The first Ilonggo animators
The graduates of the animation course, day class with TESDA
Director Yunque, WVCST President Dr. Luis Sorolla Jr, Renato
Alba, Engr. Roy Gambol, project manager; Joy Bacon,
executive director of Animation Council of the Philippines Inc.
and Maureen Nettiee Navarossa, head of the
computer department.
Iloilo City now has 46 animators, thanks to the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST).
These students just finished months of training on Professional (2D) Assistant Animator Training and for three months, labored on several short animation films, which they presented during their closing ceremony last April 11.
Their productions include the Barter of Panay, made by the Apex Animators and directed by Arnold Fuentes; trailer of Shamus Gob The Movie by Dimbox, the night class; and 3rd World, a Dreamkeeper Story by Vic Galino III.
The incoming scholars of Software Development
These three short animation works were applauded by the audience, which was composed of parents, second batch of the course's scholars and another course, Software Development-Java and school officials.
Lorena Yunque, provincial director of TESDA informed the graduates that the youths are now facing a bright future through information technology (IT). "There is an increasing demand to work for many vacancies in this industry because of its growth. In the animation industry alone, there is 40 percent growth. This means that if this year we employ 100, next year, it will be 4,000 people," she said.
"Now jobs can be done from remote barrios for countries that are far away," she added.
The incoming scholars of Animation
She urged the future course takers to finish their courses because the Philippine Government has invested so much for their future and that of the country.
For the new graduates alone, there was an investment of P460,000. In the incoming Software Development-Java course takers, there's an investment of P500,000.
Yunque said that through the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program, Filipinos no longer have to look for jobs as domestic helpers and other low-end occupations.
The graduates of the animation course, night class with
Yunque, Sorolla, Alba,Gambol, Bacon and Navarrosa.
"We like our people to shine in high-end work," she said.
The TESDA is now in talks with WVCST in providing more interventions in the program's implementation. This refers to debriefing and destressing courses that will be handled by psychologists, considering that the information technology industry is stressful.
They will also invest on the multiplier effect, meaning, trainings will be provided for teachers, too. "If trainors are exposed to this, they will include this in their subjects.
Lorena Yungue of TESDA
However, she encouraged the graduates to consider Christian values in the practice of their craft. "Like productions that will not play on violence and sexism. These programs are not end themselves but are the ways to promote good values and service to people."
Vic Galino III of the night class, thanked the program implementors in behalf of the students.
"Some of us gave up our studies and work to undergo this training because we want to be animators. This is a rare opportunity that was given to us. For three decades now, Filipinos have dominated animation, thus we are happy to be part of the industry."