MANILA, Philippines — In Nasugbu, Batangas, various resorts, high-rise residential condominiums, and luxurious beach clubs are rapidly rising. Because of the area’s beautiful beaches and lush nature, Nasugbu has become an ideal place for these plush properties. Thousands of people from Manila flock to this southern part of Luzon to spend relaxing weekends.

But unknown to guests, outside these beautiful resorts and hotel walls, there are communities that live on poverty. While vacationers dine in the resorts’ high-end restaurants, eating expensive steaks and seafood, the people beyond the fences eat vegetables they farm and food their measly income can only provide.

Twenty-two-year-old Jordan Limboc lives in Barangay Calayo, located in the mountainous and coastal area of Nasugbu. This area is also home to the famous vacation destination Hamilo Coast. Most families there live on farming and fishing. The area is also not as accessible as other areas in Nasugbu.

“My family lived on farming. We had little. Gusto ko makapag-aral ng Hotel and Restaurant Management pero hindi ko natuloy because of financial problem,” shares Limboc.

That was the life of Jordan’s family then, living on what they farm. But everything has changed as Jordan now works as a wait staff at the Sun Coral Cafe of Pico de Loro’s Beach Club. He now earns more than P200 per day, some of which he contributes to his family. “Ngayon, nakakatulong na ako sa family ko. Dahil kumikita na ko, I’m saving money para ma-continue ko ‘yung pag-aaral ko,” Limboc says.

Barangay Calayo is actually one of the beneficiary communities of SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) and Limboc is one of the 60 scholars the foundation has helped through its Skills Training Center.

The mission to help

Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, developed by SM Land, is one of the many residential/resorts on Hamilo Coast. But the area is also home to numerous barangays that live on poverty.

Recognizing the needs of the communities around them, SMFI has found a way to help the residents through the training program they have instituted. The center’s first project, a scholars’ hotel training program, was organized to benefit four barangays namely Bulihan, Calayo, Looc, and Papaya.

“The program is really meant for these four barangays that are lagging behind in development. We want to develop the locals’ skills. These barangays are located in the outskirts of Nasugbu and they really need help. Most of the beneficiaries are only high school graduates so they need further training so they can get a job,” explains Cristie Angeles, SMFI vice president for Outreach and Livelihood Program.

The program’s mission is to help the residents enhance their skills potential by providing them with standard technical knowledge and work ethics. This will hopefully have a positive impact on their personal development for more employment opportunities.

The scholars underwent a 30-day training at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay. The hands-on training focused on specific areas such as housekeeping, food and beverage service, food and beverage kitchen, and engineering. The training was certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Provincial Unit, Batangas City. A total of 60 — two batches of 30 — scholars finished the program this year.

The modules are specifically created by Taal Vista and SMFI along with partners TESDA, Department of Education Alterative Learning System, and Costa del Hamilo, Inc. All instructors are also certified by TESDA.

“The certificate can even be used abroad. It’s a pre-requisite also of the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration). They don’t have to be confined in the Philippines, they can use it everywhere in the world,” explains Bernardo Corpus, Taal Vista Hotel general manager. “If scholars also have intentions of working abroad, that poses no problem for SMFI,” Corpus adds.

After the training, the trainees were all assessed by TESDA to complete their job placement eligibility. Values formation was also an important part of the program.

From zero to hero

The ultimate goal of SMFI in the area is to have a one scholar per household in all the four barangays. Aside from the hotel training, they also conduct training in farming and other livelihood programs like dressmaking. They aim for the people to create their own sustainable livelihood so that they will be empowered and eventually improve their way of life.

According to Angeles, the 60 scholars were chosen based on their interest in the field. In the first batch, 172 applied for the scholarship but only 30 were chosen. The first batch now works at the Pico Sands Hotel and Spa at Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club.

Most of the scholars started out with zero hotel skills and knoweldge. All of these scholars, with an age range of 18 to 29 years old, are only high school graduates. However, despite lacking the proper knowledge, they were all eager to learn.

“It’s better to train people raw, as in zero knowledge, because the absorption is there. The tendency when you train somebody who has experience already is that they resort to shortcuts. With the untrained, the willingness is there. You will also notice that their personalities also develop. The first batch graduated with flying colors,” Corpus shares.

For 18-year-old Lester John Tapang from barangay Papaya, training at Taal Vista was a lot of work. But it’s all worth it in the end. He trained under housekeeping and was part of the second batch of trainees.

Lester is the third among four siblings and his mother works as a timekeeper at a construction site. He dreams of becoming a chef someday and is planning to study when he starts to work and earn.

For 22-year-old single parent Lovely Masangkay, who works at the cold kitchen of Sun Coral Cafe, having employment training and employment has drastically changed her life. “Ngayon nakakatulong na ako sa bahay. Nakakapag-ipon na rin ako. I also plan is to pursue studies to be a chef. Malaking pasasalamat ko SM Foundation kasi nabigyan kami ng chance na makapag-aral at makapag trabaho,” Noemi says.

These scholars may not be the smartest in terms of book knowledge, but they certainly have the strongest determination to succeed. SM Foundation has started to pave their road s to a better life. Instead of being stuck in a life of poverty, clearly they have made the right choice to be guided in the right direction.