Service and Mission through Vocational Education The Third Year of the Ateneo Shoe Academy (First Quarter 2019) ─

Prepared for: Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V.

10 April 2019

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Executive Summary The Ateneo Shoe Academy, in operation since August 2016, is Ateneo de Davao University’s technical-vocational unit that offers a 10-month shoemaking course to out-of-school youth and indigenous peoples. The academy’s shoemaking program covers training in core competencies of shoe design, manufacturing, and product costing in Ateneo de Davao’s own shoe laboratory.

The shoe academy aims to establish a source of livelihood for the people of Mindanao, and produce footwear industry leaders, shoe designers, shoe crafters, and social enterpreneurs in the community, and in the Mindanao region. It also commits to producing graduates who are not just equipped with the technical knowledge on shoemaking, but are also rooted in the Ignatian values of competence, conscience, and compassionate commitment to change. The Ateneo Shoe Academy is the first of its kind in Mindanao.

With the financial assistance of the Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V., the Ateneo Shoe Academy has been able to provide full scholarships to sixteen (16) students for the third batch of the Ateneo Shoe Academy.

This third batch of Ateneo Shoe Academy scholars are composed of young indigenous peoples from various communities in the outskirts of Davao City, and Muslim persons with disabilities who want to develop their shoemaking skills.

As members of various disadvantaged groups, our scholars are motivated to learn about shoemaking from the Ateneo Shoe Academy, not for personal profit, but for them to give back to their respective communities. The scholarship provided by the Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V., through the Ateneo Shoe Academy, is of special importance, especially for our scholars who are living with disabilities, as this opportunity helps them expand their potentials and enhance their social inclusion.

The financial assistance provided by the Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V. has supported the living allowance, training and production materials, transportation and accommodation allowances, office supplies, and repair and maintenance expenses of the equipment used by the Ateneo Shoe Academy students.

Program Objectives As the pioneering shoemaking training and production institution in Mindanao, Ateneo Shoe Academy envisions to:

1. Provide a shoe craftsmanship vocational course for interested members of the out-of-school youth and indigenous communities;

2. Implement shoe industry standards and quality assurance; 3. Execute an instruction strategy that will ground the Ateneo Shoe Academy scholars in

Ignatian values in their practice of shoemaking; 4. Provide consultancy services to local shoemaking industry players; 5. Develop other related footwear programs to enhance learning and shoe production for

supervised skills training; and 6. Provide social entrepreneurship training to Ateneo Shoe Academy’s host community to

capacitate them in executing a new community-led livelihood program.

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Established Partnerships In 2019, the Ateneo Shoe Academy has engaged in partnerships with the following government agencies and groups:

Department of Trade and Industry

The Ateneo Shoe Academy has secured a PHP7,000,000.00 funding from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for its Shared Facilities Program, where DTI commits to supply the Ateneo Shoe Academy with eight (8) different shoemaking equipment that will allow the Ateneo Shoe Academy scholars to train in using industry-grade shoemaking technology.

As of March 2019, the Ateneo Shoe Academy has already received three (3) of the eight (8) promised equipment from DTI. These include: a Footwear Pounding Machine, which helps in side lasting and heel buffing; a Folding Machine, which helps mold leather into soles; and a Leather Splitting Machine, which helps in cutting and evening leather before they are used for shoemaking.

The Ateneo Shoe Academy is still waiting for the arrival of the Sole Press Machine, Sole Cement Machine, Rib Laying Machine, Welt Stitcher, and a special Sewing Machine, from DTI.

The Department of Trade and Industry has also been particularly helpful in recommending persons with disabilities into the program.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

Aside from Ateneo Shoe Academy’s ongoing accreditation for National Accreditation from TESDA, it has also engaged in a partnership with the government agency that allows the Ateneo Shoe Academy to accredit its alumni as future shoemaking instructors in various shoemaking training centers in Mindanao. According to TESDA, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia have all expressed their interest in investing in shoemaking factories in Mindanao. TESDA is now investing on enhancing the capability of Mindanawons for shoemaking because they project a great need for skilled shoemakers for these foreign factories in the future.

