Indeed, age doesn't matter, especially in learning, as 4,500 trainees, including senior citizens, graduated and received their certificates during the 44th Pasig City Livelihood Training Center Certification Day at the Rizal High School Gymnasium on Wednesday, August 14.
Aside from the certificates, the graduates will also receive a starting fund of P2,000 as part of the city’s support for them.
“Ang halagang ito ay magsisilbing suporta ng lokal na pamahalaan sa mga graduate sa kanilang pagsisimula ng maliit na negosyo o para sa kanilang pangkabuhayan, gamit ang kanilang natutunan sa kanilang napiling kurso (This amount will serve as support from the local government to help the graduates start small businesses or livelihoods, utilizing the skills they learned from their chosen courses),” the local government stated.
Through the Livelihood Training Center, trainees of different ages, from teens to elders, from various barangays in the city, were guided and assisted in developing their skills in their chosen courses.
Some of the courses completed by the graduates include arts and crafts, beauty care, hairdressing, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, food processing, cookery, housekeeping, massage therapy, and silk screen printing.
According to the city government, among the graduates were 86-year-old Manuel de Castro and 85-year-old Florentina Lorenzo, both of whom took the arts and crafts course.
They said that they are living proof that age is not a barrier to continuous learning and the pursuit of lifelong education.
“Patunay po 'yan na ika nga ‘learning never stops.’ Five years old man o 105 years old, meron pa rin tayong pwedeng matutuhan, meron pa rin tayong pwedeng i-improve sa ating mga buhay, kaalaman, karanasan mula po sa atin na alam na ang lahat o na-experience na ang lahat, lagi pong may bago lalo na sa mga panahon ngayon na ang bilis na nagbabago ng mundo (This is proof that "learning never stops." Whether you're 5 or 105 years old, there is always something we can learn, something we can still improve in our lives, knowledge, and experiences. Even for those of us who think we know everything or have experienced everything, there is always something new, especially in these times when the world is changing so rapidly),” Mayor Vico Sotto said.
He mentioned that all the city's programs aim to empower Pasigueños and provide them with long-term help.
“Ibig po sabihin hindi lang po basta tutulungan ng panandalian, kundi ang gusto po natin yung tulong po natin sa pamamagitan ng training, mga livelihood program ay pangmatagalan, ika nga 'sustainable' (This means that we don't just want to provide temporary help, but rather, we aim for the assistance we offer through training and livelihood programs to be long-term, or as they say, sustainable),” he added.
“Kaya sana ito pong mga nakuha natin na certificates, at bukod po rito ang pinaka importante rito yung kaalaman at karanasan na nakuha po natin mula sa programa at sana mapakinabangan po natin ito hindi lang sa loob ng isang linggo o isang buwan kundi baun-baon po natin ito panghabambuhay (So, I hope that these certificates we've received, and more importantly, the knowledge and experience we've gained from the program, will be something we can benefit from, not just for a week or a month, but something we can carry with us for a lifetime),” he continued.
Starter fund
In addition to the livelihood trainees, graduates of the Barangay Computer Literacy Program (BCLP) on August 13 and the Pasig City Institute of Science and Technology on August 15 will also receive cash from the local government.
However, the city's Public Information Office (PIO) clarified that government employees included in BCLP are not qualified to receive the starter kit.
The PIO mentioned that the distribution of the funds will be conducted after the processing, which is currently ongoing.
All of the city's programs, such as providing livelihood skills training to Pasigueños, demonstrate the local government’s dedication to offering opportunities for citizens to improve their knowledge, skills, and quality of life.
Sotto also emphasized that the city's programs are continuously improving, noting that it is not enough to be satisfied with just having "a training program," but that it should continuously be improved for the people.