Every organization needs people to thrive and its success depends on the quality of its people, their skill, aptitude as well as attitude, and how they value their work.
This is where manpower training comes in, to ensure that people in a company or workplace are of excellent attitude and high levels of productivity to guarantee success and growth. Manpower training is also perfect for many Filipinos who wish to expand their knowledge when it comes to technical or vocational skills so that they can explore opportunities for a more lucrative job overseas, for example.
Developing professional and inter-personal skills
At the foot of the Mandaluyong-Makati bridge in Brgy. Hulo in Mandaluyong City was where MMTVTC (Mandaluyong Manpower and Technical-Vocational Training Center) was originally located. That sturdy landmark was where the MMTVTC spread its wings to cater to Mandaleños’ technical and vocational (Tech-Voc) requirements, which eventually catered to even non-Mandaluyong residents as well.
With the increase in enrollees and expansion of courses, the Center moved to the old KADIWA building inside the Welfareville Compound in Brgy. Addition Hills in 1999 and became its main hub, while the Hulo office became its annex.
The MMTVTC’s main purpose, according to Administrator Maria Majella “Midge” Tampinco, is to prepare aspirants for work, whether technical or vocational and other work-related skills. Another role of the Center is the continuing professional development of individuals in light of rapid changes that demand workers to continuously update their knowledge and skills.
Currently, the MMTVTC offers a combination of short and hard courses, from Welding, Basic Pastry Production, Computer System Servicing, Dressmaking, to Automotive Servicing, Food Processing, Massage Therapy and Beauty Care, among others, the last four courses coming with a National Certificate (NC-II).
The Center also provides broad-based technical knowledge and skills on which different occupations can be based on. “Compared to the industrial paradigm of the old economy, today’s global economy lays the onus on the worker’s continued reinvention of his or her skills, and also the responsibility of re-skilling to enable them to find and get back to work,” adds Tampinco.
Aside from technical and vocational skills, MMTVTC is also where personal development and emancipation happens, the development of one’s personal capacities in relation to realizing one’s full potential about paid or self-employment, occupational interests, and even life goals outside of work. “At the same time, we help the Center’s enrollees overcome disadvantages due to circumstances such as birth or prior educational experiences. One of the aims of the Center is to develop the broad range of capabilities that characterize an educated person and even capacities for effective communication and effective inter-personal relations.”
An environment that nurtures
Tampinco is proud that the Center is equipped with experienced, nurturing and talented trainers who continuously update themselves to be able to cater to the growing and complex demands of today’s generation of employers.
The overseer of the process is Head of the center together with Middle Administrators and Internal Supervisors, the pool of Trainers and Non-Teaching Staff who altogether collaborate and prepare updated reports of the activities, programs, current issues and concerns of the Center.
“As a whole, the Center conforms and coordinates with the policies and guidelines emanating from the City Government of Mandaluyong, including that of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-National Capital Region (TESDA-NCR) and TESDA-PaMaMaRiSan District Office, which covers the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, and San Juan,” Tampinco points out.
Perhaps, the Center’s nurturing environment is the reason why it continues to reap accolades and that its objectives are pointed towards the right direction. MMTVTC holds two Kabalikat Awards, the highest national recognition given by TESDA to its most active and outstanding partners who have assisted the agency in developing, enhancing and implementing training programs with the hope of providing better employability opportunities for skilled Filipino workers. The first was under the leadership of then-Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos back in 2013, and the other under the City’s current Mayor, Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos.
Inspiration during a pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the City, and hit it hard. But that did not stop MMTVTC from helping the city cope with the crisis. At the onset of the pandemic, through Mayor Menchie Abalos’s “motherly” guidance and assistance from the Center’s then-Administrator Merlita De Guzman-Tampinco, Midge Tampinco’s mother, the two institutions joined forces to come up with sustainable means to feed the citizens with nutritious food. Aside from fresh vegetables, the Center also produced commercial breads for the city’s brave frontliners, using sacks of wheat flour donated by a well-known philanthropist of the city.
However, their efforts hit a snag when the elder Tampinco succumbed to COVID-19. But despite the loss of its charismatic leader, that did not stop the Center from continuing their valiant efforts for the frontliners. The “backliners,” the younger Tampinco noted, soldiered on with their production despite the unfortunate situation. Inspired by their daily Facebook postings (#ParaKayMamMerly) which captured the attention of netizens, the “backliners” and their enthusiasm continued.
Moving forward for a better future
With the younger and Catholic school-educated Tampinco’s appointment last June 1, 2020 as the MMTVTC’s new Administrator, and with her vast experience from the academe, she is paving the way for the Center’s new direction towards the future in accordance with the times through reorganization, reviewing the staff’s job descriptions, introducing quality road management, and pushing for an ISO certification.
With two more years before the city hits its golden era, the city government of Mandaluyong is already envisioning plans to build a bigger and more spacious campus for the Center, given its history of successes.
Tampinco has many dreams already laid out for MMTVTC for it to become an institution that lives and breathes community, a community that is not just about the students, trainers and parents, one that is grounded in valuing each person and welcomes friends, family and even strangers with sincerity. “I dream of a school that recognizes and values growth and development, a staff that values the need to support the social and academic development of every student, trainers who know the names of each student and their stories, trainers who are driven to apply the best possible learning and teaching practices regarding quality professional development, and inspire students to achieve their full potential.”
“I see the future is in our hands,” she quipped.