10/12/2025
𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮.𝟬 — 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆
On the 5th day of December 2025, the 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝟮.𝟬 concluded with a heartfelt and inspiring Graduation Ceremony, celebrating the perseverance, discipline, and successful journey of our new batch of local Virtual Assistants.
The program opened with a warm message of gratitude from Engr. Aldren O. Butra, DICT Provincial Officer, who commended the trainees for their active participation and dedication throughout the entire training.
In place of Municipal Mayor Atty. Grace Carmel D. Paredes-Bravo, ICTD Head Michael B. Gecozo delivered an encouraging message on behalf of the LGU. He highlighted the importance of recognizing the value of opportunities such as SPARK and commended the trainees for their hard work—earning a combined ₱300,000+ from their online engagements. He also extended special congratulations to Mayet Cabrera-Flores, the batch’s highest earner.
Mr. Gecozo also announced an upcoming LGU initiative through the ICTD: a dedicated workspace for VAs equipped with FREE laptops and internet that trainees may use during working hours—reflecting the LGU's full support for San Francisco’s digital workforce.
One of the most inspiring parts of the ceremony came from Ms. Aime M. Lozada, the SPARK Resource Person. She shared her personal story—how she started with no clear path, faced rejections while applying online, endured long nights of studying unfamiliar tools, and questioned her readiness many times. She recalled scrolling through job boards with little hope, sending countless proposals without replies, and feeling overwhelmed by a competitive online world.
But despite the challenges, she persisted. She invested time in learning, refining her skills, and believing in her potential. That perseverance eventually opened doors, leading her to clients who trusted her abilities. Today, Ms. Aime proudly earns six digits monthly, a milestone built not on instant success, but on resilience, patience, and continuous self-improvement.
She encouraged the graduates to follow the same path—to take failures as stepping stones, keep learning new niches, and remain committed to their goals. Her message served as a powerful reminder that “if I made it despite my hardships, so can you.”
The SPARK Focal, expressed his appreciation to everyone who made the program possible—the dedicated scholars, DICT Caraga leadership, the SPARK Resource Person, and the LGU through Mayor Grace, as well as ICTD personnel Rennal Alabado (Computer Programmer II) and Michael Gecozo (ICTD Head).
The ceremony was further honored by the presence of Municipal Administrator Engr. Lorenzo R. Jagonia Jr., who thanked DICT and the scholars for their dedication. He encouraged them to continue their efforts, reminding them that “𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥.”
To formally close the program, Engr. Albert C. Gabriel, ILCDDB Focal, shared motivating insights on the growing opportunities in the Virtual Assistant industry and urged the graduates to embrace the limitless potential ahead of them.
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙆 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨! 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣, 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙂𝙐 𝙎𝙖𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙄𝘾𝙏 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙖 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.
