– Rachel Luna Peralta
For the past five years, Caritas Macau has supported the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (ALSE) Program aimed at educating Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on leadership, financial literacy, and social entrepreneurship, making them agents of social change when they retire or reintegrate in the Philippines.
On September 30, 2018, the fifth batch of ALSE in Macao, Batch 61, composed of 41 members completed the program in a graduation ceremony held at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish hall in the presence of Secretary General of Caritas Macau, Paul Pun Chi Meng, the Philippine Consul General in Macau, Lilibeth Deapera, the Philippine Labor Attache, Ramon Pastrana, and the Keynote Speaker, Head of the Executive Education Program of Ateneo School of Government, Likha Likan M. Delos Reyes.
“We recognize the immense contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Macau. We strongly support their development and welfare while they are working here,” mentioned Mr. Pun.
Caritas is a partner that plays a vital role in the implementation of the program through sponsorship of venue and food during the training.
The ALSE program, offered by the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Macau, builds the students’ capacity to establish a financially rewarding and socially responsive and relevant business enterprise. The trainings were held in the afternoon on two Sundays of each month from March to August 2018.
“The ALSE prepares OFWs to become leaders and entrepreneurs. It started in Rome, Italy in 2008 and it is now conducted in 20 cities and 10 countries around the world,” remarked the Keynote Speaker, Mr. Likha Lakan M. delos Reyes.
The capstone project is a business plan prepared individually or by group. This year’s outstanding business plans received the following awards after being evaluated by a board of panelists in a series of presentations:
Good Fungi (Charly Mabborang) – Most Innovative
Nipacure Vinegar (Jessie Hipolito, Karen Manalo, Mary Chris Mercurio) – Most Likely to Succeed
Pot Wealth (Rowena Santiago & Maria Regina Nitura) – Most Responsive to Social Change
GMW Junkshop (Ghirlyn Ligan Virgie Mimay, Maria Ge Olaguer)- Best Overall Business Plan
Exhibit winners were GMW Junkshop and CTM Cabalen, Tocilog Mekeni (Elena Caling, Normita Sonza & Susana Ronquillo).
Planning to put up a corn oil production business, Anna Ambrocio shared, “The most important things I learned at the ALSE were making a business plan and budgeting.”
Ma. Tosette A. Castro added, “I did not expect that my life would change after this program. I learned how to save and invest my hard-earned money.”
Launched in Macau in 2014, the ALSE program has produced 203 graduates and a number have already established their businesses here and in the Philippines.
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