Joel T. Fagsao, CEO of Xijen College of Mountain Province, Inc. holds the regional and national tropies in recognition of the school's winning Kabalikat Awards. In photo is erstwhile supporter of Xijen College, Dr. Antonio "Tony" Quirino.

By Christine Macli-ing Oliquiano (TESDA, Mountain Province)

Taguig City.  Xijen College of Mountain Province, Inc. is this year’s national winner for the Kabalikat Awards in the institution category.  The Kabalikat Awards is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) annual institutional award given in recognition and honor to its outstanding partners in the promotion and enhancement of technical education and skills development.  The award was received by Xijen College CEO, Joel T. Fagsao on the occasion of TESDA’s 16^th founding anniversary at the Tandang Sora Hall, TESDA Women’s Center last August 25, 2010.  Xijen College, already a regional winner in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) bested Region VII’s Provincial Training Center.

The Kabalikat Awards has three categories, Institution, Local Government Unit and Industry.  The Institution includes TESDA partners from the public/private schools, training institutions, training centers that employ best practices in the promotion and enhancement of TVET.  Local government units may be a barangay, municipality/city or provincial unit, office of the Congressman or Senator and other related local government offices which provide exemplary support and cooperation with TESDA while the industry category includes industry associations or individual establishments/firms/companies that adhere to best practices in the promotion and enhancement of TVET.

It was a fitting award for Xijen College, formerly, Xijen Institute of Technology that started as a one room computer training center in Bontoc, Mountain Province in 1992.  The school started with contributions from Fagsao’s wife, Helen who was then working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong and support from parents of Fagsao. The school relentlessly promoted computer literacy programs by establishing computer labs in remote barrio high schools of Mountain Province long before the government equipped schools with computers.  A high school in Bebe, Monanom Sur, Bauko, Immaculate Heart High School in Natonin, Antadao National High School in Sagada, ALBAGO National High School in Balili, Bontoc, Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School and Saint Vincent’s High Shool in Bontoc, Mabaay National High School in Bauko and Sadanga High School, Sadanga were some of the recipients of Xijen’s Computer to the Barrio’s program.  The fees charged to students were subsidized by Xijen College.  In some high schools, Xijen College provided teachers to teach in the computer labs.

Xijen College continues to make inroads in promoting technical vocational programs especially in the field of Information Technology.  The capital town, Bontoc has seen the rise of internet café and business centers either operated by or with Xijen graduates as employees. Graduates have also been employed in call centers as support technicians or in various establishments local and abroad.  Xijen College also started offering degree programs in education, information technology and business.

On the same occasion, the TESDA also awarded Renante K. Cobcobo as national winner in the 2010 Idols ng TESDA.  The Idols ng TESDA award is given in recognition of graduates of technical vocational courses who made it their vocational careers.  Cobcobo, a cosmetology graduate who has roots in Mountain Province is owner of Reynante Cobcobo Salon, a progressive beauty salon with branches in La Trinidad and Bontoc.

The awarding ceremonies were graced by Executive Secretary Atty. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, TESDA Director-General. In his speech, Ochoa stressed the importance of a technical-vocational career that helps in narrowing the gap created by a mismatch in career choices of high school graduates over what the industries offer as jobs.