Thirty-three young men from different provinces of the Philippines received certificates for completing a one-year program at the Center for Community Transformation Training and Development Institute -Magdalena, during the campus’s first commencement exercise. The young men graduated with competencies learned in electrical installation and maintenance, masonry, rough carpentry, and plumbing. Eighty-three others were recognized for completing three, six, or nine months of training in those same areas.
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| Losande Labrador Jr., academic excellence awardee |
In a well-delivered speech, academic excellence awardee Losande Labrador Jr. of Bacolod City spoke of his dreams and of being the first person in his family to finish an educational course beyond high school.
CCT President and Founder Ruth Callanta explained how the partnership between CCT-TDI and AMG Skilled Hands Technological College came about, and told of how the campus fulfills a long-held dream of Eliezer del Mundo Sr. to help out-of-school youth receive an education. The 3.3 hectare campus is under a usufruct agreement between CCT and Mr. del Mundo. She also explained that TDI’s construction industry-related courses were offered based on a survey done in Laguna that indicated that the construction industry offers the most number of employment opportunities to families.
Elmer Talavera, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) regional director IV-A, guest speaker, admonished the graduates not to "immediately look toward the airport or start applying for a passport" but to gain local work experience first. “Opportunities for employment are here, now,” he said, referring to Laguna which he said is known for tourism and is the “dormitory of Metro Manila” or the place that workers in Metro Manila come home to after a day at the office and other establishments.
Darlito Agacite of Pangasinan recalled the challenges of his one year on campus and thanked God for the opportunity “Not just to learn new skills but to also learn God’s Word.”
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| The graduates and members of the boards of AMG-SHTC and CCT-TDI. |
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| The processional: graduates, staff, and guests. |
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| TESDA Region IV-A Director Elmer Talavera: "Opportunities for employment are here, now!" |
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| Members of the Brigada Bata-Magdalena Chapter salute the Philippine flag at the beginning of the ceremony. |
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| The Visions of Hope-Alternative Learning System Drum and Bugle Corps provide music for the occasion. |
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| The Philippine flag and the CCT colors wave proudly over the TDI campus grounds. |
