History
 
Early in the 1970’s, a group of women decided to put into action the words of Saint Josemaria Escriva that love – for family, fellowmen and God – “ is deeds not sweet words”: the poor must receive effective and efficient help so that they can, in turn, help themselves and their families live and progress in accord with their dignity as productive citizens free from any form of social or economic discrimination. As Saint Josemaria said, “there is only one race to which all people belong: the race of the children of God.” (Christ is Passing By, No. 13 paragraph 3)
 
To sum up this part of history, Punlaan was born to reach out, above all, to poor young women and give them the chance to study and earn for themselves and their family a good living and the dignity that have been buried under ignorance and, often, under sub-human living conditions.
 
Following are words of Saint Josemaria on women, whose words planted the seeds for the birth of Punlaan School . After 25 years since Punlaan was officially recognized, Saint Josemaria’s words continue to be the strong and steady hand that helps Punlaan sow the seeds of help and development in hundreds of poor young women.
“Development, maturity, emancipation of women should not mean a pretension to equality, to uniformity with men, a servile imitation of a man’s way of doing things ... women should turn out losers, not because they are better than men or worse, but because they are different.”
 
“...In this sense, a woman’s emancipation means that she should have a real possibility of developing her own potentialities to the fullest extent - those which she has personally and those which she shares with other women.”
 
“...A woman’s femininity is genuine only if she is aware of the beauty of this contribution for which there is no substitute - and if she incorporates it into her own life.”
Years in Brief
 
  1. •1975 Official recognition from Government; Household Helpers Course
  2. •1985 Vocational – Technical Institute: Home Arts Program launched
  3. •1991 Expanded Program to Hotel Services and Food Preparation Technology
  4. •1992 Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. Tie-up for one year: Graduates all gainfully employed ( in Manila Pavillion, Hyatt Regency Manila, Hotel Sofitel, etc. )
  5. •1993 Dual Training Scholarship Program in Food and Beverage
    Services for the Tourism Industry (hotels and restaurants) launched by
    the First Lady, Amelita M. Ramos.   Sponsors: the     Landesinstitut fur
    Internationale Berufsbildung     – (LIB-NRW) or the State Institute for
    Professional Training of North Rhine Westphalia ( Germany) in
    collaboration with the     Hanns Seidel Foundation ( Germany ) for three
    years; and, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP).
  6. •1994 February, His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos signed the Dual Training Law institutionalizing the Dual Training System as the preferred mode of vocational training; Punlaan selected as a showcase of the government on dual training.
  7. •1996 October, His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos presented Punlaan with the Award of Recognition from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the effective implementation of the Dual Training System and the alleviation of poverty of underprivileged young women.
  8. •1997 Punlaan partnered with Philam Foundation, Inc. as a major sponsor to support fifty ( 50 ) scholars and continued to do so for the succeeding three years.
  9. •1999 SKAL International Tourism Personalities Industry Award ( in Education) conferred to
    Mrs. Luz M. Filmer, Executive Director & CEO, by the Secretary of Tourism Gemma Cruz-Araneta for her significant contribution to the growth and improvement of the tourism industry in the field of education, specifically, for the training of young students in the hospitality industry. ( Awarded in October 2000 )
  10. •2000 TESDA Kabalikat Award was conferred by the Secretary of the Department of Labor & Employment ( DOLE ) Bienvenido Laguesma to Punlaan School as an outstanding partner for its contribution to the promotion and development of the country’s middle level manpower in terms of skills, abilities and proper work attitudes.
Interview of Monsignor Escriva de Balaguer with Pilar Salcedo (Telva), “Women in Social Life and in the Life of the Church.” published 1 February 1968 printed in “Conversations with Msgr. Escriba de Balaguer.” Little Hills Press, 1993 page 137-138.