The Chorizo Making and Cake-Baking Livelihood Training facilitated by Central Philippines State University’s Gender and Development (GAD) Office for disadvantaged students ended on a sweet and savory note today, February 21, 2025.
Fifty (50) solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and marginalized Cenphilians from the Main Campus joined as trainees and were trained by university instructors in making the food products in the campus Mini-Hotel.
Mr. Roland A. Celis from the Main Campus’ College of Hospitality Management (CHM) gave a lecture on baking vanilla, pandan, and ube-flavored chiffon cakes, and Mr. Emmanuel M. Salaza from CPSU-Victorias campus taught the trainees about making garlic-flavored chorizo.
The venue was filled with enthusiastic chatter, and trainees gave meaningful nods as they attentively listened to the lectures and watched the demonstrations in baking and making the products.
Hands-on training ensued after the lectures and demonstrations, which enabled students to engage and be more immersed in the learning process in groups—producing their respective outputs in synergy.
Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, University President, delivered the opening remarks where he encouraged the students to make the most of the training and motivated the students by sharing his personal experiences—delivering parcels of wisdom to the trainees about the significance of entrepreneurial mindset and will in developing financial stability, bolstering the economy, and building the nation.
“I perceived that there is a need to help our students with more skills apart from what they learn in the classroom. This training could inspire students to broaden their horizons and engage in income-generating endeavors for our disadvantaged students to address their financial needs to avail medication, support the studies of their children, and avail day-to-day necessities, and hopefully, it could progress beyond just supporting their needs into the flourishing of enterprise and generation of more jobs for Filipinos out of their success,” said Dr. Shirley A. Calugcugan, GAD Director.
Alongside Dr. Calugcugan, GAD team members, Dr. Jose Gay D. Gallego, Dr. Flora L. Carpio, Ms. Germi Calalas, and GAD staff, Ms. May Vargas, Ms. Jerlyn Catipay, and Mr. Genesis Jevero, facilitated the activity, advocating for inclusivity and entrepreneurship through educating and training disadvantaged students in food production and enterprise.
“I joined the activity because the skills that I will learn could be a good foundation for starting my own business for extra profit to provide for the needs of my child; rising prices of commodities inspires me to engage in business and use my skills to make my own baked goods to generate income and lessen expenses. Moreover, I thought special occasions could be made more special if I made the celebratory cake myself. My child and I joined the activity together, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to learn and bond at the same time, as she has a passion for baking and would like to take Hospitality Management in the future,” expressed Je-an Taala, Bachelor of Arts in English Language student.
The GAD office received an overwhelming student response after the announcement of the activity and invitation for interested disadvantaged students was made and is considering having another training to heed the demand and accommodate more trainees in the future.