From left to right: Footwear Pounding Machine, Folding Machine, and Leather Splitting Machine.

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Ateneo de Davao Alumni Groups

The Ateneo Shoe Academy is also collaborating with the Ateneo de Davao University’s Alumni Batch 1994 to produce shoes, bags, book covers, and other accessories from repurposed jeans. This alumni initiative, entitled Blue Genes, is part of the Alumni Batch 1994’s effort to raise money for the A1 Scholarship Fund of Ateneo de Davao University. The A1 Scholarship Fund helps financially needy students finish their college education. This initiative also aims to reduce the carbon footprint of preloved clothes.

Aside from helping the environment, this project also employs the alumni of the Ateneo Shoe

Academy who have formed their own cooperative. Edilberto Bantasan from the first batch of Ateneo Shoe Academy scholars, and Samson Abing, Maribel Lakay, Merjhone Mailan, and Ricky Agas from the second batch have been employed by the Ateneo Shoe Academy for this project. They are given free food and lodging, and an allowance of PHP150.00 a day as wages for their work. Other alumni from the first batch are also on standby for this project.

Currently, the Ateneo Shoe Academy is still waiting for the delivery of secondhand jeans from the alumni groups in order to formally start their production of shoes and other accessories.

The Ateneo Shoe Academy alumni have developed these shoe prototypes from preloved jeans donated by the Blue Genes Alumni activity.

Samson Abing (pictured left) begins cutting out jeans to repurpose the denim into a tote bag. Ricky Agas (pictured right) cuts out the shoe uppers for another prototype. Both are alumni of the second batch of the Ateneo Shoe Academy

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Planned Expansion For 2019, the Ateneo de Davao University plans to establish the Ateneo Shoe Academy Incubation Center that will allow the shoe academy graduates to work in cooperatives that use the resources of the Incubation Center. The Incubation Center aims to help these graduates pursue livelihood development and prosperity, and the establishment of a quality-assured shoe industry in Davao City.

The Ateneo Shoe Academy Incubation Center will be equipped with appropriate machines for shoe fabrication (including specialized machines used specifically to manufacture military shoes), which graduates of the Ateneo Shoe Academy may use through their established cooperatives. The ASA Incubation Center aims to help its graduates and students in pursuing gainful projects with their potential clients. This expansion of the Ateneo Shoe Academy includes the following phases:

a) Purchase of a 1-Hectare Property in Magtuod, Davao City The Ateneo de Davao University wishes to acquire the 1-hectare property where the current Ateneo Shoe Academy facilities stand. The acquisition of such property will secure the continued operation of the present Ateneo Shoe Academy, provide land for the proposed ASA Incubation Center, and give the academy space to expand in the future.

b) Construction of the Incubation Center

Ateneo de Davao University envisions the ASA Incubation Center as a new facility that is almost twice the size of the current Shoe Laboratory Building. This 1,320 square-meter incubation center will include administrative, manufacture, and storage spaces that students may use both for their classes and for their clients in their respective cooperatives.

The ground floor of the Incubation Center will include wide work spaces where machines will be installed and operated. Adjacent to this work space is the Academy’s storage space, where both equipment and products will be kept prior to or after delivery. The ground floor will also be designed to provide easy delivery access for equipment and products, and will also house the Academy’s administrative offices, three classrooms, and comfort rooms. The building’s mezzanine will include the student dormitories, mess halls, and shower facilities.

c) Acquisition of Shoe Industry Equipment and Furnitures

The expansion of the Ateneo Shoe Academy also requires the acquisition of more equipment and well-furnished working and livings spaces that will help the academy’s students and graduates to establish a veritable shoemaking industry in Mindanao, and in order for them to compete with other shoe production companies in the country.

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Third Batch of Students The Ateneo Shoe Academy began its third year of training out-of-school youth and indigenous peoples in shoe production last January 21, 2019. The ASA, for its third batch of scholars, has recruited sixteen (16) students from various indigenous communities of Davao City.

