Reaching the Middle Earth, a Success Story of Joshue C. Mugas

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” I can relate a famous line by Ralph Waldo Emerson to Joshue Calderon Mugas’ journey going to the Middle Earth. Before he gets there, he worked on his dream, make sacrifices until he sets his footprints in New Zealand, the 100% Middle Earth, just this year. 

At the farm where Josue C. Mugas works as a Farm Assistant.

His dream began when he saw a television ad back in the 80s featuring a breathtaking scenery with magnificent landscapes and a herd of cows strutting effortlessly, where celebrity endorsers back then not highly regarded as of today. His passion flared until he grew up and stayed focus on achieving his dream!

Jojo has an impressive resume before he joined TESDA-Wangan National Agricultural School. He is a Civil Engineer, Civil Service exam passer, worked as a Construction Project Manager, and a Safety Officer. He got a lucrative job and earning wages more than enough for him and his wife. But his dream way back in his childhood hadn’t faded, yet it keeps on lingering.

Joshue C. Mugas received his New Zealand Certificate for Primary Industry Skills Level II at 
National Trade Academy in Christchurch.

He left his job when he started his training in TESDA-WNAS to take up Animal Production (Ruminants) NC II. The program comprises competencies to prepare him to raise ruminants for milk, meat, and breeder production. Including housing maintenance, farm implements and the surrounding area, providing forage, performing breeding of ruminants, raising of dairy and meat-type animals. His sacrifices paid off when he received his National Certificate in Animal Production Ruminants NC II.

Last April 2019, he packed up his dreams and flew to New Zealand. He faced various challenges upon arriving at Christchurch where he stayed, as the cool weather and the difficult accent. But, he thrived when he got his New Zealand Certificate for Primary Industry Skills Level II at National Trade Academy in Christchurch last June 13, 2019.

The breathtaking landscape in New Zealand, the Land of the Middle Earth. 

On June 17, 2019, he signed a contract with Waterton Dairy LP as a Farm Assistant. He confessed that his current job is harder than his earlier job as a Civil Engineer. Because as an engineer he plans and supervises people unlike as a farm assistant, he is being supervised. But in terms of salary, it’s 300% way higher than his wage as an engineer. But the job itself is easy, it is repetitive that finally becomes a lifestyle.

He plans to continue his studies and practice his civil engineering career in New Zealand. And by 2020, he plans to invite his wife for vacation and try to help her find a job. So that by the time she gets back to the Philippines, she will process her working visa and they will live together in the Middle Earth.

With great will and determination to achieve his goals, his simple childhood dream has now become a reality. Especially when that simple dream coupled with prayers and hard works. Because we shape our destiny by constantly working on our dreams. - Jonah D. Samillano / SMAC Focal

BREAD AND PASTRY ENHANCEMENT TRAINING

 Ms. Erma Nadera, Bread and Pastry Production NC II Trainer, invited the Technical Baker of Zeelandia Mr. Alexis Linganay to conduct an enhancement training on ASEAN Breads and Doughnuts on July 13, 2019, at the Bread and Pastry Laboratory in TESDA–Wangan National Agricultural School. 

Participants of the workshop on ASEAN Breads and Doughnuts are very attentive to
Mr. Alexix Linganay, Technical Baker of Zeelandia, during the discussion.

Thirty-seven (37) scholars and hopeful bakers joined the workshop who are currently enrolled in Bread and Pastry Production NC II under Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) and Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). The training aimed to introduce the recent trends and techniques in the baking industry while developing their entrepreneurial interest to venture into baking business as their additional source of livelihood.

Hands-on demo on Doughnut making with Mr. Linganay

The training design was very stimulating because aside from the lecture and demo of Mr. Linganay, it also involves hands-on exercises that the trainees enjoyed. It empowered them to become productive through the additional knowledge they got relevant to their bread and pastry qualification.  

Outputs of the ASEAN Breads and Doughnuts demo.

With the new techniques they gained, their entrepreneurial spirit was likewise awakened because of the easy guides on “how to” were imparted to them and the good quality ingredients were accessible through Zeelandia. After the baking demo, trainees had a free-taste session that makes them more motivated. The training ends well where all trainees received handouts, loot bags, and certificates that they can use for their future undertakings. - Jonah D. Samillano / SMAC Focal

Participants have a photo-ops with Mr. Alexis Linganay after receiving their certificates.

WNAS Tablea and Dark Chocolate Production

 TESDA-WNAS creates an impact not only in TESDA Davao Region but even at the national level. After securing the third spot Income Generating Project (IGP) in the whole TESDA-Philippines, WNAS TABLEA continues to make waves. This single-origin Tablea is a bestseller product of its kind because we make it from pure fermented cacao beans. This premium commodity is the favorite pasalubong of our visitors in TESDA-WNAS and graduates in our institution who are now working overseas. 

WNAS Tablea, produced by Agricultural Crops Production

Just recently, Davao City bids to be the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines. It is true since Davao City and Davao Region at large is the biggest producer of cacao beans with 80% total in the entire country. Even a major player in the export industry of cacao beans in the international market.

TESDA-WNAS supports the attempt of our local government through integrating Cacao Production to the skills development training program of Agricultural Crops Production. Cacao is one of the high-value crops that TESDA-WNAS produced. We have a 7-year partnership with ACDI/VOCA that is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in implementing their 1st phase project which is the Cacao Project. 

Dark Chocolate Mango Flavor

From producing pure Tablea, TESDA-WNAS ventures to Chocolate Making. Value-adding the existing Tablea Production to cater to a wider market with interesting preferential demographics. Likewise, to fulfill the unserved and under-served markets, to grow the awareness of WNAS Tablea and Dark Chocolates. TESDA-WNAS administration that makes up greater revenue supported such a feat.

With the value-adding concept, the volume of Tablea Production becomes notably high. According to Ms. Erlinda Ferrer, Agricultural Crops Production NC I and NC III Trainer, they can process an average of 30 Kilograms of cacao beans every month, half of the cocoa liquor is for the 62% Dark Chocolate production.

Dark Chocolate Strawberry Flavor

They make two flavors of Dark Chocolates; Mango and Strawberry flavors. They added pop rice for the Mango flavor and placed in a gold packaging. Meanwhile, peanuts serve as extenders for Strawberry flavor and put in silver packaging. They are selling Tablea for Php 35.00/pack @ 100 grams net weight, and Php 50.00 for Dark Chocolates with the same weight.

With the great demand of Dark Chocolates locally and internationally, TESDA-WNAS is up for the challenge. It is about time to advance the research on cacao processing and more value-adding techniques to maximize the potential of cacao. Also, the need to access of the state-of-art technology that generates efficient management of the cacao beans, by producing bean-to-bar concept, to enhance the marketability of the WNAS Tablea. - Jonah D. Samillano / SMAC Focal