At 44, Beverly Besa of Taguig City is not just a solo parent raising two children; she is also a woman who continues to pursue growth, despite life’s challenges.
For nearly a decade, Beverly has worked as a caddie at the Manila Golf and Country Club (MGCC). She started as an umbrella girl, determined to build a better future after separating from her husband. Through grit and perseverance, she worked her way up to become a full-fledged caddie.
Over time, Beverly formed strong bonds with her clients. One of them, inspired by her dedication, offered to pay for her son’s tuition at De La Salle University, where he now studies Civil Engineering.
When MGCC Foundation, Inc., in partnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), launched a scholarship program for caddies and their families, Beverly grabbed the opportunity without hesitation. The MGCCFI-PSFI Tech-Voc Scholarship Program offers training in Cookery, Bread and Pastries, and Hilot (Wellness massage) to help individuals build dignified and sustainable livelihoods.
Beverly has taken the program three times—first for cookery, then baking, and most recently, hilot.
“Bawat scholarship, pagkakataon ‘yan para matuto nang libre,” she says. “Bilang solo parent, gusto kong matutunan ‘yung mga skills na puwede kong magamit para sa pamilya ko.”
Her cooking skills became especially useful during the pandemic, when the golf course temporarily closed. “Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na sinasabihan ka ng mga anak mo na masarap ang luto mo,” she beams. She began selling food along the roadside, which became her primary source of income during that difficult time.
Her most recent training in hilot came from a deeply personal place. “Para sa pamilya ko ‘yung hilot. Gusto ko kapag may sakit sila, ako mismo ang magpagaling sa kanila.”
Training days meant missing out on caddie work and daily income, but Beverly never saw it as a setback. “Hindi ako nanghihinayang kasi bukas, puwede ko ulit kitain ‘yung pera—pero ‘yung kaalaman, hindi mo basta-basta makukuha.”
At graduation, Beverly was recognized as Most Outstanding Graduate. For her, the key to success is being humble and open to growth. She believes that learning should never stop, and if another opportunity to study comes along, she won’t hesitate to apply again.
Beverly also encourages people like her to not stop learning, and when the opportunity to learn arrives, grab it.
