Whether or not it’s all fun and games to plaster icing on the face of a server, a young tourism student has an interesting take. For Gibs Villanueva, he would let the incident slide. He would opt to smile and join the celebration after unexpectedly getting some stripes all of a sudden. It looks like customer satisfaction is always at the top of his priority.

Like the fast-paced environment in the service business, the years went by so fast for the young student. He is only one semester shy of graduating from Olivarez College-Tagaytay under the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management program. It appears that time has flown fast for the scholar of DOLE Laguna Provincial Office under the Workers Organization Development Program – Isabelo Delos Reyes Scholarship Grant.

With his father already retired from work and his mother focused on caring for the special needs of his sibling, Gibs understands the value of getting a scholarship grant to lessen the household expenses. The grant covers a portion of his tuition fees, not to mention a book allowance and a monthly stipend. It was a huge help for the student, who would no longer be preoccupied with school expenses.

DOLE IV-A Regional Director Atty. Ma. Karina B. Perida-Trayvilla recognizes the need to provide educational opportunities to members of labor organizations and their dependents to promote personal growth and development for people to be effective agents of change.

Gibs has always been grateful for the opportunity of securing educational assistance. He managed to give back the favor by doing well in his studies. No wonder he made it to the Dean’s List in 2021. His accomplishment is only a manifestation of his dedication to his studies.

After four years of hard work, the young scholar is about to embark on a new challenge this semester. He will be having his On-The-Job Training as part of the academic program. As someone who has already had first-hand experience working for a hotel chain, he is not likely to have a hard time in the immersion process.

When he is not in school, the hard-working young man is at a hotel’s restaurant attending to customers, too. He would clean tables and serve food and beverages using his knowledge and skills in the service business. The place could suddenly become a busy hub such that the crew has to be extra attentive.

As a part-time restaurant waiter, Gibs has gotten used to the protocols. His stint in one of the popular hotel chains in Tagaytay gave him the advantage of getting acquainted with the work environment. He can use what he learned from his work to ace his OJT when he gets deployed to a hospitality establishment.

Aside from the academic advantage, the job has also been a source of additional household income for the family. Earning Php400 a day three to four times a week has been a rewarding experience for a student looking for a work opportunity. It is a meaningful reward after getting through an eight-hour shift with unpredictable incidents.

DOLE Laguna Provincial Director Guido R. Recio commends the dedication of Gibs as a student and a worker. The office will be steadfast in providing educational assistance to help him complete this semester in no time. And for a diligent young man like him, the six-month study is just a piece of cake.


By:

RUDYBOY R. SINAY
Labor Information Officer