ANGELES CITY – Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Lesbian, Queer or Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Community here rose to the challenge of helping Angelenos in need with their plans of conducting a livelihood and skills training program for the 33 barangays, in cooperation with the Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. fully supports this initiative, showing his gratitude for the efforts being done by the LGBTQ+ community in helping the city government provide alternative livelihood programs for its residents.
“Malaking tulong itong proyekto ng LGBTQ+ community para sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na dun sa mga naapektuhan ang kabuhayan dahil sa pandemya,” Lazatin says.
According to the Angeles City LGBTQ+ Community Head, Jhune Angeles, their group is planning to initially conduct a Dressmaking Skills Training Program.
“Uunahin po nating ituro ang Dressmaking sa ating mga Kababayan. Mag-iikot po tayo sa 33 barangays para turuan ang mga residente na gustong matuto ng skills sa pananahi,” Angeles explained.
Angeles also shared that the group has already coordinated with the barangay captains of the 33 villages, who expressed their support for the program.
“Nakipag-usap na po tayo sa mga barangay captains ng 33 barangays, at pumayag naman po karamihan na magpagamit ng multi-purpose hall, para dun ganapin yung dressmaking skills training program natin,” Angeles said.
With the COVID-19 threat still at large, Angeles said the group will abide by the city’s safety and health protocols, by limiting the participants per training day.
The group has also sought the assistance of Mayor Lazatin’s Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas and Gender and Development (GAD) Office Head Mina Cabiles, in providing the sewing machine and other materials for the participants.
To further help the participants after they completed the program, Angeles is also working closely with Calaguas, who is also the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) Vice President of Operations, in securing possible job opportunities for them inside Clark.
He says they are currently working on asking the assistance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“Inaayos po namin ni Boss IC yung pakikipag-tie up sa TESDA para after training, maging TESDA certified sila after graduation,” Angeles furthered.
As a final note, Angeles called on the members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community to support this program, for their fellow Angelenos.
“Sa mga miyembro po ng LGBTQ+ of Angeles City, patunayan natin na hindi lang pagpapaganda ng sarili natin ang kaya natin gawin kundi pati pagpapaganda ng buhay ng iba. Malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga kapwa Angeleños upang makapag simula po ng kabuhayan nila kahit nasa sariling tahanan lamang nila. Magtulungan tayo upang mas marami tayong matulungan pa. Magpasalamat tayo na sa kaunaunahang pagkakataon ay magkakaroon na ng espasyo ang LGBTQ+ sa City Hall at ito ay buong puso ng ipinagkaloob ng ating butihing Mayor,” Angeles said.