A DEAN from the Lyceum of the Philippines and an industry service practitioner from the MIMAROPA region are this year’s winners of Idols ng TESDA.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority said that Ryan Mejia, PhD, an academician who currently serves as the Dean of the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management in Lyceum of the Philippines in Batangas City is the National Winner for the Wage-Employed category.

Aside from his dean duties, Dr. Mejia is also a certified TVET (Technical-Vocational Education and Training) trainer who has TESDA National Certificates I, II and III in Food and Beverage, Ship Catering Services, Travel Services and Events Management Services and a holder of Trainers Methodology Certificate I.

He also authored a research entitled “Industry Partners Perspective on Cruise Line Management Trainees: Basis for Improved Internship Program” which was published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management in 2017.

Mejia was also recognized for his outstanding contribution as an expert for Restaurant Servicing during the 2019 Worldskills Competition in Kazan, Russia.

The other winners in the wage-employed category were college instructor John Erwin SJ. Cano from Region III (first runner-up), and school directress Sr. Ailyn Cayanan, FMA from MIMAROPA (second runner-up).

Meanwhile, industry services practitioner Ronalhd Eguiron from MIMAROPA Region was declared the National Winner for the Self-Employed Category.

Eguiron is a multi-skilled TVET trainer and a holder of NC I and II in Front Office Services and Housekeeping, National TVET Trainer Certificate I and TMC I.

Through TESDA trainings, Eguiron was able to put up his own training school — the St. Mark Arts and Training Institute — which offers seven TESDA-registered programs in tourism-related qualifications.

The otho winners in the self-employed category were farm owner Jefferson Laruan from the Cordillera Administrative Region, cosmetologist Meynard Loyola from Region 12, Barista and social media marketer Genesis Masangkay from National Capital Region.

Both Meji and Eguiron received plaques of recognition and a P30,000 cash prize.

The first runners-up got P25,000 each, and the second runners-up received P20,000 each.

The Idols ng TESDA Award is held annually to honor outstanding technical vocational education and training graduates of the agency. It is one of TESDA’s Institutional Awards as part of the agency’s anniversary celebration and in commemoration of National Tech-Voc Day.