Now on its 21st year of serving young women of the Calabarzon area, Anihan has been true to its name, producing a rich "harvest" of highly skilled young female workers, now totaling 649.
Anihan takes inspiration from the teachings of St Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, to reach out in solidarity to those in need and empower them to help themselves and others in turn. The spiritual formation of the school is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church that promotes the exercise of exemplary virtues in ordinary work.
Formed in work ethics invaluable for any industry, Anihan scholars are trained in the school’s well–equipped kitchen laboratory with a 700-hour complementary on-the-job training in hotels, country clubs, restaurants and bake shops such as Tagaytay Highlands, Mt Malarayat Golf & Country Club, Vívere Suites, French Baker and Goldilocks.
Moreover, Anihan graduates are assisted by the school in finding gainful employment right after graduation.
For the 60 graduates of Batch 2007, 50 percent are already employed in venues like The Palms Country Club, Conti’s Pastry Shop and Restaurant, Red Ribbon Bake Shop, Good Earth Restaurant, Cravings, and Tagaytay Tranquility House, among others.
This coming school year, a new batch of 80 scholars will be taken in, each to be granted a full tuition scholarship worth P16,500.00 per semester.
Just as with the previous batches of Anihan scholars, they will receive the scholarship for two whole years during which they will be trained in the areas of food and beverage services, commercial cooking, and baking/pastry production—all with a National Competency Level II as per TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) standards.
It also holds short courses for housewives and mothers, small-scale entrepreneurs, as well as female factory workers and farmers.
In the first quarter of this year, 60 female cooperative members from various barangays in Batangas were trained by Anihan, under Philip Morris’ Skills Mobile program and in cooperation with the PBSP (Philippine Business for Social Progress), in food preparation, servicing and costing.
A project of the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI), a non–stock, non-profit corporation that promotes educational activities inspired by Christian ideals, Anihan looks for grants and donations from different business institutions as well as private individuals to continue supporting 120 young women every year, and to maintain its teaching and facilities according to industry standards. Donations to Anihan are 100 percent tax-deductible.
Anihan Technical School is located in Calamba City, Laguna and is currently under the directorship of Ms Kayang V Javier. Anihan can be reached at anihanschool@yahoo.com.
Applicants who wish to apply for the scholarship must be 16-22 years old, female and single, a high school graduate with a general average of at least 80 percent. They may apply directly at Anihan Mondays to Fridays, 8 am – 12 pm.