In a joint graduation ceremony, 42 new National Certificate II holders received last September 15,  the fruits of their labor in a closing ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium of Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

“We are deeply grateful to those agencies who helped us reach this far. We are so blessed that after we received the seed capital for micro-enterprise, here we are with pride as we graduate from cookery,” Raymonda Alas, Abante Kababaihan President expressed.

The Abante Kababaihan is one of the Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Balangiga, Eastern Samar,  which composes of 25 members.

They were given Php 100,000.00 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Sustainable Livelihood Program under the micro-enterprise track last December 2015.

On the other hand, 14 program participants graduated in massage therapy. They are on their way to becoming a licensed massage therapist.

“Using what we have learned in the training, we are now earning extra income for the needs of our families. We are able to do home service massage on a part-time basis,”Glaiza Sabarillo, Class Representative shared.

After 40 days of training, they are now equipped for the next step of building up their livelihood. The cookery graduates have bought an oven for the group through their earnings in selling food in their community.

Meanwhile, the massage therapy graduates are still waiting for their oral examination so they can be full-pledged therapists.#

#DSWDMayMalasakit