New skills mean hope for Davao's youth

MANILA, Philippines – Teenagers today may be tech-smart and cell phone-savvy, but not all of them enjoy the full benefits of technology.

In Davao City, Daffodil Bagundol and Itchie Mangubat are among hundreds of young Filipinos whose circumstances prevent them from securing a diploma and a good future.

Eighteen-year-old Daffodil gave up college when her father lost his job. She worked a variety of contractual jobs – from gas station attendant to burger stand vendor – so she can help support her family. Because of her age she finds it difficult to land regular employment.

Itchie, 19, was forced to quit high school last year when she gave birth to her son AC. While her husband continued his studies, she stayed at home to take care of their baby. The teenage couple relies solely on their parents for financial support.

Daffodil and Itchie thought that was their lot, until Operation Blessing Philippines (OB) brought its Mobile Out-of-School Training (MOST) to their city.

MOST is a month-long skills training meant for unemployed individuals and out-of-school youth. Free courses in cell phone repair and practical electricity were held inside OB’s House of Blessing in Matina District.

The two friends signed up for cell phone repair, MOST’s newest course offering. Both of them dream of setting up their own cellphone shops.

“This course is great for them because they have time on their hands. They don’t need to invest a lot to start repairing cell phones,” said Jeff Quirante, MOST instructor and a cell phone technician.

“We also teach them how to save money properly and encourage them to be entrepreneurs,” he added.

True enough, the MOST students were eager to apply what they learned. While still in training, Itchie already earned P500 from repairing three cell phones on her own. From that amount she bought clothes for her son and a cell phone technician’s starter kit.

“It feels great now that we can repair cell phones. Imagine, we can bring a dead cell phone back to life!” Itchie quipped.

Last March the students got a surprise treat when music icon Gary Valenciano paid them a visit during their training. Mr. Pure Energy encouraged the trainees as he shared his ordeal with diabetes and the life-changing hope he found in God.

In that same week, OB capped off the training with a graduation where OB president Peter Kairuz celebrated with the 39 graduates. The MOST graduation was part of a weeklong series of activities to officially launch OB’s satellite office in Davao City.

“These new talents you’ve learned, I hope you can share these with others so they will be blessed,” Kairuz told the graduates.

Also present at the ceremony were Operation Blessing International president Bill Horan, The 700 Club Asia co-host Coney Reyes, and executives from Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) WorldReach centers in Indonesia and Mexico.

Beaming with pride and brimming with hope, Itchie and Daffodil, the only girls among this batch of graduates, are excited to resume school and their lives that were put on hold.

“I plan to go back to school this June. My new skill in cell phone repair can provide for my tuition,” Daffodil said.

Aside from cell phone repair and practical electricity, MOST also has courses on cosmetology, refrigeration and air-conditioning repair, and dressmaking.

Since it started in 2005, MOST produced 1,284 graduates from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Albay, Compostela Valley, Cebu and Davao, all of them grateful for the new trade skills they learned for free.

MOST is just one of the many programs of Operation Blessing Philippines, the humanitarian arm of CBN Asia. Through fervent support from its partners, OB is able to uplift the poorest of the poor not only through skills training but also with medical missions, disaster relief, livelihood assistance, community transformation, water and sanitation programs, and children’s outreaches.

OB’s Davao satellite office is located at 370 3rd Street corner 5th Street, Ecoland Phase I, Matina, Davao City, with telephone number (082) 297-3080.