to help participants turn their creative skills into sustainable businesses. Through partnerships with industry practitioners and creative professionals, the hub aims to foster innovation, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment for women and the broader creative community.
“This strengthens TESDA’s efforts to connect skills training with the evolving needs of the creative industry. As technology advances, we must ensure that our workforce is not only digitally aware but also grounded in uniquely human skills that technology cannot easily replicate. Through Juana Creatives, we are building stronger links between training, innovation, and market opportunities,” the TESDA chief said.
Juana Creatives is expected to benefit largely women trainees and graduates of TESDA programs, hobbyists, freelancers, enterprises, cultural practitioners and artisans, and corporate partners seeking meaningful collaboration and creative engagement.
While being launched in time with TESDA’s Women’s Month celebrations, the Juana Creatives Hub is open to trainees of all genders.
Photographic record by SDN Online of the launch of Juana Creatives Hub :
More details on the Juana Creatives Hub
Juana Creatives is a multi-disciplinary co-working and learning hub designed to empower women and aspiring creatives through skills development, enterprise support, and creative collaboration.
The initiative expands TESDA’s training programs into the creative and cultural industries — combining livelihood opportunities with lifelong learning, innovation, and wellness. It also supports the development of AI-resilient creative skills, ensuring participants remain competitive in an evolving digital economy.
What the Hub Offers
A. Creative Spaces
• Co-working areas for creatives, freelancers, and enterprises
• Workshops for traditional and contemporary crafts
• Digital and multimedia laboratories
• Studio rental spaces and shared service facilities
• Exhibit and pop-up market areas
B. Programs and Training
• Micro-credential workshops
• Arts, crafts, and design training (e.g., pottery, jewelry, scent-making)
• Digital creative skills (animation, multimedia, game development)
• Creative entrepreneurship and branding
• Wellness and personal development programs
C. Enterprise Support
• Product development and mentoring
• Branding and packaging assistance
• Market access through exhibits and pop-ups
• Industry and corporate partnerships
D. Objectives
• Provide accessible creative spaces and training opportunities
• Develop industry-aligned, micro-credentialed programs
• Support women-led creative enterprises
• Preserve and promote Filipino arts and culture
• Establish a scalable creative hub model for nationwide replication
E. Target Beneficiaries
• Women trainees and TESDA graduates
• Aspiring creatives and hobbyists
• Freelancers and women-led enterprises
• Cultural practitioners and artisans
• Corporate partners for CSR and team-building programs
F. Expected Impact
• Increased income opportunities for women creatives
• Stronger pipeline of creative entrepreneurs
• Expanded access to creative skills training
• Preservation of Filipino cultural heritage
• A sustainable and replicable creative hub model for TESDA centers
Those interested may inquire about the Juana Creatives Hub at the TESDA Women’s Center along East Service Road, Taguig City. They can also call 8817-2650 or 8817-2651, or send an email to twc@tesda.gov.ph. (/)