My TWC Journey

"Success does not happen overnight, it requires patience, determination, and continuous learning."

Femia Valenzuela-Calacsan's journey reflects her determination to grow and succeed through continuous learning. Before enrolling at the TESDA Women's Center (TWC), she actively sought opportunities to develop her skills and build a stable career. With limited exposure to technical training in the food and beverage sector, she remained motivated to explore new fields that could create better opportunities for herself and her family.

In 2018, she took a significant step by enrolling in the Barista qualification at TWC, a newly introduced program at the time. Inspired by the rapid growth of the coffee industry, Femia embraced the opportunity to gain practical and relevant skills. Through hands-on training, she developed expertise in coffee preparation, espresso extraction, and customer service equipping her with competencies aligned with industry standards.

Her dedication eventually led her to become an Instructor and Assessor, where she now shares her knowledge and passion with aspiring baristas. She also played a key role in encouraging more trainees to pursue the Barista qualification, with some going on to become trainers and assessors themselves creating a ripple effect of empowerment and skills development.

One of her proudest achievements was conducting competency assessments for Filipino workers abroad, particularly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This milestone marked her transformation from trainee to global contributor in skills development. Today, Femia's story continues to inspire others, proving that with perseverance, passion, and a willingness to learn, simple beginnings can lead to meaningful success.