A FARMER from Zamboanga del Sur and a career woman topped this year’s Search for Idols of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Rogelio Saniel of Region IX was the National Winner in the Self-Employed Category. The president of Saniel Integrated Farm Technological Business School, Inc., a TESDA Accredited Training Institution in Zamboanga del Sur, Saniel was previously recognized as the Most Outstanding Farmer of the Philippines in “Large Animal Raiser” category in the Gawad Saka of the Department of Agriculture. He received the Gintong Sikap Award as well.

On the other hand, Dr. Jeninah Christia Pulhin from Region IV-A was the National Winner for the Wage-Employed Category. Pulhin, the operations manager of Noni’s Resort Inc. in Alitagtag, Batangas and a college professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines University- Batangas, has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management as well as several tech-voc qualifications.

TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu said that this year’s winners are the products of transformative and globally-competitive technical vocational education and training.

“Kayo ang patotoo na ang paglilinang ng kahusayan at pag-angat ng karunungan sa TESDA ay laging higit pa sa inaasahan. Bukod sa skills development at high-quality training, nakatutulong ang TESDA sa pagbabago ng buhay ng ating mga graduates,” he said.

The other winners in the Self-Employed Category were Nieves P. Sarte, CEO of Greenthumb Farming School in Atimonan, Quezon, and Janette V. Fernando, founder of JVF Center for Technical Studies and Assessment Center, Inc., in Gapan City Nueva Ecija who placed 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

In the Wage-Employed Category, Shaid Hassanal Halun of BARMM and Cherry Udaundo of Region II, were the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

The winners were recognized during a ceremony held at the SM Megamall last August 23, 2023, during the week-long celebration of TESDA’s 29th anniversary.