For the first time in 29 years, the Philippines returned to the medal podium at the WorldSkills Competition after Carlos Antonio Delos Reyes of Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas won bronze in Hotel Reception at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Delos Reyes, an International Hospitality Management graduate, placed third among 21 competitors with 723 points. Switzerland’s Fina Niebergall won gold with 729, while China’s Jiayi Wang took silver with 727, according to official WorldSkills results. Delos Reyes also received the Best of Nation award for the Philippine delegation.
The 48th WorldSkills Competition brought together 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions across 64 skill categories. The Hotel Reception contest ran from Sept. 23 to 26, testing participants on reservations, check-ins, guest concerns and unexpected front-desk situations. Delos Reyes trained with LPU-Batangas expert Nomer Yuzon and had already won gold in the same category at WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025.
The Philippines’ previous podium finish came in 1997, when Gerrelen Diaz won bronze in Ladies’ Dressmaking at the 34th WorldSkills Competition in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Two other Filipinos earned Medals for Excellence. James Cavin Sayago of Camarines Sur Polytechnic College scored 706 in Electrical Installations, while Hannah Krystelle Caintic of TESDA Regional Training Center-NCR scored 712 in Graphic Design Technology. The distinction recognizes competitors who reach at least 700 points without winning gold, silver or bronze.
“We will continue to provide our skills champions with opportunities to compete, learn, and benchmark their competencies on the international stage,” TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez said.
The Philippines fielded 11 competitors in 10 skill categories. The next WorldSkills Competition is scheduled for Aichi, Japan, in November 2028.
