Last May 15, 2026, Punlaan School conducted the 31st Commencement Exercises for the Dual Training Program in Hospitality and Culinary Arts. With 84 graduates employed across 14 partner hotels and restaurants, this ceremony served as the conclusion of the school’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration.
With its top graduates undergoing their training in Grand Hyatt Manila, Raffles and Fairmont Hotel, UCC Cafe, and Mary Grace Cafe, Punlaan solidifies its commitment in providing quality skills training and values formation for its scholars, while ensuring close collaboration with its industry partners.
The batch’s valedictorian, Angelyn Sta. Isabel, delivered the Graduates’ Speech, highlighting the impact of values formation in their overall character building. Her message revolved around the value of gratitude, not only to the school and the industry partners, but also to one’s family and loved ones. She is now employed in Raffles and Fairmont Hotel, where she had also undergone her on-the-job training.
Gracing the event as its Keynote Speaker, Mr. Philip Francisco Dy, Executive Director of the GT Foundation, Inc., focused on the importance of constantly learning and paying it forward in the service sector. This year, Punlaan School has granted the Most Outstanding Student award to Gliza M. Lopez, a proud scholar of GT Foundation, Inc. and a student-trainee in Grand Hyatt Manila.
Concluding this milestone event, the newly-appointed President of the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc., Ms. Charlene Ching, expressed her gratitude to all partners and donors, staff, and parents who have been the pillars of support of Punlaan.
Punlaan School extends its gratitude to its Industry Partners namely Mary Grace Cafe, Conti’s Bakeshop & Restaurant, Estrel’s Caramel Cakes, Raffles and Fairmont Hotel, Grand Hyatt Manila, Herald Suites, Katherine’s Cafe, I’m Angus Steak House, J.Co, Lugang Cafe, Merienda by Pan de Manila, The Plaza Inc., Standard Hospitality Group, and UCC Vienna Café.
The school also recognizes the contributions of its donor foundations namely George Ty Foundation (GT Foundation), Marubeni Scholarship Foundation, Angelicum Charitable Foundation, Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation (AY Foundation), Bounty Cares Foundation, LINCCO Foundation, Limmat Foundation, Santuario de San Antonio Parish, All for Punlaan Initiative, Punlaan Development Board, Hilda Del Rosario, Rosie Fadullon, Tess Sulit, Chit Poscablo, Angela Singian, Soi Chan Choi Doris, Vicky Echauz, Rafael Ricafort, Beatriz Padilla, and Shirley Antonio.