Punlaan: Sowing the seeds of women empowerment
Aside from its focus on value formation, Punlaan, which was opened in 1975, has another advantage over many other institutions offering the same courses it has.
German way
The school pioneered in the Philippines in 1993 the German Dual Training System (DTS) for its hotel and restaurant industry programs. Dual training, although it involves students spending hours in a company that may be a potential employer, is nothing like the on-the-job training, or OJT, Philippine schools include in their curriculums.
The German mode of training delivery is a true combination of the theoretical and practical. It is called “dual” because the training happens in both school and the company. Much like apprenticeships, students receive real mentoring from real, experienced experts in jobs they are training for.
DTS combines the strength of the school, theoretical, and that of the workplace, practical, to give students a fuller preparation for the jobs ahead.
Anne Marie Jacinto, former Punlaan director, says the school has instituted into its programs 10 months of OJT. “We started partnerships with industries (to allow students to train).”
Communication is key
As the program continues, Punlaan adapts its curriculum to the actual demands of the industry. “Before, we were not really familiar with the hotel/restaurant industry (but as we learned more, we realized the importance) of social skills—how our students talk, socialize and communicate.”
English language skills, social skills and personality development were added to the theoretical part of the program to meet the requirements of the practical part.
Maria Theresa “Kai” Nabatar, the current director, says the DTS program in Hospitality and Culinary Arts, where students learn cooking, baking, food and beverage services and housekeeping, is the most popular. “One hundred percent of graduates of this program is employed after graduation.”
Some have even found employment abroad. Nova Evite worked for 15 years on a cruise ship. Her daughter Justine is following in her footsteps—hoping to work on a cruise ship when she finishes her Hospitality and Culinary Arts course.
3,000 and counting
Under teachers and trainers certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Nabatar says they have graduated over 3,000 students so far.
Punlaan’s one-year Home Arts Course has been officially recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd). The school was recognized in 1985 as a technical-vocational institute offering a two-year technical course in Home Arts. The two-year Home Arts Program was modified in 1991 to Hotel Services and Food Preparation Technology, while the one-year Home Arts became the Home Skills Training Program.
Punlaan launched the two-year German Dual Training Program in Food and Beverage Services for hotels and restaurants under the sponsorship of the Landesinstitut for Internationale Berufsbuildung in Germany, in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines.
In 2014, Punlaan became one of the first few schools approved as a senior high school, administering the Senior High School Dual Training Program – Technical Vocation Track in Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
Watsons partnership
Punlaan went into partnership recently with the drugstore chain Watsons Philippines for the training of pharmacy service assistants, a much-needed human resource as a previous PhilCare Wellness Index Report indicated that customers often rely on pharmacy assistants for advice on what medicines to take for certain ailments.
Watsons Philippines managing director Danilo Chiong and Imelda Nibungco, chair of the Foundation for Professional Training Inc. (FPTI), formalized the agreement for the Pharmacy Assistant Apprenticeship program that will equip trainees with Tesda-certified in-school learning and on-the-job training at Watsons branches.
Students who qualify for the program will receive a monthly allowance of P9,000 and ready-to-work experience. The first group of trainees for the six-month program began classes on Oct. 2.
Housewives’ idea
Nabatar says they are exploring other human resource needs that they can offer training for, such as caregivers for the elderly and the infirm.
FPTI, a nonstock, nonprofit organization, owns and operates the Punlaan School. The foundation establishes schools to provide professional training in the areas of home and institutional services, technology and management.
Accredited by DepEd, Tesda and the Department of Tourism, Punlaan School was founded by a group of volunteer housewives who were inspired by Saint Josemaria’s words on love for family, fellow and God. The saint believed the poor must receive effective and efficient help so they could help themselves and their families live and progress with dignity as productive citizens, free from any form of social or economic discrimination.
After four decades, Punlaan continues to draw inspiration and guidance from the saint and believes that spiritual formation contributes greatly to lifelong learning. It does not only teach academic and technical skills, but gives emphasis to character-building, work ethics and the Christian life. INQ
