Lot G. Bunao, manager of JC Café and Restaurant, said they would like to undergo training that can help them improve their daily interaction with tourists.
“We get a lot of Japanese tourists here each day, but most of us don’t even know basic Japanese. It would help a lot if we can get training like our Saipan counterparts,” Bunao said.
She said contract workers here are also interested in learning basic cooking and baking as well as other livelihood courses offered by the consulate and OWWA on Saipan.
“A lot of us here, especially those in tourism-related businesses such as restaurants, bars, tour agencies, want to sign up for the training sessions but we can’t go over to Saipan,” Bunao said.
Philippine Consul General Medardo Macaraig told the Variety that they want to include Filipinos on Tinian and Rota in the livelihood training program but this involves a lot of “challenges.”
Macaraig said bringing instructors to Tinian and Rota is one major issue.
“All our instructors are volunteers who give a few hours of their time each week to conduct training. It is hard for us to bring them to Tinian or Rota,” Macaraig said.
Organizers are also needed to facilitate the livelihood training program and arrange the venues on Tinian and Rota, he added.
“The consulate only facilitates the training. We do not conduct it but we will try to find ways on how to extend our services to the people of Tinian,” Macaraig said.
Among the livelihood courses offered by OWWA on Saipan are English and basic Japanese, computer literacy and repair, baking, cooking and sewing.
