Chapter 7: The Wiring Competition – Lights, Pressure, Action!
The banners were up. The multipurpose hall had been transformed. Electrical panels lined one side, toolkits prepped on the other, and a long table at the front bore the names of the judges.
The school was hosting its first ever Inter-Section Wiring Skills Competition—an initiative brought forward by none other than Mrs. De Jesus, who believed in showing the community what vocational learners were truly capable of.
"Let them shine," she told Mr. Emman a week prior. "Not just with grades—but with grit."
The Contest Begins
Seven pairs from Grade 10 EIM classes were selected to compete. Emman had personally trained them all—after class hours, during weekends, even during lunch breaks.
The challenge?
Install a complete home lighting circuit with one light controlled by two three-way switches and integrate a convenience outlet. Time limit: 60 minutes.
Tension buzzed through the air like static electricity.
Judges from the local TESDA office and the LGU were present, including a known master electrician who looked like he'd wired half the barangay.
Emman stood offstage, clipboard in hand, acting as floor supervisor—but inside, he was more nervous than the competitors.
The Unexpected Twist
Thirty minutes in, team Paolo and Jerick were leading. Quick hands, clean layout, solid grounding. Then—snap.
A wire broke.
Jerick's face went pale. It was one of their traveler wires, cut too short by accident. They stared at it, frozen.
Emman caught Paolo's eyes from across the room.
He couldn't intervene. Rules were clear: no coach assistance. But he gave a subtle gesture: breathe, think, adapt.
Paolo nodded slightly.
Instead of panicking, he opened the toolbox, pulled a junction connector, and extended the wire legally—with added insulation and label.
The judges took note.
Meanwhile—Marco's Redemption
At station 6, Marco and Carina worked in quiet synergy.
Marco, once the student who walked out, now took the lead with calm focus. He was slower—but precise.
He checked the tester twice before connecting. Grounded every box. Even explained the safety to Carina while working.
By the final 5 minutes, their board was wired and clean.
When the switch was flipped—click…
The bulb lit instantly.
Even better—the tester read zero fault current.
One of the TESDA judges murmured, "Professional-level wiring."
Emman couldn't hide his smile.
And the Winners Are...
When the time ended, judges went station by station, grading:
Functionality
Neatness
Safety compliance
Time management
Finally, Mrs. De Jesus walked to the mic.
"In third place... Team 3."
Applause.
"In second place... Team 1."
Cheers.
"And in first place—due to excellent wiring quality, top safety standards, and calm under pressure…"
She paused. The students leaned forward.
"…Team 6 – Marco and Carina!"
The workshop exploded with cheers. Marco looked stunned.
Emman clapped the loudest from the side.
The Aftermath
Later, as the crowd dispersed and students packed up, Marco approached Emman.
"Sir," he said, still clutching his medal, "I never thought I'd be 'that student.' The one who gets it right."
"You weren't the fastest," Emman replied. "But you were steady. And in wiring, steady wins. Every time."
Marco smiled. "That's the first medal I ever earned. My father—he's never seen me win anything."
"Then maybe," Emman said, patting his shoulder, "this one's wired directly to the heart."
A Quiet Moment with Mrs. De Jesus
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue through the multipurpose hall, Mrs. De Jesus stood beside Emman.
"That boy," she said, nodding toward Marco, "he's been through more than we know. But today? He proved he's more than what happened to him."
Emman exhaled slowly. "It's amazing what happens when someone believes in themselves… or when someone finally believes in them."
She smiled. "That's why you're here, Mr. Sotelo. You don't just teach wiring. You reconnect students to purpose."
They both looked out at the emptying hall—the echo of laughter, cheers, and triumph still lingering like a fading current.