For this year, the ASA has 5 Bagobo-Diangan students, 4 Kagan students, 2 Bagobo students, 2 Bagobo-Klata students, 1 Bagobo-Uvu, 1 Matigsalug, and 1 Sama-Tausug. Apart from this, five of the ASA scholars are Muslim persons with disabilities.

Name of Scholar Age Community Ethnic Group

Adlawan, Raymund 23 Tagakpan, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo-Diangan Aleon, Rovern April 21 Maligatong Tansing, Baguio District,

Davao City Bagobo-Diangan

Almorie, Manan 47 Purok 3, Barangay Waan, Davao City Kagan Bastigue, Nonito Jr. 30 Tagakpan, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo-Klata Calimpitan, Jonathan 30 Tagakpan, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo Catigan, Elramer 26 Tagakpan, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo-Diangan Dalon, Evan 21 Purok Waling-Waling, Baguio District,

Davao City Bagobo-Diangan

Geyrozaga, Christian 21 Tagakpan, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo-Klata Kadir, Antalani 47 Purok 3B, Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C,

Davao City Sama-Tausug

Lacia, Annabelle 19 Barangay Gumitan, Marilog, Davao City Matigsalug Locion, Cathy Jane 19 Manuel Guianga, Tugbok, Davao City Bagobo-Klata Lozarito, Cecilio Jr. 22 Purok Durian, Baguio District, Davao City Bagobo-Diangan Lumiguez, Jainodden 43 Purok 4, San Isidro, Bunawan, Davao City Kagan Rasman, Allan 48 Purok 3, Salmonan, Barangay 23-C, Davao

City Kagan-Meranaw

Simogan, Jerson 19 Purok Waling-Waling, Baguio District, Davao City

Bagobo-Diangan

Tiblawan, Luis Jr. 42 Sitio Silad, Mandug, Buhangin, Davao City Kagan

The indigenous peoples of the Philippines are the most socially and economically vulnerable sector of the Philippine Society. They are further pushed to the margins by the government’s own neocolonial policies of aggressive human resettlements and unjust economic regimes. Similarly, the persons with disabilities in the Philippines, despite the numerous Philippine laws implemented to assure the differently-abled’s wellbeing, still suffer from discrimination and social exclusion.

As members of one of the most vulnerable sectors of the country, our scholars are motivated to use their learnings from the Ateneo Shoe Academy to produce shoes, encourage and teach their relatives and community members to learn about shoemaking, and start small businesses within their areas to help uplift and empower their communities.

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This determination to develop one’s skills to benefit the community is evident on the

experiences of Allan Rasman, an orthopedically challenged Muslim scholar. At 43 years old, Allan is the oldest student in his batch. In an interview with the scholars, Allan shared that he lost full functionality of his right leg after a vehicular accident in 1996. After the accident, he stayed at home for almost a decade, trying to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer as mobile as he once was. He only found enough motivation to leave his house after he was invited to join an organization of persons with disabilities.

Allan’s involvement with PWD organizations made him realize that there was a lack of Muslim

representation in his groups. This is what motivated him to establish the Mindanao Association of Muslims with Disabilities (MAMD), an organization which aims to develop the abilities and livelihood of its members. Allan expressed that he founded this group because he recognizes that as a Muslim and a person with disability, people like him face twice as much judgement and discrimination.

The Mindanao Association of Muslims with Disabilities, with 45 active members in Davao City alone, is currently developing its members’ skills in sandal- and slipper-making. They are currently affiliated with the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry, which referred them to be scholars of the Ateneo Shoe Academy so that they can work on their potential for shoemaking.

Allan, together with three other MAMD members, are now learning from the Ateneo Shoe Academy, in order for them learn how to build a more sustainable shoemaking project for other members of their differently-abled communities.

Allan Rasman uses a model for his sketches on shoe patterns. Alfie Teodoro, the Ateneo Shoe Academy director, orients Allan and his classmates on how to use a leather splitting machine.

