City officials recently congratulated and commended Allen S. Gacweng for garnering the Medallion of Excellence in the Cooking Skills Area during the 13th World Skills Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Skills Competition held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Center last July 23-25, 2023.
In a resolution authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda, local legislators stated that the city government celebrates the win of another pride, Allen Gacweng, and accords him the necessary recognition and honor for the fame and accolade he was able to reap in an international competition.
His institution, the Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education, with its well-equipped learning laboratories, well-crafted curriculum and knowledgeable trainers and the city’s conducive environment have molded yet another champion in him.
Gacweng is a third-year student of the CSITE taking up the 3-year Diploma in Culinary Arts. He is also a scholar under the Universal Access to Quality Education.
He was able to consistently win gold medals in the institution’s skills competitions, provincial skills competitions, regional skills competitions and the Philippine National Skills Competition where the winner automatically represents the country in the ASEAN Skills Competition and all other international skills competitions.
As the first-place winner in the Philippine National Skills Competition, Gacweng represented the country in the 13th World Skills ASEAN Skills Competition held at the Suntec, Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore last July 23, 2023.
The Philippines had competed in 19 out of the 23 skills areas, including the cooking category. The other countries that competed in the said international skills competition include Brunei Darussalam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Gacweng, a young cook from Mankayan, Benguet and a scholar student of the CSITE was one of the lone competitors from the Philippines.
Because of his cooking skills and talent, he bagged the Medallion of Excellence. The said medal is awarded to candidates whose performance meets international standards based on the criteria set by the World Skills International.
He won gold after competing with 10 representatives from other ASEAN countries during the said highly competitive event. He was ably mentored by his coach Mary Kristine Iris C. Pasion and continuous monitoring and recommendations of the CSITE vocational school administrator Dr. Arlene L. Cadalig.
The ASEAN World Skills Competition is a skills-based event that brings youth, among the ASEAN member countries, to showcase and promote their skills through various hands-on activities.
The council asserted that the city is truly proud with the honor of a student from a technical-vocational institution based in the city. It once against proves that the country’s vocational training is at par with their international counterparts.
