SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva underscored the importance of lifelong learning through skills development, assessment, and certification, noting that technical-vocational (tech-voc) education has become widely accessible not only in the Philippines but across Southeast Asia.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025, Villanueva expressed gratitude to Malaysia, current ASEAN chair, for highlighting skills development through the event, which he described as the “Olympics of Skills.”

“We thank Malaysia, current ASEAN Chair, for paying attention to skills as a key driver of regional growth through the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025. Your strong participation here shows your commitment to proving that skills are truly the currency of the ASEAN labor market,” said Villanueva, also known as TESDAMAN for championing tech-voc education during his term as TESDA director general, senator, and as an EDCOM2 Commissioner.

“In the Philippines, the success stories of our TVET graduates prove that skilled workers enjoy greater labor mobility, contribute to economic resilience, and fuel the growth of our micro, small, and medium enterprises,” he added.

Villanueva stressed the value of skills certification in gaining meaningful employment and improving social standing across the region, citing the Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development passed by ASEAN leaders last year.

“Skills certificates are recognized as passports for employment and upward mobility in ASEAN workplaces. How much more if one has certification from a WorldSkills Competition? What better recognition than a medal?” he said.

With ASEAN’s youth population projected to exceed 220 million by 2038, the senator expressed hope that this demographic will drive transformative growth through innovation, resilience, and continuous learning.

He congratulated the 259 competitors who went head-to-head across 32 skill areas under six sectors: Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Construction and Building Technology, Social and Personal Service, Creative Arts and Fashion, and Transportation and Logistics.

Team Philippines won 30 medals: 10 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze, and 5 medallions of excellence. Filipino gold medalists included Hayden Christian Gravador and Gian Benedict Cariño (Internet of Things), John Patrick Torres and Steven Retirado (CNC Maintenance), Alexis Joseph Anuta (Plumbing and Heating), James Cavin Sayago (Electrical Installation), James Bryan Estrada (Industrial Control), Honorato Amad II (Carpentry), Agee Docayso (Cooking), Denmark Dadia (Refrigeration and Airconditioning), Hannah Krystelle Caintic (Graphic Design Technology), and Carlos Antonio Delos Reyes (Hotel Reception).

The 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition in the Philippines, themed ASEAN: Skilled for the Future, was the region’s largest showcase of technical excellence and vocational innovation since its inception. It also reflected the shared vision of the 11 ASEAN Member States—and Timor Leste, which participated for the first time—to invest in human capital as a foundation for inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development.

“You can only rest on the laurels of the WorldSkills Competition by upskilling. Break out of your current level. Seek more challenges and opportunities that abound in our ASEAN communities,” Villanueva urged.