Approximately 500 senior high school students from Labogon National High School (LNHS) in Mandaue City participated in a major career guidance and coaching forum aimed at shaping their professional futures.
Government Agencies Unite for Student Futures
The event, held on January 14, 2026 at the LNHS gymnasium, was a collaborative effort organized by career advocates Wendell Thaddeu Blanco and Maria Luisa Leyson. They partnered with key government bodies: the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 7, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region 7, and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Mandaue City.
The forum's primary goals were multifaceted: to strengthen ties between schools and government for career guidance, help students unlock their potential and plan their careers, provide crucial labor market information, and weave career counseling directly into the educational experience.
Practical Advice on Jobs and Rights
Following safety reminders from student responders, Musoline Suliva, department head of PESO Mandaue, took the stage as keynote speaker. She offered practical tips on preparing job applications and assembling the necessary documents for future employment.
Experts from the DMW and DOLE provided specialized knowledge. Richard Sabrido and Geoffrey Villahermosa, both Labor and Employment Officers II from DMW Region 7, outlined pathways for overseas employment and the recruitment process. They stressed the agency's core mission to safeguard the rights and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Venerlinda Hamoy, a senior labor and employment officer from DOLE 7, educated students on fundamental workers' rights. Her discussion covered essential topics like:
- Security of tenure
- Rights to self-organization and collective bargaining
- Just and humane working conditions
- Fair compensation and equal opportunity
- Entitlements to rest days, leaves, and benefits
Student Insights and Program Mandate
Strella Mae Germino, a Grade 12 student, shared her powerful takeaways. "I've learned that the secret to getting ahead is getting started," she said. The event taught her that the best time to act on dreams is now, and she gained valuable knowledge about employee rights in the workplace.
Germino added that the career guidance helped her gain a deeper understanding of the world of work, boosting her confidence in choosing a path. "Having the opportunity to be guided in these matters at an early stage is a meaningful way to encourage students to build a future where they can grow and bloom in their own ways," she concluded.
This initiative directly supports DepEd Regional Memorandum No. 0987, s. 2025, which mandates the involvement of DOLE and PESO as partners in school-based career guidance and development programs. The overarching goal is to systematically guide and prepare students for the world of work through sustained advocacy and developmental projects.
