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| TESDA assessors in action at the OWWA training center (PCG photo) |
A total of 73 out of 79 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong who took the recent massage therapy assessment administered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) passed the test.
The candidates were trained by the United Migrant Entrepreneurship
and Livelihood Association (Umela) and the
Filipino Massage Therapy Organization.
The assessments were done over two days, on Aug 15 to 16, at the
Filipino Workers Development and Social Centre (FWDSC) at United Centre Building in Admiralty, in line with a recent agreement
between TESDA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to
continue the upskilling of OFWs.
An initial assessment of massage therapy candidates conducted by
TESDA on June 6 to 7 this year yielded a 86% passing rate.
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| Baquirin (in white) along with her successful trainees |
Overjoyed by the outcome of the latest TESDA assessment
was UMELA founder and lead trainor Ofelia Baquirin who revealed that of the 56
of examinees from her group, only one did not make the grade.
“Sa draping part kasi
nagkaroon ng miscommunication. Naunang bumangon ang kanyang client bago pa niya
maalalayan,” Baquirin shared. (There was miscommunication in the draping part.
Her client already rose before she could be assisted).
She said she’s sure that in the next assessment this minor
slip-up will not happen again.
Baquirin also explained that the assessment was a dream come
true for many of her students, as they had been petitioning for TESDA to return
to Hong Kong to give the qualifying exam.
“First passers sila since 2019, when Labor Attache Jalilo dela
Torre was still in Hong Kong, and he helped us convince TESDA to come,” she
said.
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| UMELA provides rigorous training to OFWs who aspire to receive the TESDA certificate |
The assessment forms part of OWWA’s ongoing efforts to
strengthen the skills development of OFWs and provide them nationally
recognized qualifications that enhance their professional competencies and
expand employment opportunities.
In line with this commitment, OWWA signed a memorandum of agreement
last June with TESDA, which includes the provision of National Certificates and
regular conduct of assessment programs for various upskilling courses for OFWs
