MISAMIS ORIENTAL(May 15) — For dozens of aspiring caregivers in Misamis Oriental, learning Japanese is no longer just about mastering a foreign language — it is becoming their passport to stable jobs, bigger incomes, and better futures for their families.
A growing partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the provincial government is now turning local caregiving graduates into globally competitive workers ready for Japan’s expanding healthcare industry.
Inside TESDA language classes, scholars spend months learning Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji while training for the realities of elderly care work abroad. For many trainees, it is their first step toward breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Ta-as kaayo ang panginahanglan sa care workers sa Japan, apan usa sa ilang pinakaimportante nga requirement mao gyud ang language training,” said TESDA Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Marigold Cherie Garrido.
Japan continues to face a shortage of healthcare and elderly care workers as its aging population grows, creating opportunities for Filipino caregivers willing to undergo specialized training and language preparation.
The initiative started after the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), coordinated with TESDA to identify qualified Caregiving NC II graduates for possible deployment to Kyoto, Japan.
Out of the first 25 scholars, 16 already advanced to the Nihongo A2 level — a key requirement before deployment.
For families in Misamis Oriental, the program could mean more than overseas jobs. It could translate into higher household incomes, better educational opportunities for children, and stronger local economies fueled by remittances from skilled workers abroad.
“Kaning 16, halos sigurado na nga makaadto sa Japan once mahuman nila ang language requirement,” Garrido said.
TESDA officials believe the success of the caregiving batch could also open pathways for workers in welding, construction, and other technical fields where Japan continues to face labor shortages.
The program also reflects a wider push to make technical-vocational education more responsive to real-world jobs.
Under Republic Act 12063, or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Act, TESDA is expanding industry-linked programs that directly connect trainees with employers.
“The fastest path to employment now is Tech-Voc,” Garrido said.
Beyond caregiving, TESDA is also offering free training programs for returning overseas Filipino workers and their families in virtual assistance, AI data annotation, and drone operations — sectors seen as emerging job generators in the digital economy.
For trainee Fatima Namocat, the experience transformed not only her skills but also her confidence.
“We study not just for ourselves, but to provide a better life and a sustainable future for our families back home in Misamis Oriental,” she said.
Namocat compared their journey to the Japanese kanji symbol for “person,” where two strokes lean on each other for support.
“Just as we have supported one another in this classroom, let us support the people we will soon care for in Japan,” she added.
While mastering the language was difficult at first, she said daily practice and teamwork helped the trainees push through.
“Our bags are packed, our hearts are ready, and our voices are now heard in two languages,” Namocat said.
For many in Misamis Oriental, the program is becoming proof that local skills training, backed by strong government support, can connect rural communities to global opportunities.
