Officials of the Philippine Consul General Office, the Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office said the workers are “ready” to be entrepreneurs once they return to their country.
“You have proven your skills. You already achieved your goal. And you presented delicious and acceptable food,” Consul General Medardo Macaraeg told the workers.
In an interview, he said the workers can establish their own businesses in the Philippines.
He encouraged them to save so they can have the working capital they will need.
Welfare Officer Rey Tayag said they have achieved their objective of instilling among the workers the importance of entrepreneurship.
“They now know their potentials,” he said.
Labor representative Carmelina Velasquez also joined the gathering with other officials from the Philippine Consulate General Office.
During the Philippine Independence Day celebration in June, the workers enrolled in the culinary arts and baking classes helped prepare the food for the special occasion.
Yesterday, they were joined by the home décor, pastry and food carving class members.
“It was a sort of a potluck gathering and every group contributed,” Tayag said.
Hermie Coronejo, Fiesta Resort & Spa’s chef, said he has 60 students in his culinary arts class while Ofelia Lopez has 30 students in her baking class.
Culinary arts student Edward “Edong” Elenzano, the island’s most well-known tattoo artist, is now teaching food carving lessons and one of his students is Coronejo.
Jojo Sotto, a teacher for the pastry class, said it was his first time to volunteer and teach his skills at the Filipino Workers Resource Center. He has 40 students
The home décor class is headed by Nhanie Cayao.
Like Coronejo, all the teachers said their students were able to show their best and have improved their skills.
