Tucked away in the heart of Cebu City, amid communities of urban poor dwellers, something extraordinary quietly unfolds in an unassuming building. Behind the modest gates of the Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD), lives are being transformed—not through headlines or fanfare, but through aprons, pots and pans, hospital gloves, stethoscopes, and wheelchairs. Change comes with the firm yet gentle voices of teachers, trainers, school staff, and mentors who believe deeply in second chances.
In School Year 2024–2025, BCPD celebrated the graduation of 19 Senior High School students, 29 Hotel and Restaurant Services trainees, and 14 Health Care Services students. More than just a ceremony, it was a tapestry of tears, triumphs, and testimonies—stories of young women and mothers who refused to let poverty define the final chapter of their lives.
The Granddaughter Who Carried a Legacy
One young graduate stepped onto the stage with memories stitched into her words—recollections of early mornings when her Lolo fetched water from a far-off well, just so she could bathe before school. Of Lola preparing food and cheering her on at every event. Of a mother working overseas and a father toiling in Manila—their love sent through video calls, tuition fees, and small pasalubongs packed with hope.
“I stand here because they stood for me,” said Honey, a Grade 12 graduate. In a voice both proud and humble, she paid tribute to those who raised her with sacrifice and unconditional love.
She began her journey at the school with uncertainty—new faces, unfamiliar routines—but over time, it became her second home: a sisterhood, a family. From panicking over skill tests to passing the National Certificate Level II Assessments in Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery, Housekeeping, and Food and Beverage Services, she found strength not only in herself but in others who shared the same fire—to rise above.
Quoting St. John Paul II—“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep.”—she brought those words to life in her Senior High School years. Now, she sets her sights on college, ready to begin a new chapter at the newly opened National University in Cebu.
The Big Sister (“Ate”) Who Refused to Let Go of Her Dream
One graduate stepped forward with quiet strength. Her childhood was marked by a fractured family and early responsibility—becoming a second parent to her younger siblings while grandparents, an aunt, and an uncle lovingly stitched together their daily needs.
Despite being a consistent honor student, college once felt like an impossible dream. The family's limited means forced her to consider giving it up. But a teacher’s kind recommendation changed everything. That moment led her to BCPD—and a door she thought was shut swung wide open.
“God used my teacher as an instrument,” she said, her eyes shining. At BCPD, she found more than training. She found a home. A sense of purpose. A path forward.
She expressed deep gratitude to the Director, the Management Staff, her teachers and trainers, her mentor, and even the non-teaching personnel. “You turned BCPD into a sanctuary of hope,” she said. And for students like her, that hope is everything.
Yvone, now a graduate of the Hotel and Restaurant Services program, completed 960 hours of On-the-Job Training at Plantation Bay. On her final day, moved by her grit and excellence, the resort offered her a job on the spot. She was awarded the Silver Medal, the highest honor in her batch, during the Commencement Exercises.
The Mother Who Defied the Odds
Then came Cherlien Monte—36 years old, a mother of four, a full-time employee, and now a proud graduate of the same institution that once trained her younger sister in Hotel and Restaurant Services.
With tears in her eyes, she recalled the week she nearly gave up. Her grandmother, her “number one fan,” had just passed away. “I was so down... but I gained back my strength and faith in God when I was in BCPD,” she shared. “I know she’s proud of me at this very moment.”
As a member of the pilot batch for the Health Care Services course, Cherlien faced rigorous return demonstrations, late-night study sessions, and the demands of managing a household. But she pressed on—fueled by the encouragement of the staff, the mentoring program, and the spiritual support she found at BCPD.
“The 960 hours of on-the-job training at one of Cebu’s top hospitals—Velez Hospital—was a dream come true,” she said. “BCPD made me believe that age and poverty are never hindrances to fulfilling dreams.”
She graduated as the sole Outstanding Student for her excellent academic and practical performance. Today, she proudly works at Cebu North General Hospital.
A Place That Builds
BCPD doesn’t just teach hospitality and healthcare—it shapes lives through faith, perseverance, and a deep respect for each person’s dignity. Here, students are challenged to rise beyond their personal circumstances and to discover what they’re truly capable of.
Every graduate leaves with more than a certificate. She carries a stronger sense of purpose and a clearer path forward—formed by real work, real mentors, and real care.
Through its solid technical training, faith-based formation, and personal mentoring, BCPD continues to prepare women not just for work—but for life, as professionals grounded in character, compassion, and faith.