Nesthy's Cup of Tea

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Defining your own cup of tea as an idiomatic expression that means something you like or something you're really good at. This is exactly what made Nesthy Petecio a household name and an icon for generations to come. 

The Filipina Boxer started her boxing journey as a mere self-defense in her youth days in Davao. What was thought as a pastime ultimately became a passion as she went on to participate in local competitions to provide for her family. 

Petecio was discovered by local coaches in Davao after a winning a bout against a bigger opponent and a man, proving that gender knows no hindrances. She was then invited to join the national boxing team. 

Nesthy got her first taste of medal when she captured silver in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Petecio went on to garner 2 more silvers, 1 bronze and 2 golds for a spectacular track record in the region. 

Petecio levelled up and started her olympic brilliance when she won the Silver medal in the first Womens Featherweight event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a masterful performance against Irma Testa of Italy in the semi-final round. 

The prizefighter recently made the country proud again after bagging her second consecutive olympic medal. This time, winning the bronze award after a gallant stand against Julia Szremeta of Poland. 

Nesthy's courage and determination as a Filipina boxer changed the narrative of the sport of boxing where men usually dominate. She broke barriers untouched and went on to show the world that the Filipina can excel in boxing too. 

A proven winner in every competition she's in. We can all justify that it's fair to ask and wonder what Nesthy's Cup of Tea is? I guess it's basically known at this point; ultimately winning in life.

Written by: Miles Alimangohan

Angara Meets with DepEd-National Employees Union to Address Concerns of Non Teaching Personnel

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On Tuesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara met with the Department of Education-National Employees Union (DepEd-NEU) National Executive Officers and National Board of Trustees at the DepEd Central Office to discuss and address the concerns of non-teaching personnel.

Accompanied by DepEd NEU National President Atty. Domingo B. Alidon, Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn M. Sevilla, OIC-Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development and Administration Wilfredo E. Cabral, Undersecretary for Operations Atty. Revsee Escobedo, and other DepEd and DepEd-NEU officials, the meeting focused on the issues raised by the NEU and worked on developing resolutions to benefit the Department’s staff.

One of the key topics discussed was the DepEd NEU’s proposal to review DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2024, which mandates the immediate removal of administrative tasks from public school teachers.

“We will track everything. I will assign HR and the Operations team to take note of all the suggestions. There are many professions involved, and I am sure we can create a career path progression. It may take time, so please bear with us, but we will study it thoroughly,” Secretary Angara said.

DepEd-NEU also suggested allocating the 2023 Collective Negotiation Agreement Incentive (CNAI) of P3,000, including savings pooled from DepEd Field offices, and a retirement benefit of P20,000 for DepEd Non-Teaching Employees across all governance levels.

Meanwhile, DepEd-NEU recommended that the Department issue a directive to ensure representation for non-teaching personnel and implement the CNA in Local School Boards (LSB).

“Since DepEd-NEU is the sole non-academic union of DepEd, we will remind our superintendents and regional officials to recommend their inclusion in the LSB,” Usec. Escobedo emphasized.

In addition, DepEd-NEU proposed the formation of the DepEd Union Management Coordinating Council (UMCC) to strengthen the implementation of the welfare benefits as stated in the CNA.

DepEd and PSAC Jobs Committe Sign Agreement to Enhance Student Skills and Employability

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In an effort to boost the employability of senior high school students, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Jobs Committee, through the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corporation (PCORP), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to pilot an enhanced work immersion program. The signing, which took place on August 8, 2024, in Malacañang Palace and was witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., marks a significant public-private collaboration.

The PSAC Jobs members, together with PSAC strategic convener Sabin Aboitiz, organized PCORP as a non-profit, non-stock corporation as its legal entity to organize a well-coordinated government-industry-academe national movement to solve the jobs and skills mismatch problem in the country.

The MOA outlines key elements including an enhanced work immersion experience for students, curriculum alignment allowing more hours for students to learn skills aligned with current industry standards, teachers training to effectively guide students in their journey and lastly job fairs and matching opportunities nationwide.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical industry experience, making students more attractive to potential employers.

Among the first responders from industry to open their doors to the enhanced work immersion program for senior high schools are the Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI), IT Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), iPeople through the National Teachers College (NTC), SM Group and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo).

Ten schools from north to south, including one specialized in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), is set to participate in the pilot program. These schools can choose focus areas such as IT-BPM, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and entrepreneurship, and manufacturing, sectors which are known for their high demand for workers and abundant job opportunities.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara is fully supportive of this important step towards student employability. “This MOA gives our students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience while still studying. In that way, it follows the President’s marching orders to us to do everything we can to improve the quality of our education and boost the chances of our graduates at landing better earning opportunities.”

DepEd and PSAC Jobs, along with school heads and industry partners, have been conducting workshops and consultations to establish guidelines for the pilot program that is set to begin in the 2024-2025 school year.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in our efforts to prepare the next generation for the workforce. By collaborating with DepEd and industry leaders, we can ensure that our students are job-ready and equipped with the skills needed in today’s competitive job market,” stated Joey Concepcion, PSAC Jobs Committee Lead.