With the belief that learning is lifelong, the Gender and Development Office has given the locals of six Kabankalan City barangays the opportunity to learn the essentials and gain new skills to start their chorizo and cake ventures.

In the “Livelihood Training on Chorizo Making and Cake Baking” program by Central Philippines State University’s GAD office, 75 trainees from Barangays 3, Binicuil, Camugao, Camingawan, Oringao, and Tagukon.

Among the participants, male residents also joined as they aspired to learn the skills being offered in the training—breaking the stereotypes about baking and cooking being feminine activities while business and enterprise being male-dominated.

The livelihood training also served out-of-school youths, as it was conducted last December 5-6 and 9-10—dividing the participants into two batches, having three barangays per schedule.

“Being a trainee of several CPSU trainings, I was able to apply my learnings and make food products like ice cream. I tried making an avocado ice cream at home, which my family and friends said tasted good. So I thought of using improved packaging and eventually selling my product. Honestly, it has also been my dream to learn how to bake cakes, but I lack the knowledge and the training. Although YouTube has tutorial videos, learning it and the techniques in person is just different. I was able to learn how to bake cakes now, and my children approved the taste of the finished product that I brought home yesterday—I now prefer my homemade chiffon cakes over store-bought ones. I’m now planning to make a livelihood out of selling my avocado ice cream this Christmas and by selling them to school canteens and eateries in Brgy. Binicuil,” said Filma P. Consulta, a three-time beneficiary of GAD-organized and funded livelihood training and a businesswoman from Brgy. Binicuil.

Mr. Roland Celis from the Main Campus’ College of Hospitality Management (CHM) gave a lecture on cake baking, imparting expert tips for aspiring bakers and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Emmanuel M. Salaza from CPSU-Victorias campus also imparted his knowledge and shared his skills in the chorizo-making session, conveying significant tips in making their chorizo recipes consistent and palate-pleasing.

CHM students, namely Paolo Coronado, Denver Blance, Nieza Caputol, and Loraine Grace Genovia, demonstrated the process of creating a cake batter and baking it.

When asked why the livelihood training specifically included chorizo making and cake baking, GAD program Director, Ms. Shirley Calugcugan, answered, “We actually conducted a needs assessment in every barangay, and the outcome implied that locals wanted to explore chorizo-making and cake-baking under the meat processing and bread-making categories, respectively; hence, we organized this training around those specific learning needs.”

Director Calugcugan also teased more incoming livelihood training for other barangays in Kabankalan under the GAD program and in collaboration with the university’s Extension and Community Services office headed by its director, Dr. Jimmy O. Degillo—bringing education in the communities through relevant skill training.