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Cathy Locion, a 19-year old scholar, also shares Allan’s hope of helping her community after learning from the shoe academy. Cathy used to study another technical-vocational course at another school in Davao City, but due to financial difficulty, she was forced to stop schooling to work as a saleslady at a mall. Cathy used to sell Vans shoes for a living. Now, she is interested in learning about making the same shoes that she used to sell. In the future, Cathy wants to make many shoes, and return to her barangay to teach her fellow lumad about shoemaking. Cathy is also grateful that she is afforded with the opportunity to make her own shoes, and to sell her own creative work.

Raymond Adlawan also shares the same story as Cathy. He used to study a Customer Servicing Electronics vocational course, but because of financial problems, he was forced to stop. Instead of working, he stayed at home to help maintain their family’s small farm, where he tends to their coconuts, durian, and cacao. With a scholarship to the Ateneo Shoe Academy, he is able to study again, and begin dreaming again of establishing his own shoemaking business in their community.

Cathy Locion practices her drawing skills for her shoe patterns.

Raymond Adlawan measures a sample shoe for his patternmaking design.

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Jonathan Calimpitan is an out-of-school youth who worked for various event organizing gigs for 19 years. Before going to the Ateneo Shoe Academy, he was only staying at home with his grandmother and his aunt because he was unemployed. In the future, Jonathan hopes to make a sustainable business that will allow him to sell quality shoes at affordable prices.

The students are currently housed at the Ateneo Shoe Academy compound, where they are provided with free accommodations and meals during school days. As the Ateneo Shoe Academy dormitory only has bunk beds for the scholars’ accommodations, the scholars with disabilities have chosen to return daily to their respective homes after their classes. They are also provided with daily allowances to defray the costs of their transportation.

The Ateneo Shoe Academy has a dedicated cook that provides the students lunch. A separate meal arrangement is made especially for the Muslim scholars, as they have strict restrictions to their diets. The students are also provided with the free use of their dormitory’s kitchen in order for them to cook their own meals for breakfast and dinner.

Since January 2019, the students have been learning about the fundamentals of footwear, and pattern making. The students are expected to begin their course on shoe production on mid-April 2019, where they get hands-on training on how to manually stitch and solder leather and shoe insoles. After manual shoe production, they then move on to learning about different shoemaking machines. The shoe production course is expected to last four (4) months.

Jonathan Calimpitan studies the measurements for his shoe patterns.

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Liquidation of Expenses The Ateneo Shoe Academy has received around 1,500,000.00PHP from the Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V. to financially support the second batch of shoemaking scholars. Below is the breakdown of the expenses incurred by the Ateneo Shoe Academy for 2018.

Living Allowance Particulars Amount in PHP Amount in EUR Meals and Groceries 415,676.26 6,681.82 Cooking Expenses 6,420.00 103.20 Student Transportation 58,164.00 935.00 Clothing Allowance 14,100.00 226.65 Total 494,360.26 7,946.67

Production Training Expenses Particulars Amount in PHP Amount in EUR Production Materials 235,735.85 3,789.36 Honoraria for Shoe Laboratory Instructors 683,901.73 10,993.44 Total 919,637.58 14,782.80

Office Expenses Particulars Amount in PHP Amount in EUR Office Supplies 68,717.83 1,104.61 Office Meeting 12,500.00 200.93 Christmas Gathering Expenses 3,734.00 60.02 Graduation Expenses 2,415.00 38.82 Miscellaneous Expenses 2,400.00 38.58 Total 89,766.83 1,442.96

Repairs and Maintenance Particulars Amount in PHP Amount in EUR Cleaning Services 7,500.00 120.60 Grass Cutting 3,500.00 56.26 Repair Fees 36,000.00 578.69 Total 47,000.00 755.55 Grand Total 1,550,764.67 24,927.98

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The Ateneo de Davao University, and the scholars of the Ateneo Shoe Academy, would like to thank the Foerderverein Philippinenhilfe, e.V. for their generosity in providing financial support to ADDU’s program of service and mission through vocational education. Danke schön!

The third batch of the Ateneo Shoe Academy scholars are composed of sixteen (16) out-of-school youth, indigenous peoples, and Muslims with disabilities from various areas of Davao city.