BCPD Graduates its First Batch of Badjao Women Scholars

Cebu City --- The Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD), a technical-vocational school for girls  committed to helping the poor in the region through free education, recently graduated a unique group of students, the Badjao tribe, one of our country's indigenous peoples (IP), whose culture and livelihood are tied to the sea. This highlights BCPD's commitment to serve women from all walks of life.

Through the training provided by AusAid Reledev Australia, twenty-five (25) Badjao women, mostly married, came in their colorful traditional garb to attend their simple yet special graduation ceremony held inside BCPD's building in the afternoon of January 11, 2023, Wednesday. Gracing the event were the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary led by Sr. Victoria Embata, the director of the Badjao Integrated Development Progam, Ms. Edwina Martel Quialquial, their program coordinator, and Ms. Angelina Paghubasan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII. BCPD's IP graduates are program beneficiaries of the Presentation Sisters who help the Badjao get educational scholarships such as the one they received from BCPD.

The Badjao graduates' training in Baking and Bread and Pastry Production ran from September 20 to December 3, 2022. Their skills assessment was scheduled in two batches, i.e., December 11 and 18, 2022,  which they all passed satisfactorily. 

Aida, one of the Badjao women-graduates, recounted in her gratitude speech that she never thought they will still be given the opportunity to study again. She said that after high school and after getting married, she thought her life would only revolve around raising children and taking care of her family. But, thanks to schools like BCPD, they were led to see that they can still do more, happily discovering that there's still so much potential in them. Aida acknowledged the Nano Nagle Child Care and Learning Center, Inc. based in Ireland, and the AusAid Reledev Australia for their generous and invaluable support.

The highlight of the graduation was the cultural dance performance of the graduates as a testimony of their joy and gratitude to the school and to all their benefactors. Wearing their beautiful and colorful clothes, often made by hand from the traditional dastar fabric, the graduates delighted everyone with their gracious movements, as they encouraged the management and school staff to dance with them. This first batch of Badjao graduates will be helped by Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. to set up their own bakery located in Mambaling, Cebu City.

BCPD, a project of the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI), is set to accept its second batch of Badjao women scholars this school year 2023-2024. BCPD is a social project for underprivileged women inspired by the pastoral visit of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo to Cebu City in January 1987. Blessed Alvaro was the first successor of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei.