Tech Talk
by Joel T. Fagsao

After almost 6 months of not traveling out of Bontoc, I dusted my reliable leather overnight bag and hopped into the Cable Tours bus bound for Manila. I was to attend the awarding ceremonies of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Kabalikat Awards. As founding person of Xijen Institute of Technology, now Xijen College of Mountain Province, I was to be there for the event which coincided with the 16^th founding anniversary of TESDA. I dragged my brother Jonelle Fagsao to tag along so as to keep me company. My brother kayong- Dr. Tony Quirino was there too as we drove to TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City. A stickler for promptness, Kayong Tony arrived early and we were there quarter to 9 in the morning. I wanted to be seated in the “guest” section but the ushers separated me from my group- as I was led to a table to join other regional winners. Xijen College was the “Cordillera Autonomous Region’s” (as they always announce during several occasions) winner. I was supposed to be there to receive the regional “trophy” but unknowingly there was more to come.

 Executive Secretary Ochoa in his speech espoused the relevance of technical vocational courses that helps fill the needs of the industries. He continued, “Many still regard blue collar careers as a lowly profession.” The new TESDA secretary Joel Villanueva honored the awardees with a brief speech and wished them continued success in various endeavors in moving tech-voc careers forward.

 I only had this idea that after receiving the regional award the program was over then, the chair of the board of judges was called on stage to announce the national winners. Xijen College got the national awards for the institution category. I did not hear it well as Xi-Jen is often times mispronounced. The TESDA Kabalikat Awards is TESDA’s way of thanking the agency’s partners in the promotion of technical –vocational education. To include one in the roster of winners, institutions, local government units, individuals were nominated by local TESDA. There were voluminous requirements- all documented evidences of activities duly certified were submitted. Judging for the national winners (and so I learned while at the program) was done by personalities outside of TESDA.

We submitted accounts of our start up days- sometimes having my staff carry computers to a far flung barrio that are not reached by public transport. Our setting up of an Internet access via satellite long before Internet antennas mushroomed in municipalities of the province. Xijen in its own way- was focused on computer literacy and the promotion of careers in Information Technology.

 In my moments of silence inside the car, I reminisced the early days of Xijen Institute of Technology. Starting in 1992 as a one room affair and finally having its own campus which is still very small by today’s standards- it was a complete dedication to nurture young people to appreciate the other side of white collar careers. The path taken by Xijen may not always be a smooth one, but people my wife and I met along the way were there to offer their support and advices. I have to thank my classmates-Batch ’82 of Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School- Kenny Mosomos- Fatongkeg, Noelle Dapuyen-Oyeng, former Board Member Ezra Gomez and my kabsat Dr. Diga Kay Dirige-Gomez, Rexton Chakas, Robert Changat, all in one way or another had something to share.

My teacher in high school, Principal Evelyn Joyce N. Taguiba who broached me the idea of setting up the Computer to the Barrios program- our community outreach program of setting up computer labs that led us to far Bebe, Monamon Norte, Bauko up to Poblacion and Saliok, Natonin. The computer labs were there from 1 year (the shortest) up to three years. Another that I would like to thank is low profile, Dr. Tony Quirino (my Kayong-Brod) who may not like to be noted here-but still I would. Our long conversations on school management-witty, fully loaded with ideas- I all soaked it up. His advices were all the result of his experience of managing the family owned- Technological Institute of the Philippines, well known for its Engineering programs.

Kayong Tony was always there sharing a bounty of management ideas you could not find in books and of course the genuine care he had for me and the projects I was into. Architect Reimond Guiterez whose family owns Silver Works was also there to lend support in the early days of Xijen. My good friend, Jerson Watan, Web Host Entrepreneur was also the anchor for new developments in Information Technology which eventually would find its way as a new course offering for Xijen. Unknown to many, student’s fees were subsidized by contributions from people I met along the way. I would not like to take this as a thank you speech-thanking people in this and that order. I wish to make it clear there is no order-here. My parents Francisco and Carmen-entrepreneurs in their own right- are my ardent supporters. One is more grounded- and the other is more daring. Mama was the real entrepreneur, but Dad was the strength and pillar of every undertaking-eventually they become a force of one. But mama was quick to remind me when I called her up to watch me on Q TV’s Adyenda show-about my interview after the award ceremonies, a devout member of Jehova’s Witnesses, that all awards are nothing compared to Jehovah God’s promise of a new world on earth bereft of all crimes, sickness, pollution and death. It was the right set of values that gave me and my wife Helen to run a school. Helen, my partner and number one fan was left to do the day to day management of the school as I was tied up to my day job. She is more deserving of the National Kabalikat Award- our names Joel and Helen helped form the name Xijen. Jen came from the combinations Joel and Helen and Xi- a Greek letter in the Greek alphabet- to honor the Greeks for their contribution to humanity in the field of learning.

 To Dr. Josehpine Ngodcho who composed the Xijen College Hymn, Joy Ngodcho and Michelle Malekchan my two lady adoring fans who are there all the time to make a tight day lighter, my two thumbs up.

 To Christine Macli-ing Oliquiano of TESDA, Provincial Director, Gabriel Cayacay and other TESDA staff and to the staff and teachers of Xijen who continue to support the ideals of Xijen I am ever grateful. I might have missed thanking a lot more people, my apologies.