The Ambassador was toured by the Management Staff of BCPD. Her affability made everyone at ease. She was interested in the history of “the school for the poor”. She was delighted to catch a pre-assessment session in Cookery of the Grade 11 students. Asked by the Ambassador if they love what they are doing, the students answered “Yes” in unison. She was more engaging in the Food and Beverage Services laboratory where the Grade 12 students were having a practice on Food Service. She had a very animated interaction with them. To Princess, she candidly asked her what would she do if she accidentally spilled the water. Princess admitted later on that it was a totally unexpected question that made her laugh. And thanks to that question, she and all her classmates became comfortable with the Ambassador.
The Ambassador wanted to get stories on the ground. Among the first batch of USAID Opportunity 2.0 completers, the Macahilo sisters stand out as they are all employed in the school’s Industry Partners where they had their On-The-Job Training. Cherry Rose, 20 years old is the youngest among them. The Ambassador asked where she is working. With joy and pride, she announced “ I work as a Barista in UCC Café” which earned the applause of the Ambassador herself and the others who joined the small Focus Group Discussion. “I know UCC”, the Ambassador remarked. Cladly Mae, 22 years old is a Service Crew in Café Georg and Sheila Mae, 25 years old worked in My Joy and is now moving to another Industry Partner. Their mother, Mrs. Susan Macahilo was also invited to share her part of the story with the Ambassador. Mrs. Macahilo narrated: “My husband is a carpenter who lost his job during the pandemic. I am a housewife. We have 5 children and we cannot send our three elder daughters to College anymore. So when my daughter saw the Opportunity 2.0 in facebook of BCPD, she applied. It was only Cladly who applied and during the online interview with the Director of the school, Elizabeth Lopez, she saw 2 young girls behind her. She invited all of them to apply in the USAID Opportunity 2.0. We didn’t even have to worry about their transportation money because USAID gave them allowance. And when they had their OJT, they also received a daily allowance. It was a very big help to our family.”
All of them give their salary to their mother. “We can now eat three times a day”, the Mother added. She recalled the time when they were asked to leave the small house they were renting in one of the urban poor communities because of the financial constraints of the family. They could now pay for their house and their bills which Mrs. Macahilo have just been praying for. The sisters are of the timid type of personality. And their training calls for people skills. But all are driven to rise above their plight so they had to face the challenges boldly. Cladly Mae expressed it better: “I know that this is the only chance for me to find a job. My family needs financial support. I challenged myself to overcome my shyness. I approached and smiled to all the costumers.”
The Ambassador also listened to the narrative of two Badjao women who will start their training in June – Ustia Malael, 22 years old and Elam Timbol, 20 years old. Ustia shared: “I went to college but I stopped schooling because I got married. We are married off early and we cannot say ‘NO’ to the tradition. My husband was forced to leave his job. My parents help us in our needs. But our life became harder when my father died last year. Few months ago, my child passed away”. When she learned of the Opportunity 2.0 from the Nano Nagle Child and Learning Center, an exclusive school for the Badjao Community run by Presentation Sisters, she decided to apply so she could fulfill her dreams to finish a course and work later. She added, “I want to land into a job, like the three young women here” pointing to the Macahilo sisters. Elam is also married and with a child. This is what she disclosed to the Ambassador, “I want to learn how to bake so that I could start a small business. That is my dream. There is no bakery in our community”. The Ambassador nodded and smiled as if to say “It will come true.”
All of them unendingly expressed their deepest gratitude to the Ambassador. But she was more thankful than the recipients of the Grants. She ended the visit with this message: “Thank you to you for sharing your stories. You are a real inspiration to all of us. So happy to hear of your successes and your future successes. We are very excited at the US Embassy and the USAID to be a part of this people to people ties, Americans and Filipinos working together. Thank you so much”.
Her Excellency Ambassador MaryKay Calrson and her Party were welcomed by the schools’ Management Staff – Elizabeth Lopez, Mary Anne Ruiz, Charisma Rhea Castro and Sarah Josefa Laragan. Other Guests included Joey Fernandez, Control Officer; Paul Putong, PAS; Mir Tillah, Senior Education Adviser Office of Education, USAID/Philippines; Dr. Maria Theresa Mokamad, USAID Opportunity Deputy Chief of Party, Education Development Center and the Cebu USAID EDC Personnel.
USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 aims to train Out-Of-School-Youths (OSY) in a 1-Year Work Ready Now and Continuing Education Curricula, undergo a work-base experience and entrepreneurship to start business, get a job or proceed to higher education. Banilad Center for Professional Development is accepting applicants for the one year program for Out-of-School-Youth and single mothers on Food Service Technology. The 02 Program offers tuition fee with transportation allowance and a chance to have an On-The-Job Training in the best restaurants in Cebu City. For more information click this link: http://bitly.w/xqft. / CTL / PR