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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/AMA Education System) |
Building on a partnership strengthened through successive WorldSkills initiatives, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and AMA Education System (AMAES) continue a shared push to prepare Filipino talent for a future defined by technology, innovation and globally competitive skills.
The road to becoming world-class begins at home — in classrooms, laboratories, training centers and competitions where young Filipinos can put their skills to the test. That journey takes center stage at WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026, the country’s premier national skills competition, held last September 7-11, 2026 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga where 350 competitors from TESDA’s 18 regional offices, all qualifiers from their respective Regional Skills Olympics, competed across 30 industry-driven skill areas under the theme “Your Skills, Your Future”. For AMA, the competition is the latest chapter in its continuing support for TESDA’s skills-development movement and a natural extension of its longstanding commitment to technology-driven education.
A Partnership Built For World-Class Skills
AMA’s WorldSkills partnership with TESDA was formally highlighted in 2025 when AMA Computer University, Inc. joined more than 30 industry and education partners supporting the Philippines’ hosting of the 14th WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025. For AMA, the collaboration reflects a vision that began in 1980 when AMA Education System (AMAES) Founder and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V established the institution at a time when computer education was still largely unfamiliar in the Philippines. “The Filipino has always had the talent to compete with the best in the world. What our young people need are the right education, training, technology and opportunities to demonstrate what they can do. Our partnership with TESDA and our support for WorldSkills reflect AMA’s commitment to helping prepare a generation of Filipinos who are not simply ready for employment, but ready to compete and lead in a technology-driven global economy,” said the Father of Information Technology (IT) Education in the Philippines. Developing globally competitive Filipino talent requires government, education and industry to work together. For AMA and TESDA, that collaboration has progressed from a formal partnership to the regional stage and now to the country’s premier national skills competition and reflects a partnership that goes beyond a single competition, creating opportunities for Filipino talent to develop their skills, compete at higher levels and move closer to the global stage.
30 Skills, One National Stage
Formerly known as the Philippine National Skills Competition, WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026 now carries the official WorldSkills Philippines brand, aligning the national event with the standards and framework of WorldSkills International. Its 30 skill areas across six major industry sectors reflect the changing nature of skilled work. Information and Communication Technology competitions include Cyber Security, ICT Network Infrastructure, IT Network Systems Administration, Software Applications Development, Web Technologies and Artificial Intelligence alongside disciplines in manufacturing, engineering, construction, creative industries, hospitality and automotive technology. As TESDA Director General Hon. Sec. Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez said, WorldSkills brings together the nation’s most skilled youth while inspiring “excellence, innovation, and lifelong learning”. The competition also serves as a pathway to the global stage, with gold and silver medalists potentially selected to represent the Philippines in WorldSkills International, WorldSkills Asia and WorldSkills ASEAN.
Where AMA's Technology Legacy Meets The Skills Movement
WorldSkills’ emphasis on emerging technologies closely aligns with AMA’s identity. Since its founding in 1980, the institution has focused on computer and technology education and industry readiness. Today, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, network infrastructure, software development and web technologies are not simply academic specializations — they are skills through which young Filipinos can compete nationally and internationally. “Education cannot afford to wait for technology to change the world before we begin preparing our students for it. We have to anticipate the skills that will matter tomorrow and give young Filipinos the opportunity to master them today,” said Dr. Aguiluz V. For AMA, WorldSkills creates a direct bridge between education, industry expectations and real-world capability.
CALABARZON Conquers WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026
After four days of competition, Region IV-A (CALABARZON) emerged as the overall champion of WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026 after garnering a total haul of 17 medals, leading 18 participating regions in the country’s premier national skills competition. The Region IV-A team participated in 29 out of the 30 competition skill areas finishing with seven gold, four silver, three bronze, and three Medallions for Excellence (MFE) to claim the top spot at the competition. Region XI (Davao Region) was first runner-up with 16 medals composed of five gold, three silver, five bronze and three MFE while the National Capital Region (NCR) placed second runner-up with 15 medals including four gold, three silver, two bronze and six MFE. Secretary Kiko Benitez congratulated the competitors and emphasized that success in the competition goes beyond medals and rankings, stating, “To every young Filipino who stood at a station this week with steady hands and a racing heart — congratulations sa inyo. You did not fail. You competed. There is a difference — and it is the whole difference.” Benitez also stressed that excellence in skills is built through continuous practice, perseverance, and experience, urging the competitors to continue developing their abilities beyond the competition, and underscored the value of Filipino technical-vocational skills, noting that Filipino workers continue to contribute to industries and communities in the Philippines and abroad. “Filipino skill has always been our quiet superpower,” said Benitez, citing Filipino workers such as seafarers, welders, technicians, hospitality workers, and machinists who apply their skills in different parts of the world. Aside from medals and certificates, the top-performing competitors also took home cash incentives with Php30,000 for gold medalists, Php20,000 for silver medalists, and Php15,000 for bronze medalists. These competitors have been measured against demanding standards of precision, creativity, problem-solving and technical competence throughout the local competition with top performers potentially advancing to international competition. For AMA, supporting this ecosystem means helping give young Filipinos a clearer pathway from education to professional excellence. The next edition of WorldSkills Philippines will take place in 2027 and is set to be hosted across Zamboanga Peninsula with more details to be disclosed in the coming months.
Skills As A National Advantage
WorldSkills Philippines is more than a competition. Under Section 30 of Republic Act No. 7796 or the TESDA Act of 1994, TESDA is mandated to organize an annual national skills competition to promote quality skills development and prepare Filipino talent for international competition. International WorldSkills events, meanwhile, follow their respective competition cycles. That mission has become even more relevant as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation and digital technologies reshape the workplace. The TESDA–AMA partnership strengthens that pathway: TESDA provides a national platform and internationally aligned skills framework while AMA contributes its longstanding focus on technology education and industry readiness. For Dr. Aguiluz V, the partnership reflects the principle that inspired AMA’s beginnings — preparing Filipinos not only for today’s opportunities, but for those that will define tomorrow.
From WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 to WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026, the objective remains clear: equip Filipino talent with the skills, technology and opportunities to compete with the best. Because the road to a global podium begins with investing in Filipino talent at home.
(With words by Neil Alcober, Daily Tribune)
