‘Shared scholarship’: 2 brothers march their way out of poverty
“A celebration of every bolt we’ve tightened, every engine we’ve disassembled and assembled, and every challenge we have overcome” — Jaryl Barrios, valedictorian of Batch 23 of the Tesda Automotive Technician Program
The June 20 graduation ceremony for the 23rd batch of automotive technicians held at the multipurpose covered courts of the Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban, Leyte saw two brothers in special circumstances. One proudly accompanied the other up the stage to receive his diploma.
But things could have been different. Places could have been switched.
Jimwell L. Barrios, 23, introduced himself as the brother of batch valedictorian Jaryl. In his own words, this is his story:
“I was originally the one meant to walk across the stage today. However, due to unexpected health concerns, I couldn’t continue the journey. It was heartbreaking at first—to give up a dream that felt so close. But even in that difficult moment, something beautiful happened. I was given the chance to pass on the opportunity to someone very close to my heart—my brother. He stepped in, took the challenge with courage, and is now graduating. He made the most of the scholarship that was meant for me, and today, I couldn’t be prouder. His success is my success. And that is something I will carry with joy for the rest of my life.”
In Jaryl’s valedictory speech, he said: “When I first stepped into this program, I carried not just my dreams, but the hopes of my family, the weight of uncertainty, and a silent prayer in my heart. I asked the Lord to help me, not only to understand machines, but to discover my purpose. And he did. He gave me strength when I was weak. He gave me light when my path felt unclear. He gave me comfort during the quiet moments of doubt and pressure.”
Jaryl ended by declaring that he is “a representative of a class that turned grease-stained hands, into a symbol of passion, resilience, and growth.”
Jimwell was in a scholarship program that was difficult to get accepted in, as only a small fraction of hundreds of applications are approved. For instance, the incoming new batch of scholars (Batch 27) saw 785 applicants get whittled down to just 18.
That’s why when Jimwell’s unfortunate health condition was discovered, his family was afraid they lost the opportunity altogether. But the Isuzu Heart and Smile Project (IHSP)—an educational aid program that’s a collaboration between Isuzu Motors Limited Japan (IML), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and World Vision—saw a way for the family to keep its hopes for a better future alive, by allowing Jaryl to step in and take his younger brother’s place.
Providing passage out of poverty. That has been what IHSP has been doing for hundreds of youngsters and their families since the program started in 2008. Including last Friday’s batch of graduates, IHSP has provided holistic automotive education to 436 underprivileged youth. The program consists of the standard Tesda curriculum for automotive servicing, with additional classes on Isuzu diesel technology and other pertinent topics, enhancing both general and specialized skills.
Education isn’t the only benefit the youngsters get. The ultimate goal is to get the graduates employed so they can begin building upon their personal careers, support their families, and become productive members of the industry and society. And this is where IHSP is highly successful, as the employment rate for its graduates are 94.3 percent, making the program a truly transformative educational experience.
Among the employed, 67 percent are hired locally, 24 percent get to work overseas, and 3 percent are self-employed. Those working overseas are now making an impact in top global markets such as Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, the United States, and other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Jaryl and his 14 batch mates face these rosy prospects as soon as they step into the real world. And they’ve earned it. The rigorous two-year Automotive Servicing Course at the Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban is no walk in the park. Those who pass the course are accorded the highest qualification—an NC IV Certificate.
“This course was never easy. We all had our share of setbacks, blown fuses, stripped bolts, and moments of failure. But we showed up. We kept learning, kept fighting, kept practicing, and most importantly, we kept believing, not just in ourselves, but in the plan that God had for each of us because we knew someday it would all work out. And this day is that day,” said Jaryl in his speech.
Isuzu Philippines stressed that the scholarship program exemplifies the Japanese automotive company’s “commitment to uplifting underprivileged youth by honing their automotive servicing skills to advance their careers in aftersales service.”
Jaryl and his batch mates were very much aware of the extraordinary opportunity given to them, and they made sure that it was all worth it. “Being a scholar meant more than just free tuition. it meant living up to expectations, proving that someone’s investment in us would never go to waste. We stayed up late at night to study diagrams and systems, we struggled because of family problems, we battled sickness and loneliness, we resolved issues and concerns, we cried and laughed together, we stood up like brothers and sisters for each other,” Jaryl shared in his speech.
Tetsuya Ikemoto from IML noted that “the auto industry in the Philippines is growing every year, and more and more people are interested in working in it.” He said that IHSP graduates are role models for all automotive students, and the discipline they displayed would help them immensely in keeping the Philippine automotive industry maintain this remarkable growth and contribute to the development of Isuzu in the Philippines.
Following the graduation ceremony, IHSP welcomed 18 new scholars constituting Batch 27, which will get its turn to march up the stage in 2027. To inspire the incoming batch and offer a preview of the skills they will develop, current scholars conducted a special skills demonstration. Tesda 8 Regional Director Dan Navarro said that the new batch will be “another set of future skillful auto technicians who would create and impact the automotive industry.”
Several students were also recognized during the ceremony for their exemplary performance.
Isuzu Philippines Corp (IPC) president Mikio Tsukui said: “We are honored to be part of these students’ journey as they become professionals who can apply their skills for the benefit of the company, our valued customers, and society. We look forward to their continued success—not only as key members of the Isuzu dealer network both locally and internationally, but also in their broader career pursuits.”
