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VSTI GRADUATES 452By: Geozita H. Fitch, CMDO

March 25, 2011, Gov. Evaristo TitongSingson Multi-Purpose Hall, BarangayIX, Vigan City. The Vigan Skills TrainingInstitute graduated 451 men andwomen who underwent multi-skillstraining in 12 short courses, namely,Soap and Sanitizer Making, Tie-DyeMaking, Smoked Fish and SardinesMaking, Peanut Butter Making/JamMaking and Longganisa Making,Smoked Tilapia and Tilanggit Making,Artificial Flower Making out of CornHusk, Container Gardening andVermiculture, Eskwela De LosMataderos, Basic Computer andInternet Operations for Barangay

Captains , Secretaries and Treasurers, Hair Cutting, Hair Curling, Hair Coloring, Manicure-Pedicure withFoot Spa, Facial Make-Up.

In a ceremony attended by City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina, City officials, Barangay officials andmembers of the Executive Board, the institute s Chief Manpower Development Officer, Mrs. GeozitaFitch, presented 451 Biguenos from the different barangays who completed the required hours of training for the twelve various skills.

In her message to the graduates, the citymayor, Eva Marie S. Medina narrated the

parable of the three sons with whom theirfather, the king, before going away on a longjourney, entrusted seeds to each. The first sonkept the seeds in a bottle by his bedside so thathe will remember his father whenever he seesthe seeds. The second son kept the seeds insafekeeping so that he can give it back to hisfather if he asks for it on his return. The thirdson planted the seeds in their land. When theking returned, the first and second sons showedhim the seeds. When the king asked the third

son about the seeds he left him, he was shown to the window overlooking an orchard. The son told hisfather that he planted the seeds and from them he has grown an orchard which they own as far as theeye can see.

The mayor likened her message to the graduates who were given seeds (skills) which will be up to themto nourish for their own benefits. She stressed how the city government is relentless in its efforts tohelp Biguenos empower themselves with skills that they can use to earn income and improve the qualityof their lives. Through the skills acquired from the training institute, the mayor hopes that the city willachieve its goal of reducing poverty by 50% by the year 2013.

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In a response delivered in behalf of his fellow graduates, Barangay Captain Ignacio Tadeo of AyusanNorte expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the city government for the various trainingsconducted for the Biguenos. He Tadeo is one of the 28 barangay captains that who underwent skillstraining in Basic Computer and Internet Operations. He also led his barangays constituents in thetraining on Making Artificial Flowers out of Corn Husk.

The training on Soap and Sanitizer Making wasconducted by Mr. Donato Sabong fromGreenlife Enterprises, where the trainees weretaught how the mechanics of soap and sanitizermaking. They learned that soap is basicallyodorless, colorless and bubble-less. Theamount of bubbles depends on the amount of bubble enhancer mixed in the soap. Thefragrance depends on the kind and amount of essence included in the concoction. The sameis true with the color. Even the much laudedanti-bacterial component being advertised is an

optional ingredient that depends on the onemaking the soap. The training most benefittedthe mothers and housewives who have found

an inexpensive way to produce their own homemade cleaning supplies.

Tie-Dye Making was facilitated by Ms. Janybabe Asuncion, an elementary school teacher from CabaroanDaya. She was the coach for the winning team of students in the STEP competition on tie-dying. It wasa fun way of recycling old t-shirts making them look new and more colorful.

The training on Smoked Fish and Sardines Making made use of tilapia and bangus. Coordinated by theDepartment of Agriculture, the trainees saw how simple it was to make sardines for family consumption.

Smoking tilapia took a little more time and needed the construction of a smoker but the patience willpay off for those who intend to make a living out of the skill.

Those who underwent training Peanut Butter Making/Jam Making and Longanisa Making producedpeanut butter that remained soft and wet, tomato jam with the consistency of Ba guios strawberry jamand Longanisa that tasted like those currently sold in the market. A second batch if trainees were giventraining on Smoked Tilapia and Tilanggit Making. This was inspired by the danggit makers of Cebuwhose products are bought by tourists. In Vigan City, this can be duplicated utilizing tilapia which can befarmed for this purpose.

The artificial flowers made from corn husk looked almost real. The trainer from the regional office of theDepartment of Agriculture taught the trainees how to make different kinds of flowers. The traineescame up with orchids, roses, tulips, and daisies. Impressed with their outputs, the mayor asked thegraduates to make samples of wreaths which could be more long lasting than fresh flowers. The art of container gardening, initiated the trainees into alternative gardening using other containers like cans,tires, plastic water containers, broken basins and pails. The science of vermiculture taught the traineeshow to generate fertilizer from vermin manure.

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A second batch of trainees benefitted from the expertise of Ricky Reyes s Ivory Malaguena and company with trainings in Hair Cutting, Hair Curling, Hair Coloring, Manicure-Pedicure with Foot Spa, Facial Make-Up.

In preparation to operate the internet and intranet facility of the city, training on Basic Computer andInternet Operations was given to Barangay Captains , Secretaries and Treasurers. Completing the cast of graduates were the 19 internationally-competitive butchers of the Eskwela De Los Mataderos.

To complete the training, the graduates were lecturedby resource speakers. Gai Aleson on gave them tips onMarketing Plan and Enterpreneurship, Malyn Raras of Smart Telecom on Financial Management, and Mrs.Divina Quemi of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives provided Literacy on Cooperativism.

To date, VSTI has graduated 2,742 Biguenos since itstarted in December 18, 2009 and will continue to

provide training of skills on demand .--JoFitch.