Category: Philippines

Rizaldo Mendoza joined Goducate’s livelihood program in May 2013, working at the Goducate Livelihood Center in Bay, Laguna, as a tailor. When the livelihood center had to close in April this year to save on rent, Mr Mendoza decided to rent a place for his tailoring business in the neighboring town of Los Banos at PhP 2500 a month. He started business there with 3 of the high-speed sewing machines and one edging machine from the Goducate Livelihood Center, and with 2 of the people he had trained at the center.

His business in Los Banos soon grew to the extent that he had to hire another 3 of his previous trainees, and his team worked shifts on the 3 sewing machines.

Here he explains in this own words how he joined Goducate’s program and how he progressed:

“There is no such a hard decision to make for a father than to leave your family and work  Abroad to make a living. Rearing 5 children as a tailor in Philippines is very hard and the only way I know is to work Abroad ( This is what I use to believe ), but it change when Goducate livelihood on sewing came.

“I Work as Tailor in   Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 9 years since 2004- 2013, all those year only thrice that I was able to be back home. I missed most of the important event in the family like birthday’s and anniversaries including my children’s elementary and high school graduation. Every time came home i am just wishing not to leave yet seeing the need of my family I just have to, especially when my third son Christian was diagnosed of brain tumor 2006.

“When I’m home May 2013, I was decided not to leave seeing My Son’s worst condition, Looking for a job, I was then  given a chance to work at the Goducate’s sewing project. I am so happy  because I am now fulfilling my dream to manage a shop on my own which I also involve my family [2 of his sons help in the business but do the sewing at home on 2 machines].However, sadly Christian died in July 2014.

“I am very thankful to Goducate Livelihood program and Scholarship Program through which I am able to send  my 4th and 5th son to college that which i am not able to do on my other two older children even I am working in Saudi.

“Not only i am able to sustain my family and the school allowance of my two college children, In addition  I was able to buy a second hand motorbike for ( PhP25,000) after securing a big contract to sew uniforms for a private school last year.

“My dream of having a shop comes into reality and a bonus ( motorbike).”

Mr Mendoza’s monthly income is now equivalent to what he was getting when in Saudi Arabia, and he gives a fifth of it to Goducate towards a fund for more machines. His helpers are earning what is the average wage for the area. The business is doing so well that Mr Mendoza is looking for a bigger place to accomodate 5 high-speed sewing machines that can be used round the clock.

Mr Mendoza is an example of what Goducate would like in a beneficiary—one willing to pass on his or her skills and willing to help others when he or she has made good.

The Goducate Training Center (GTC) in Iloilo, Philippines, is host to many visitors who drop in on day trips or for longer stays, or who attend the various community events and training sessions. To serve these people and our trainees and staff as well should accidents occur, an emergency-response team was set up 2 years ago, in July 2013. The team was made up of 10 regular laborers and 8 staff members. The Philippines Red Cross trained them in first aid and basic life support (cardiopulmonary resuscitation for health-care providers).

Last month a basic first-aid refresher course was held for the 10 laborers and 2 others newly recruited to the team. The course was run by a GTC staff member who is a licensed nurse. These 12 in turn trained 2 stand-by workers. 3 members of the team are designated team leaders, who ensure that there is first-aid coverage round the clock.

*Our guest writer is Joannna De Leon, a community development worker

In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, the Goducate Training Center (GTC) in San Miguel, Iloilo, is in its second year of helping others through blood donation. With the theme “Dugo Mo, Ibulig Mo” (Help others through your blood), a blood-donation day was held on June 15 in GTC’s multipurpose hall. An event of this kind kindles compassion in donors for others, and strengthens the spirit of volunteerism among those in the Goducate team and their allies.

Out of 29 interested donors from Goducate trainees, staff, and workers, and from the communities surrounding GTC area, 19 were deemed suitable donors
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What made this year’s blood-donation day remarkable was that the donors came not only from the Philippines but also from the United States, China, and Malaysia. It so happened that the American trainers at the Goducate Learning Center in China had accompanied their Chinese trainees to GTC to finish off their training to be community development workers. The Malaysian is a GTC trainee. This combination of donors led the organizers of this event to label it “GTC Bloodletting Activity Version 2.0- The International Version”.

*Our guest writer is Joanna De Leon