At 31 years old, Christian, a fisherman from Malitam, Batangas City, is charting a new course for his family’s future. A devoted father of two, an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, he is currently undergoing training in Automotive Servicing through the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) program.
Christian’s journey has not been easy. At just 12 years old, he was forced to leave school when his parents could no longer afford to support his education. Since then, he has relied on fishing to provide for his family, often renting a boat just to make a modest catch. Weather conditions also make this livelihood unpredictable, with many days spent at sea yielding little to no income.
Together with his wife, Christian is also trying to build a small sari-sari store as an extra source of income during days when the sea does not provide.
Everything changed when he heard about the SKIL scholarship in his barangay, an initiative of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) with support from Shell Pilipinas Corporation and Shell Import Facility Tabangao. The program offers free TESDA-accredited training to fishermen and other community members, giving them the chance to learn new skills and open new doors.
Christian didn’t hesitate.
“Kahit ano, susubukan ko dahil para po ito sa mga anak ko,” he shared.
For Christian, fishing has always been a gamble. Some days are fruitful, others not. This training, he says, is his way of upskilling and finding more stable and sustainable means to support his family.
“Ang mga pangarap na hindi natupad ng magulang ko, ako na ang magsusulong,” he added.
Although he had to stop schooling early, Christian was able to complete high school through alternative means. This qualified him for the SKIL program and opened the door to new opportunities.
Excitedly, Christian shared that once he completes the SKIL program and passes the NC I exam, he dreams of pursuing Automotive Servicing NC II to further improve his skills. And it’s not just a dream. Christian backs it up with consistent action. Based on monitoring reports, he is one of the most dedicated scholars in the program. He has never missed a session, is always among the first to arrive, and consistently performs well in training.
His eagerness to continue learning is a testament to the impact of programs like SKIL. These initiatives do not only provide opportunities but also ignite drive and motivation in scholars.
He extends his heartfelt thanks to PSFI, Shell Pilipinas Corporation, and Shell Import Facility Tabangao for giving him the opportunity to dream again and to drive his family toward a brighter future.
