SCHOOLS

Brief History

The roots of the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI) go back to the 1970s, when a small group of women began teaching domestic skills in a scientific-professional way to young girls from the provinces seeking better opportunities in the city, as well as those who are already employed as domestic workers in the city.

In 1975, Punlaan School–named after the Tagalog word for “seedbad”–opened in San Juan, Manila as the first venue for formal training. A few years later, a second center in Malate was established, which eventually became known as the Manila Institute for Culinary Arts and Residential Services (MICARS).

By 1982, FPTI was formally organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a donee institution. Expansion followed: Anihan Technical School in Calamba, Laguna (1986) and Banilad Center for Professional Development in Cebu (1989). In the early 1990s, Habihan School was inaugurated in Quezon City, extending FPTI’s reach to more communities.

A landmark achievement came in 1993, when Punlaan pioneered the European-based Dual Training Scholarship Program in food and beverage services, under the auspices of the Landesinstitut fur Internationale Berufsbildung. Endorsed by First Lady Amelita Ramos, its success paved the way for the enactment of the Dual Training Law in the Philippines.

The 1990s and 2000s saw further growth: MICARS moved into a new facility with the state-of-the-art kitchens in 1995, while Anihan became the prototype for livelihood-generating activities that sustain scholarships and programs, aside from providing employment to women in the community.

In 2001, FPTI earned accreditation from the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC), receiving the seal of good housekeeping, and is currently a member of the Association of Foundations (AF).

Over the years, FPTI’s schools–Anihan, Banilad, Habihan, MICARS, and Punlaan–have consistently delivered a two-year program that guarantees 100% employment for graduates in the hotel and restaurant industry. This track record is strengthened by values and Catholic formation embedded in the curriculum, together with personalized mentoring.

In 2020, construction began on a new seven-story building in San Juan to consolidate the NCR schools. By 2024, Punlaan School moved into its new home, while MICARS and Habihan School ceased operations, streamlining FPTI’s presence in the capital.