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TAGUIG CITY — Indeed, the National Capital Region-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA NCR) has lived up to its theme of “ONE NCR: Skilled, Dynamic and Future-Ready”.

Excited, loud, excited and, obviously, euphoric, winners and non-winners among the 120 participants in the WorldSkills Philippines NCR 2026 as well as officials of the regional office led by Regional Director Angelina M. Carreon, tec-voc experts, representatives of technical vocational schools (TVIs), industry partners, and other guests celebrated the occasion as the May 25-29 competition concluded on Friday. The concluding activities was held at the agency’s Multi-Purpose Gymnasium, TESDA Complex, East Service Road, Bicutan.

Around 120 skilled participants as well as 98 experts and 27 participating institutions competed across 35 skills areas covering six priority sectors, with guidance and evaluation from 98 experts from industry and training institutions. The competition focused on disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Mechatronics, Graphic Design Technology, Web Technologies, Automobile Technology, Electrical Installations, Additive Manufacturing, Fashion Technology, Electric Vehicle Technology, Game Programming, Prototype Modelling, Fashion Technology, and others.

Carreon cited the significance of the event, saying that “WorldSkills is more than a competition — it is a national platform for excellence, discipline, and transformation in her closing message.

The week-long NCR edition of WorldSkills celebrated as well the region’s most outstanding young tech-voc talents and sending its champions forward to the National Skills Olympics some in the near future.

In a statement forward to SDN – SciTech & Digital News, TESDA NCR noted that the awarding ceremony which concluded the activities “marks not an end, but a beginning — as NCR’s champions now advance to compete for   national honors and the opportunity to represent the Philippines in the international WorldSkills arena.”

Read: TESDA NCR Opens Worldskills Philippines NCR 2026 Edition

TESDA NCR cited strong support from industry which ensures that the agency’s talents can continue to access equipment and training aligned with international standards as it sustains preparations for Filipino workers for the global workplace stage.

“Through WorldSkills Philippines NCR 2026, TESDA NCR reaffirms its mandate under Republic Act No. 7796 to champion skills excellence, forge industry-government partnerships, and create pathways for the next generation of Filipino professionals toward innovation, lifelong learning, and world-class competitiveness,” the agency assured.

Winners or champions of the skills competition or Gold Medal won Php10,000 with Certificate of Recognition; Silver Medal, Php7,000 with Certificate of Recognition, and Bronze Medal, Php5,000 and Certificate of Recognition.

TESDA NCR Assistant Regional Director Dr. Antoinette Ma. G. Cadastro welcomed the attendees of the event, saying the competition tested the participants’ patience, talents, and competitiveness, adding the WorldSkills Philippines NCR 2026 called for sacrifice, dedication, and confidence.

Below, the complete list of winners.

Meanwhile, TESDA Deputy Director General for Operations Vidal D. Villanueva III commended TESDA NCR and its leadership for its warm and energy in staging the event. He said the NCR activities surpassed the warmth and energy of the Worldskills Philippines SOCCSKSARGEN 2026 which he attended recently. (SOCCSKSARGEN is Region XII in Southern-Central Mindanao.)

Villanueva III acknowledged the attendance of Fr. Edicio dela Torre, former TESDA director general, as well as what he described as the “Father of TESDA”, Dr. Jose D. Lacson, the agency’s first director general.

The TESDA deputy director general said that tech-voc training should not end with the graduation but they should have landed a job already, indicating that the reason for being of technical vocational and education training (TVET) is to arm graduates with future-ready talents and skills to land them employment at the end of their training.

He said that winners of the National Skills Olympics will be sent to represent the Philippines in September to the WorldSkills Competition 2026 in Shanghai, China.

Messages of support were also delivered by Taguig City Mayor Lani L. Cayetano as she congratulated the competitors, the winners and non-winners alike; NCR Alliance of TVET Schools Association (NATSA), Inc. President Dr. Mary Grance Rosalia N. Gulan expressed support for the activities covering TESDA NCR, TESDA PaMaMariSan, and the six districts of NCR. “In the NCR, we all rise up as  One. No one is left behind. Long live NCR, long live NATSA, and long live TESDA,” she said.

Others who offered their messages of support included Eng’r Eric Jude S. Soliman, NCR TESDC chairperson and Manufacturing Sector representative. “We commend the leadership of TESDA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Benitez and TESDA NCR Regional Director Angelina M. Carreon,” he said. — EDD K. USMAN (/)

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The author

EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)