By Stephanie Nicole Peligman
MANILA, Philippines -Two students from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority–Cordillera Administrative Region (TESDA-CAR), Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education (CSITE), made the country proud after bagging gold and bronze medals at the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition held from August 26–28, 2025, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Agee Docayso, a graduating student of the Diploma in Culinary Arts Technology, together with his expert, Chef Mary Kristine Iris Pasion, clinched the gold medal in Cooking, topping competitors from Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Laos, and Malaysia.
In Baking, Gibran Sudango, an incoming third-year student of the same program, alongside his expert Shirley Cael, delivered a strong finish and captured the bronze medal after battling against contenders from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Cambodia. Both medalists are homegrown talents from CSITE’s Main Campus in Baguio City.
TESDA-CAR and CSITE officials lauded the pair’s victories, saying their triumphs prove that the Cordillera continues to produce world-class talent. They added that the achievement also stands as a proud moment for the nation, showing that with proper training and determination, Filipino youth can excel on the world’s competitive stage.
The Philippines finished second overall among the top three performing countries, with Malaysia taking the top spot and Indonesia placing third. Nearly 300 participants from 11 ASEAN member-states competed across 32 skill categories in six sectors, from manufacturing and ICT to creative arts and social services.
The 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Competition carried the theme “ASEAN: Skilled for the Future”, underscoring the shared vision of investing in human capital to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development in the region.
The victories of Docayso and Sudango not only brought honor to the Philippines but also highlighted the strength of TESDA-CAR CSITE’s technical-vocational programs in producing globally competitive youth.
