UGMAD is the official newsletter of TESDA-Wangan National Agricultural School.
Posts
All Comments
Please check out
the video! Thank you for watching it.
Meet the
twenty-year-old boy next door who advocates agriculture and outdoor sports
activities. Unknown to many, Yves Dominic J. Lastimoso is a champion of his
sports. He began cycling five years ago and since then; he scored medals after
medals in Mountain Bike Race that he competed.
On one hand, he
discovered his passion for agriculture when he was undecided to take up a
bachelor’s degree in college after his senior high last summer. Instead, he
ends up enrolling in TESDA–WNAS when a family friend who works at a dairy farm
in New Zealand recommends our institution. It was a big change for him taking
up Animal Production (Ruminants) NC II since the battlefield was new. Until he
developed his passion for farming when he started his training.
Bunso, as his
co-trainees called him as he’s the youngest, enjoyed the training in TESDA-WNAS
because he learned a lot. He admitted that his soft skills improved as well
since most of his classmates were matured and well-experienced in life. He
thought of becoming self-reliant and independent the first time he survived
being away from his parents since he stayed in the barn for almost three weeks
to perform various tasks in ruminants production especially milking the dairy
cows as early as three o’clock in the morning. The exciting chunk of his
training was when he knew how to drive a Carabao-driven carriage (Balsa) to
transport fodder and other farm supplies.
After he graduated in Ruminants, he moved to Animal Production
(Swine) NC II hoping to increase his knowledge in animal production. After his
swine training he plans to work in New Zealand to save for his future and when
he comes back after a year, he will continue his studies while running a
business.
Hon. Thelma Bell, a Councilor of Ashburton
District Council in New Zealand and Ms. June Ann Simpron, Director of Tranz
Education Services Limited, visited TESDA–Wangan National Agricultural School
on August 22, 2019. The visit aimed to evaluate the training program that TESDA
- WNAS has provided in Animal Production (Ruminants) NC II. According to Ms.
Simpron, English Proficiency is very important to help our trainees to work in
New Zealand. She further suggested that embedding the Basic English course in
the program to make them equipped in reading, writing, listening and speaking
skills will allow them to become good conversant with the Kiwis.
 |
| Engr. Lorenzo G. Macapili, DTE speaks before the Trainees of Animal Production (Ruminants) NCII the importance of English Proficiency, aside from the hard skills they learned to help them work successfully in New Zealand. |
Hon. Bell shared that they are sourcing out
many migrant workers to move in New Zealand because they are struggling with
the low employment rate with the locals, in dairy farming. With added skills
such as driving, carpentry, and masonry will show better successful employment.
With the English literacy for trainees, Engr. Lorenzo G. Macapili, DTE, TESDA XI Regional Director, approved to integrate Basic English Proficiency with Kiwi accent in Ruminants qualification. He pointed out that the skills gained by the trainees in TESDA–WNAS were pieces of evidence of having world-class training. Proof to that was Hon. Bell’s validation of having known several Filipinos working at the dairy farms in New Zealand.
 |
| Hon. Thelma Bell, a Councilor of Ashburton District Council in New Zealand, tells the trainees on the demand of Farm Workers in New Zealand. |
Mr. Felipe C. Hiquial Jr., Vocational School
Administrator, backed up to support for improving the communication skills of
trainees and to help them in passing the International English Language Testing
System (IELTS) exam for migrant workers. It elated him to know the positive
feedback from Hon. Bell herself and assured to keep the quality standards of
graduates to compete with other countries.
 |
| Photo opportunity with visitors. (Seating from Left-Right) Ms. June Ann Simpron, Engr. Lorenzo G. Macapili, DTE, Hon. Thelma Bell and Mr. Felipe C. Hiquial Jr. |
“Dare to live
the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come
true.” I can relate a famous line by Ralph Waldo Emerson to Joshue Calderon
Mugas’ journey going to the Middle Earth. Before he gets there, he worked on
his dream, make sacrifices until he sets his footprints in New Zealand, the
100% Middle Earth, just this year.
 |
| At the farm where Josue C. Mugas works as a Farm Assistant. |
His dream began
when he saw a television ad back in the 80s featuring a breathtaking scenery
with magnificent landscapes and a herd of cows strutting effortlessly, where
celebrity endorsers back then not highly regarded as of today. His passion
flared until he grew up and stayed focus on achieving his dream!
Jojo has an impressive resume before he joined TESDA-Wangan National Agricultural School. He is a Civil Engineer, Civil Service exam passer, worked as a Construction Project Manager, and a Safety Officer. He got a lucrative job and earning wages more than enough for him and his wife. But his dream way back in his childhood hadn’t faded, yet it keeps on lingering.
 |
| Joshue C. Mugas received his New Zealand Certificate for Primary Industry Skills Level II at National Trade Academy in Christchurch. |
He left his job when he started his training in TESDA-WNAS to take up Animal Production (Ruminants) NC II. The program comprises competencies to prepare him to raise ruminants for milk, meat, and breeder production. Including housing maintenance, farm implements and the surrounding area, providing forage, performing breeding of ruminants, raising of dairy and meat-type animals. His sacrifices paid off when he received his National Certificate in Animal Production Ruminants NC II.
Last April 2019, he packed up his dreams and flew to New Zealand. He faced various challenges upon arriving at Christchurch where he stayed, as the cool weather and the difficult accent. But, he thrived when he got his New Zealand Certificate for Primary Industry Skills Level II at National Trade Academy in Christchurch last June 13, 2019.
 |
| The breathtaking landscape in New Zealand, the Land of the Middle Earth. |
On June 17,
2019, he signed a contract with Waterton Dairy LP as a Farm Assistant. He
confessed that his current job is harder than his earlier job as a Civil
Engineer. Because as an engineer he plans and supervises people unlike as a
farm assistant, he is being supervised. But in terms of salary, it’s 300% way
higher than his wage as an engineer. But the job itself is easy, it is
repetitive that finally becomes a lifestyle.
He plans to
continue his studies and practice his civil engineering career in New Zealand.
And by 2020, he plans to invite his wife for vacation and try to help her find
a job. So that by the time she gets back to the Philippines, she will process
her working visa and they will live together in the Middle Earth.
With great will
and determination to achieve his goals, his simple childhood dream has now
become a reality. Especially when that simple dream coupled with prayers and hard
works. Because we shape our destiny by constantly working on our dreams.
