Better cooking skills and new opportunities for the New Year

Wouldn’t it be extremely convenient to have party food expertly cooked by your own household staff in the home kitchen? If you were among the dawdlers who waited until the last moment to order food during the past holiday season, you would know firsthand how difficult, stressful and expensive finding a last-minute caterer can be. The good news, however, is that your own household staff can be taught to whip up the most delectable dishes. By investing in their training and enrolling them at the Punlaan School, their culinary skills are honed so that they can prepare gourmet fare anytime.

But that may seem like a purely self-serving motive. In these times when enlightened employers are more conscious about giving opportunities to their staff, the effort to help improve lives is more genuine. For the progressive thinkers, there is that recognition that by enabling their employees to acquire new skills, they are able to do their share by empowering individuals. In the greater scheme of things this can be one personal and significant contribution towards nation- building.

“The main beneficiaries of the Punlaan School are underprivileged post-secondary young women. Their families, relatives and community are secondary beneficiaries,” says Anne Marie Jacinto, school director. She says that since the school was established in 1975, around 2,000 trainees have graduated from the course programs. Currently, Punlaan has two course offerings: a two-year dual training scholarship in Food & Beverage for the Hospitality Industry (hotels and restaurants) which is a diploma course; and a one-year Home Skills Training Program for Household Helpers to upgrade and professionalize the delivery of service in homes. The latter is a Certificate Course that Punlaan has been offering since 1975. Both courses are TESDA accredited.

“There is a strict screening process and a good attitude is important,” says Jacinto. As school director, she has been witness to many success stories where graduates have moved on to greater responsibilities and better-paying jobs in the Food and Hospitality industry here and abroad. “We take pride in the fact that our trainees at Punlaan are disciplined,” she says. “They value the opportunity and their sincere desire to improve their situations in life pushes them to work hard. They are fast learners with a positive attitude, good moral values and a genuine interest to serve.”

That the training works is backed by numerous testimonials from graduates of the school. Take the case of Maribel Zamora, now employed as a food attendant in American Cruise Liner. “I have been working for the past six years in a cruise liner based in Florida,” she says. “I send my savings home and am glad to say that my dreams have come true to share the blessings with my family. I have been able to buy a lot in Taguig and a Crosswind van for my mother and siblings. Every year when I am in Manila, I never fail to visit and donate to my beloved alma mater, Punlaan School — my second family.”

Recognizing the laudable goal of the school to improve young women’s lives, Punlaan enjoys the support of local businesses and big hotels in the Philippines. Throughout the years, Punlaan School graduates have consistently found gainful employment in these respected leaders of the industry.

Among those that support Punlaan’s programs is Diamond Hotel. Recently, the hotel granted scholarships to 21 deserving women as part of its advocacy to upgrade skills and improve lives. Trained by long-time Diamond Hotel chef Rolando Victoria, the scholars showed that they were very deserving by demonstrating honesty, excellence and professionalism.

“Interest, diligence and attitude is important,” says chef Roland. “This batch of scholars is exceptional because they made an effort to do their tasks well. We could have gotten them as staff for the hotel.”           

But there will be opportunities for other young women soon. Another batch of Diamond Hotel scholars will be chosen for a program that starts in February at Punlaan School. Candidates should be females who are 21-35 years old, physically fit and have finished at least second-year high school. They should have good moral values and attitude, and will agree to work in a home for two to three years. This is regardless if they are currently employed or not.

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For more information, call Lourdes Legazpi at 727-0581/82 or 722-5671. Punlaan School is located at 173 M. Paterno St., San Juan, Metro Manila.