In a time when the hotel and
resort competition seems tight, Punta Riviera del Mar Resort or
Punta as it’s shortly called, dares to stand above the others. The
resort accepts the challenge of responding to the call of times,
of bringing out something new- something different, something more
to offer than satisfying one’s aesthetics and
comforts.
While Punta Riviera Resort maintains its high
standards of service and facilities, it operates more than just a
private enterprise. Punta has outdone itself, because only not
does it continue to develop the resort or build aesthetically
appealing attractions, but is also active in initiating different
initiatives that contribute to the advancement and betterment of
the lives of Bolinao’s townspeople.
Investment in education
Punta understands the importance of education as
a crucial link to improve one’s conditions. But at the same time,
it also recognizes that not everyone, especially the poor, can
afford to go to school.
It is in this light that Punta
established the Bolinao Lighthouse School of Tourism and Learning
Centre, Inc. (BLSTLC) last July 2009, to provide
technical-vocational education to poor but deserving students. At
inception, the BLSTLC was registered to the Technical- Vocational
Education Training (TVET) under the Technical Education Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) and offered the following
qualification titles:Food and Beverage Services, Front Office and
Housekeeping.
Among the many qualification titles, the
BLSTLC chose these three qualifications because these were the
basic skills needed by member establishments of the Bolinao Hotel,
Resort, and Restaurant Owners’ Association (BHRROA).
The BLSTLC initially had 86 students, whom
were all supposed to be recipients of the Pangulong Gloria
Scholarship (PGS). However, these students were not able to avail
such scholarship because the slots for the PGS program had already
ran out by the time the BLSTLC applied for them.
Despite this
unfortunate event, the BLSTLC didn’t see this as a hindrance for
them to provide education and training to its students. Instead,
the school pushed for the education of all its 86 students through
PUNTA RIVIERA’s full scholarship grants. These students, who
latter turned scholars, had undergone BLSTLC’s vigorous training
from July to November.
A year after, such initiative proved fruitful
as these 86 scholars successfully passed the assessment of the
Pangasinan School of Arts and Trades (PSAT) in Lingayen, and
received their National Certificate 2 based on their respective
qualification titles. The school understands that its students
would have to spend a lot to travel from Bolinao to Lingayen for
their assessment that is why the PSAT agreed to conduct their
assessment in the BLSTLC under a joint memorandum.
Come
November to April of 2010, the BLSTLC has immediately replicated
its action and accepted another batch of 25 students, 5 of whom
enjoyed full scholarship while the rest had 50% tuition assistance
from Punta.
Presently, the BLSTLC continues to support the
training of its students by shouldering 50% of their tuition fees.
To date, there are 45 students who enjoy half scholarship. This
year, the school moves to greater heights as it added Commercial
Cooking and Bartending in its offered courses.
The continued
expansion and improvement of the BLSTLC is proof of its serious
commitment to provide quality training and income to the less
fortunate. By investing in sophisticated facilities and giving
hands-on training and exposure, the school assures the excellence
and competencies of its graduates to international standards.
Aside from its TESDA- inspected standards, Punta is currently on
the process of accreditation from the Department of Tourism
(DOT).
Hence, the BLSTLC encourages the government to invest in
technical-vocational scholarships so that it could harness more
skills and talents, and elevate its duty of providing quality
training to the less fortunate.
It is also important to note
that this social commitment isn’t something new. Ever since 2005,
even before the resort opened, Punta has already granted full
scholarships, which included 100% tuition assistance, allowance,
and lodging, to poor but talented students. These scholars took
their studies in other schools such as Manantan Institute of
Technology Training in Alaminos, Pangasinan, for electrical,
wiring, automotive, dressmaking and cosmetology courses; PASS
College (formerly Philippine Accountancy Science School) also in
Alaminos for Accountancy; and PSAT in Lingayen for Personal
Computer Operation.
Training and employment
The resort doesn’t only provide theoretical
training. It also allows its scholars and other students the
opportunity to practice their skills. Punta regularly accepts
on-the-job trainings (OJTs)/dual training programs to allow BLSTLC
scholars and students from other schools such as St. Louis
University (SLU)- Baguio City, Marcos Agro-industrial School
(MAIS) in Marcos, Ilocos Norte, PSAT in Lingayen; PASS College,
Golden West Colleges and STI all in Alaminos, and St. Paul
Colleges of Tarlac, to gain rich insights and experiences while
working on a real environment and enhanced by Punta’s facilities.
The resort’s high-class facilities have not only attracted
OJTs from local schools but from international schools as well. In
fact, an OJT from the English Schools Foundation (ESF) South
Island International School based in Hong Kong, undertook training
duties at Punta.
Since Punta can only accommodate a small portion of
BLSTLC graduates, the school ensures its students’ job through the
BRRHOA under the leadership of Punta Proprietress Emilyn Respicio
McFeat-Smith. Most of BLSTLC’s graduates then are deployed to
other hotels, resorts and restaurants in Pangasinan.
