“Skills Olympics — To promote quality skills development in the country and with the view of participating in international skills competitions, the Authority, with the active participation of private industries, shall organize and conduct annual National Skills Olympics.”
RA NO.7796 – SECTION 30.
The Philippines is one of the 85 member-countries that participates in the activities of WorldSkills. To provide the backdrop on the participation of the Philippines in WorldSkills, the following historical perspective will provide a glimpse on its humble beginnings:
Vocational skills competitions in the Philippines started in 1968 when the then Philippine College of Arts and Trades (PCAT), now Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) conducted a skills competition among its students. The contest was successfully conducted and gained prominence prompting the organizers to expand the coverage of the competition to a national level in 1970.
Inspired by the results of these contests, the Delta Motors Corporation conducted in 1978 the Toyota Dealers National Service Skills Competition among its service mechanics and technicians. Later, the skills contest became an annual activity of the corporation.
In the same year, the government sent an observer team from the former National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), now the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to the 24th International Vocational Training Competitions (IVTC) in Pusan, South Korea. The team later recommended that NMYC lead the conduct of skills Olympics in the country to promote skills testing and certification program.
Three years later, the NMYC in collaboration with Delta Motors Corporation conducted the First National Youth Skills Olympics (NYSO) among its trainees. The NYSO was conducted annually from 1980 to 1984. No skills Olympics were held from 1985 to 1991. The contest was restaged in 1992 and since then it has become a yearly event.
The National Youth Skills Olympics is a competition which serves as a venue to recognize the skills excellence of young industry skilled workers and graduates of technical vocational schools and training centers.
The NYSO hopes to develop competitive Filipino workers who possess world-class skills and work values and attitudes.
The competition culminates a series of local, provincial, sectoral and regional contest held nationwide. Winners of the regional contests go on to vie for golds in the NYSO. Winners in the NYSO undergo further training to prepare them for the international skills competitions like the ASEAN Skills Competition and the International Youth Skills Olympics.
In 1995, twelve young Filipino skilled workers and graduates of technical vocational institutions competed in the 1st ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
At the end of the competition, the Philippines proudly went home with two gold medals in turning, one gold medal each in ladies’ dressmaking and carpentry, one bronze medal each for carpentry and automotive mechanic and a diploma of excellence in electric welding.
The Philippines hosted the 2nd ASEAN Skills Competition on December 10-17, 1996 at the Philippine Trade Training Center at Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
A total of 70 contestants from four countries participated in the 2nd ASC. The delegations are from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand with Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam as observers.
The Philippines bagged the overall champion trophy by garnering seven gold medals in turning, welding, commercial wiring, carpentry, ladies’ dressmaking, automobile technology and refrigeration technique. Our competitors also won eight silver medals, one bronze medal and two diplomas of excellence.
In July 1997 eight young Filipino skilled workers ventured on a more challenging job – the 34th International Youth Skills Olympic in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Gerrelen Diaz, a 22-year old lady from Iloilo won honors for the Philippines when she was awarded the bronze medal in the ladies’ dressmaking competition while Dennis Rosales (welding) and Bienvenido Balbin (refrigeration technique) both received the diploma of excellence for exceeding standards set for their respective trades.
The Philippines ranked 17th in the overall tally of 31 participating countries with Malaysia and doing better than Thailand, Italy, USA and New Zealand.
In this competition, the Filipino workers were able to show to the worlds that they have what it takes to be competitive – to be world-class!
MILESTONES IN WORLDSKILLS PHILIPPINES SKILLS COMPETITION
Philippine College of Arts and Trades (PCAT) now Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) conducted a skills competition among its students.
The coverage of the competition was expanded to a national level due to the success of the first competition.
Delta Motors Corporation conducted the Toyota Dealers National Service Skills Competition among its service mechanics. The contest became an annual activity of the corporation.
The government sent an observer team from the former National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC) now TESDA to the 24th International Vocational Training Competitions (IVTC) in Busan, Korea. Three years later, NMYC in collaboration with Delta Motors Corporation conducted First National Youth Skills Olympics (NYSO) now Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) among its trainees.
NYSO was conducted annually
The Naga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry & LGU of Naga City hosted the national competition.
The Philippines became a member of the International Vocational Training Organization (IVTO) now WorldSkills Organization.
The local chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Region I hosted the national skills competition (NYSO)
NYSO was conducted annually
The Naga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry & LGU of Naga City hosted the national competition.
The Philippines became a member of the International Vocational Training Organization (IVTO) now WorldSkills Organization.
The local chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Region I hosted the national skills competition (NYSO)
The Skills Olympics Foundation in Cebu City hosted the year’s NYSO. The 1st ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Philippine Team won the following honors.
