🥉 TESDA WorldSkills 2026: Bronze Medal, Historic Milestone
A First for Balangkayan SHS
TESDA WorldSkills 2026 Balangkayan SHS — this is not just a headline. This is history. For the first time ever, a DepEd public senior high school stood on the same competitive floor as vocational schools and college-level institutions in the Regional Skills Olympics 2026 – Web Technologies Category. That school was us. That student was Mark Paul M. Borja. And he came home with a Bronze Medal.
Mark Paul had no prior background in programming. Yet he stepped out of his comfort zone, embraced every challenge head-on, and represented Balangkayan Senior High School – Stand Alone with courage, excellence, and pride. His story is proof that the willingness to learn is the most powerful skill of all. Read more about our student achievements and the community that makes them possible.
Balangkayan Senior High School banner at TESDA WorldSkills 2026 Regional Skills Olympics alongside college and vocational school banners
One of the most powerful images of the entire competition was seeing the Balangkayan Senior High School – Stand Alone banner standing proudly side by side with banners from colleges and vocational schools across Eastern Visayas. A public senior high school — present, competing, and winning. That single image says everything about what our school and our students are truly capable of.
🙏 The People Behind the Medal
Behind every great achievement is a team of people who believe before anyone else does. For Mark Paul, those people were Ma’am Emma M. Abot and Sir Sionel Elpedes — and their contribution to this milestone cannot be overstated.
Ma’am Emma M. Abot — OIC / Assistant Principal
From the very beginning, Ma’am Emma stood firmly behind this endeavor. Her unwavering support throughout the entire journey — from preparation to competition day — gave Mark Paul and the entire team the confidence to pursue something no DepEd school had done before. Her dedication to her students reaches far beyond her role, and this Bronze Medal is a reflection of her leadership and belief in what Balangkayan SHS can achieve.
Sir Sionel Elpedes — Adviser & Motivator
Sir Sionel’s guidance was the spark that lit the fire. His valuable advice, steady encouragement, and genuine motivation inspired Mark Paul to take on this competition with confidence — even without prior programming experience. He saw potential where others might have seen limitations, and he nurtured that potential into a medal-winning performance.
To both of you — maraming salamat po. This victory belongs to you as much as it does to Mark Paul.
💬 A Message to Mark Paul
To our Bronze Medalist, Mark Paul M. Borja —
You walked into a room full of experienced programmers from colleges and vocational schools — and you held your ground. You competed without a safety net, armed only with your determination, your hard work, and the courage to try. And you won.
You have shown every student at Balangkayan SHS that no dream is too big, no stage is too large, and no challenge is too great — as long as you are willing to learn and refuse to give up.
This Bronze Medal is just the beginning. The best is still ahead of you.
Congratulations, Champion! 🥉🎉
— The Balangkayan SHS Family