With our commitment for community development, the Community Outreach and Service Learning department, together with the Center for Technical Education and the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management organized a Malunggay Pandesal Baking Training Workshop to empower local women.  This innovative event aims not only to impart valuable baking skills but also to lay the groundwork for a sustainable livelihood project, offering newfound opportunities for income generation and economic independence among the local women of NKGT Barangay Buenavista III Chapter, General Trias, Cavite.

The Malunggay Pandesal Baking Training Workshop stands as both a livelihood project and a campaign to promote several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Through empowering local women with baking skills and entrepreneurship opportunities, the project aims to combat poverty by creating sustainable sources of income.

Malunggay, also known as moringa, is a nutrient-rich superfood highly valued for its health benefits. Pandesal, a popular Filipino bread roll, is a staple in Filipino households, often enjoyed as a breakfast item or snack. By incorporating malunggay into the traditional pandesal recipe, this workshop not only promotes healthier eating habits but also harnesses the potential of local agricultural resources, thereby fostering economic growth within the community.

Furthermore, by equipping participants with the necessary skills to manage their businesses, the project contributes to the promotion of decent work and economic growth, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous society.

Before the hands-on demonstration and training, Dr. Andrew Nico Pilapil, an expert in food safety and sanitation, delivered a comprehensive session on proper food handling practices. Dr. Pilapil emphasized the importance of maintaining hygiene standards throughout the baking process to ensure the safety and quality of the final product.

The Malunggay Pandesal Baking Training Workshop stands as a shining example of how education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement can converge to uplift and empower marginalized populations. By harnessing the transformative power of baking and the nutritional benefits of malunggay, this initiative not only creates economic opportunities but also nurtures a sense of pride, resilience, and hope among the women of Barangay Buenavista III.

Led by Chef Jaes Bryan Penus of CITHM, each of the 15 trainee embarked on their individualized baking workshop, learning the intricacies of dough preparation, shaping, and baking.

The training workshop was wrapped up by Dr. Josielyn Toledo’s seminar on costing and pricing strategies.  This provided the participants with essential skills to calculate production costs, determine pricing, and strategize for profitability.

Beyond mastering the art of Malunggay Pandesal baking, this workshop serves as a catalyst for economic empowerment within the community. By equipping local women with marketable skills and entrepreneurial know-how, the training workshop lays the foundation for a sustainable livelihood program.