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 4 | Gold | Turning (2 medals) Ladies’s Dressmaking Carpentry |
| 2 | Bronze | Carpentry Automotive Mechanic |
| 1 | Diploma of Excellence | Electric Arc Welding |
The Philippines hosted the 2nd ASEAN Skills Competition. A total of 70 contestants from ASEAN-member countries participated. The delegations were from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines with Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam as observers.
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 7 | Gold | Turning Welding Commercial Wiring Carpentry Ladies’ Dressmaking Automobile Technology Refrigeration Technique |
| 8 | Silver | Turning Welding Commercial Wiring Carpentry Automobile Technology Refrigeration Technique Electronic Application Plumbing |
| 1 | Bronze | Electronic Applications |
| 2 | Diplomas of Excellence | Ladies’Dressmaking Furniture and Cabinet Making |
This year’s national skills competition (NYSO) was hosted by the National Capital Region.
The Philippines participated for the first time in the WorldSkills Competition during the 34th WSC held in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The country participated in eight (8) trades and won the following honors:
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 1 | Bronze | Ladies’ Dressmaking |
| 2 | Diplomas of Excellence | Refrigeration Technique |
The Subic Freeport Zone was the venue for the year’s PNSC. This time the doors of the PNSC were opened to the workers in the industry and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Hence, there were three categories in the competition, Youth Open and Abilympics.
The country tried the high-end trades in the 35th WorldSkills Competition held in Montreal, Canada competing in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering Drafting CADD and Information Technology.
The country participated in the 5th International Abilympics in Prague, Czech Republic. The team won:
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 1 | Gold | Wast Re-Use |
| 1 | Silver | Floral Arrangement |
| 4 | Bronze | Waste Re-Use Billboard Advertising Tie-Dye Cold Cooking |
| 2 | Honorable Mention | Poster Design Easter Egg Paining |
The 3rd ASC was hosted by Bangkok from March 12-21. The country participated in 12 trades where the country won:
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 4 | Gold | Turning Cabinet Making Information Technology (2 medals) |
| 6 | Silver | Turning Plumbing (2 medals) Electronic Application Joinery (2 medals) |
| 1 | Bronze | Commercial Wiring |
| 2 | Diplomas of Excellence | Automobile Technology Commercial Wiring |
Seoul, South Korea was the venue of the 36th WorldSkills Competition from September 6-19, 2001. The country participated in ten (10) trades and came home with:
1 Diploma of Excellence in Automobile Technology
The 10th PNSC was hosted by Davao City. The event was held on September 23-30, 2001.
The year for the 4th ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC). The event was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from October 1-10. The Philippines enrolled two candidates per trade in the twelve (12) trades open for competition namely:
CADD, Information Technology, Welding, Plumbing, Electronic Applications, Commercial Wiring, Cabinet Making, Joinery, Ladies’ Dressmaking, Automobile Technology, Cookery, Restaurant Service.
Medals/Awards won in the competition:
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 3 | Gold | CADD Information Technology Cabinet Making |
| 3 | Bronze | Plumbing Cabinet Making Ladies’ Dressmaking |
| 9 | Diplomas of Excellence | CADD Information Technology Welding Plumbing Commercial Wiring (2 medals) Joinery Automobile Technology Restaurant Service |
The 37th WorldSkills Competition was held in June 12-26, 2003 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. This was the second time that St. Gallen hosted the event. The country enrolled in four trades (4) namely: CADD, Mechatronics, Information Technology, Cabinet Making.
The country won:
1 Diploma of Excellence in Information Technology
The country participated in the 6th International Abilympics held in New Delhi, India on November 22-29, 2003. The team participated in 20 events and came home with:
| Quantity | Medal | Trade Areas |
| 2 | Gold | Painting (Water Color) Paining (Oil on Canvas) |
| 2 | Silver | Flower Arrangement Waste Re-Use |
| 3 | Bronze | Photography Web Page Design Paining (Oil on Canvas) |
The 11th Philippine National Skills Competition was held in Naga and Iriga Cities on March 21-27, 2004. Nine (9) trades were competed in the Youth category only namely:
CADD, Information Technology, Welding, Electronic Applications, Commercial Wiring, Ladies’ Dressmaking, Automobile Technology, Cookery, Restaurant Service.
Demonstration Trades in agri-fishery was hosted by Iriga City
The year for the 5th ASC to be hosted by Vietnam. Trades to be competed:
CAD, Information Technology, Welding, Plumbing, Electronic Applications, Commercial Wiring, Cabinet Making, Joinery, Ladies’ Dressmaking, Automobile Technology, Cookery, Restaurant Service, Bricklaying, Wall and Floor Tiling
The 38th WorldSkills Competition was held in Helsinki, Finland.
The 6th ASC was hosted by Brunei Darussalam
The 39th WorldSkills Competition and 7th International Abilympics was held in Japan.