Aside these trainings and opportunities,
Punta has also sponsored the 1st Tourism Enthusiasts Seminar last
November 2009 with the theme “Career-oriented Hospitality
Industry,” in partnership with BRRHOA, Bolinao Local
Government Unit (LGU), TESDA- Pangasinan, Pangasinan Provincial
Tourism, and the DOT- Region 1. This seminar aims to enhance and
develop the skills and knowledge of tourism students and
professionals.
A Punta in-house trainer and TESDA-accredited
assessor (Mr. Gener A. Respicio, TQ-AQ1) has also
conducted a seminar on bartending and fine dining to tourism
students of Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College. Tourism students
from various schools such as the University of Pangasinan,
University of Luzon, and Lyceum Northwestern University among
others, have also visited the resort in fulfillment of their
theses. All of these students were generously welcomed and
entertained by the resort.
Community Outreach
Ever since Punta opened in 2006, it has been
its tradition to host Christmas Parties every December 25. In
cooperation with Ilog Malino’s Barangay Council, it has been its
self-acquired duty to share its blessings and give happiness to
the village’s children and adults. Last Christmas, various parlor
games, live band and carol competition, aside from the usual
distribution of party bags and lunchboxes, were among the
highlights of Punta’s 2009 community Christmas party.
The
onslaught of Typhoon Emong in 2009 gravely destroyed several
communities in Pangasinan. The devastated state of Pangasinan left
by the typhoon urged the resort to initiate
relief operations, where basic necessities such as
rice, noodles, and canned goods, on nearby barangays.
In
addition to these community services, Punta has also provided
housing, scholarship and employment to members of a certain family
who once lived in harsh conditions in Dagupan. This story was
detailed well in a documentary made by ABS-CBN TV 32 Dagupan.
Contribution to Local Government and
Culture
The resort is also in continuous partnership
with various organizations and local governments. The resort
actively participates in various activities of both LGUs of
Bolinao and Pangasinan.
Since 2008, Punta has extended its full
support to the Mangunguna Festival of Bolinao which hosts contests
such as Bangus Market Basket Culinary Competition which is in
tie-up with TESDA, and street dancing among others.
Also, Punta
not only extends its efforts in Bolinao but also in other places.
The resort regularly joins annual tourism exhibits such as of that
of Pistay Dayat Festival of Lingayen, where it won Best Tourism
Exhibit in 2008, SM Clark Pampanga, and that of Philippine Travel
Mart in SM Megamall, Ortigas City. The resort has also joined the
Pangasinan Provincial Toursim Exhibit held at SM Rosales and the
One Town, One Product Exhibit by the Department of Trade and
Industry in Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, where it also
won Best in Tourism.
After the Typhoon Emong disaster, tourism
was down especially on Western Pangasinan. Amidst this adversity,
the resort initiated a Bikini Open Competition last June 2009 in
partnership with Coca-cola Corporation- Pangasinan, San Miguel
Corporation- Pangasinan , Davies Paint, Globe Telecomm, ABS-CBN TV
32 Dagupan, TESDA- Pangasinan, Central Luzon State University of
Nueva Ecija, and LGU- Bolinao headed by the Hon. Mayor Alfonso F.
Celeste and among others. In a time when recovery seems
impossible, the Bikini Open aims to further boost tourism in
Pangasinan to accelerate the restoration of the province’s regular
operations.
Just this June 2010, the resort sponsored
an art exhibit featuring the works of The Artists of
Pangasinan from ARTISTA SINING BISWAL NG PANGASINAN, to
promote and recognize the rapidly developing talents of local
artists specializing in landscape and
pop-surrealist art. Seven artists, most already known,
took up the challenge and showcased
their talents in the resort. Some of these works are
permanently displayed at the resort, a manifestation of its
high regard to the quality of local art.To prove Punta’s
eagerness of supporting these artists, the resort agreed to
publicize the artists’ future works in its website, to reap
more audience and gain international recognition.
While
the Punta continually expands not only its physical properties
but also its goals, the resort reaches the inevitable a
sustainable industry vital to the development of people’s
lives and enforcement of participative governance; an industry
at the center of various partnerships with the government and
other entities that ensure people’s welfare. Indeed, Punta
Riviera del Mar Resort offers its services not only to its
guests, but also to the people of Bolinao, and in turn to the
people of Pangasinan by providing
SOMETHING NEW-SOMETHING
DIFFERENT………………………………………
The resorts Vision and Mission
are defined as:
Vision: To be recognized as
an integrated tourist and educational resort offering
the Highest Standard of Service in the
Philippines
Mission: To deliver quality holiday,
education and cultural services on the principals of sustainable
development, environmental integration and
service.
To promote the values, serenity and culture of the Philippines
and it’s people both locally and
internationally.
To develop an organizational culture that accepts responsibility
for the education and training of students as part of the
local community and economy.
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Bolinao
Lighthouse School of
Tourism |
WINNER
OF TESDA REGION 1 2010 KABALIKAT
