Punlaan’s seeds (2)

published 02 Jun 2008, MST

During her speech as Most Outstanding Student of her graduating class, Barbra May Sia, 18, told the story of the challenges she faced in her pursuit of her diploma for the two-year vocational course in food and beverage services, a dual training program offered for free by Punlaan School in San Juan City.

Hers was a typical sob story but true and nevertheless moving. As a child, she attended good schools with the help of a well-meaning aunt. But this aunt went abroad and her parents could only afford to send her to a public high school. She adjusted well, remained an achiever in her class, and nursed the dream of obtaining a university degree. She wanted to land a good job and help out with the family expenses “so that my father would not be out all day earning a living.”

But one day her parents sat down with her and told her they could not afford to send her to college – any college – at all. Barbra was only the second of four children. The family was neck deep in debt. Her mother was a housewife and her father a carton box salesman.

At this point in her speech, Barbra could not hold back her tears. She remembered the feeling of hopelessness all too well. She tried to get hold of herself through a joke. “I don't want to cry because I will ruin my make-up.”

Her classmates, 53 of them, feigned giggles. But they hardly succeeded; after all, Barbra's story smacked too much of the adversities and frustrations they themselves had to deal with in obtaining their vocational degree.

Punlaan School is a project of the Foundation for Professional Training Inc., offering full scholarships to underprivileged young women. With its mission to help these girls get a fair chance at life, the school subsists on donations from individual patrons and industry partners as well as a livelihood program. This particular F&B course has been offered since 1993.

It has not been easy, since the girls' needs don't stop with their tuition payments. After all, they have to shell out money to get to and from school, or the establishments where they have their on-the-job training. They have to eat. Most often, even though their parents don't anymore have to worry about the school fees, the lack of money for transportation and food keeps them from showing up sometimes.

Indeed, behind every scholar is a story. It is no wonder every graduate felt she was speaking through Barbra in her speech. The good news is that the hardships are just an aspect of that story.

The better part, the real valediction, is the fact that these girls managed somehow to finish their course and do a great job so that the establishments they were training at eventually absorbed them as regular employees. Now they could start earning and help their families cope with hard times. Talk about real empowerment.

Over time, some of the school’s graduates have risen up the ladder, earning promotions and subsequent salary increases in their respective hotels or restaurants. Some have earned awards, gone abroad, or gone back to the school to impart their expertise. These girls’ humble beginnings inspired them to dream bigger and work harder.

For instance, Barbra, who is now working at Carpaccio, has modified her dream. When she was younger, she dreamed of taking up fine arts. Now she realizes that her degree in food and beverage services has not demanded her to let go of her dream. On the contrary, she is able to use her creative touch in preparing food for her restaurant’s guests. There is in fact more meaning now because everything she does has a purpose and the smallest detail of her work is consequential.

Maybe it’s an offshoot of the complementary values formation aspect of the program, which the personal prelature of Opus Dei directs. Opus Dei is known for its emphasis on love for work and the performance of even the most mundane of tasks for offering to God. Barbra also says that her sense of responsibility and initiative was enhanced in the last two years that she attended the school.

This attitude among Punlaan’s students have made industry partners, now totaling 30 hotels and 45 restaurants and sports clubs, take notice. Indeed, during the graduation rites, representatives of partner establishments were present in a show of support and recognition of the school’s noble causes.

For information on how you can assist the school, be an industry partner or inquire about the program, call 727-0581 to 82. Punlaan School is located at 173 M. Paterno Street, San Juan City.