Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) returned from Japan with three medals after its workers stood out at the 8th Global Monozukuri Skill Competition held at Mitsubishi Motors’ Okazaki plant on 26 October.

The local team picked up two golds and one silver, capping months of steady preparation.

The Global Monozukuri Skill Competition brings together top workers from Mitsubishi plants across the region.

This year, the Philippines sent a nine-member group who joined seven categories, including welding, painting, assembly work, tooling, metal repair, electric sequence programming and forklift operations.

They went up against teams from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam. By the end of the event, three members of the Philippine side topped their categories.

Sherwin Recaido took gold in Metal Repair and Hand Skill Finishing, while Nelson Ojoy earned gold in the Forklift Pallet Handling category. Mark Bagnes completed the medal haul with a silver in CO2 Arc Welding.

Their wins drew cheers from their teammates and mentors who had been watching closely from the sidelines.

MMPC president and CEO Ritsu Imaeda said the results meant a lot to the company. He shared that the achievement reflects the dedication of workers on the factory floor and the kind of discipline that goes into building vehicles every day.

He added that the team’s performance shows how capable Filipino workers are when it comes to technical skills that meet global standards.

Production Strategy manager Sergio Castro Jr. also noted that the pride extends beyond the medals. He added that the recognition highlights the contribution of everyone at the Santa Rosa plant who helped train and support the group. He said the win is something the whole MMPC community can celebrate.

The representatives spent months preparing before flying to Japan. Training began as early as August inside MMPC’s Santa Rosa facility, where the team worked closely with the Manufacturing Monozukuri Training Section.

They went through focused drills that mimicked the pressure and pace of international competition.

Each session pushed them to sharpen their techniques, improve their timing, and show the level of care expected in Monozukuri, the Japanese approach to craftsmanship.

Their efforts paid off with a strong finish for the Philippines and a boost of confidence for the workers who now know they can measure up against the best from the region.