Thomas Ossowski (German Ambassador to the Philippines),  Father Anthony Paul Bicomong (Provincial Superior - Don Bosco), Michael Mager (Executive Board, Grohe AG), Father Gaudencio Carandang,Jr. (Rector/TVET Director, Don Bosco), Suzanne Franke (Manager, Corporate Cooperation, Don Bosco Mondo)

Just a few weeks ago Don Bosco-GROHE Dual Tech Academy opens its door by inaugurating and blessing the building and its equipment, marking the start of a new beginning for the young people of Tondo, Manila. The Salesians of Don Bosco together with GROHE initiated in organizing the event with the apprentices from other disciplines of the Don Bosco Youth Center, attended by guests from the local business and academic communities as well as the German Ambassador, Thomas Ossowski, and representatives of the German Chamber of Foreign Trade.
Being one of the individuals who was a product of scholarship and an NGO who looks after underprivileged individuals makes me proud and knowing that an institution like this in Tondo, Manila can be of great help.
GROHE, a water fittings manufacturer together with Don Bosco Mondo e.V. teamed up with a view in helping young people have better lives. The partnership started in 2009 that helped some 780 young people in Mumbai, India to start a new life. The successful GROHE Dual Tech aid project also made it to the Philippines in the area of Tondo, Manila where its new training facility was opened.

Father Gaudencio Carandang,Jr. (Rector/TVET Director, Don Bosco)  Michael Mager (Executive Board, Grohe AG), Alpha Ang (General Manager, LWT/Grohe Philippines), Thomas Ossowski (German Ambassador to the Philippines), Father Anthony Paul Bicomong,  Provincial Superior - Don Bosco

 Mr. Michael Mager, GROHE Management Board member opened during the inauguration, "Today is an important day for all of us." "In the six years that have passed since we launched our partnership with Don Bosco Mondo e.V. in India, we have achieved a lot and learned a lot. Our work has borne fruit and demand for our trained and skilled plumbers is huge. We now want to continue this strategy in the Philippines and offer apprenticeships to the young people of Manila-Tondo to give them a genuine chance to earn a living from skilled work. At the same time, our local partners will benefit from the availability of professionally trained plumbers."
The project aims to enhance the professionalism of the local plumbing trade that's why GROHE Dual Tech make sure of it by providing a high-quality training programme leading up to NC II qualification. The programme not only supports the apprentices but also addresses the lack of skilled labor while at the same time helping to advance the industry. With the direct cooperation of local companies gives young people employment opportunities after their training, making their future more secure.

Kerwin Tan (Account Manager, Projects), Alpha Ang (General Manager), Manfred Kuhn, Michael Mager, Alen Alban, Carlo Malantic, Joralyn Ong, Heide Lopez (Account Manager, Projects), Valerie Suspine (Account Manager, Projects), Mary Ann Rabonza (Specifications Manager)

 Christian Osterhaus, Managing Director of Don Bosco Mondo says that "We are happy to offer these new training programmes in Manila-Tonda, a place that is known throughout the world for poverty and adverse living conditions. We give young people the chance to train and enhance their skills in order to compete successfully in the local labor market, to earn their living and to become active members of society."

Grohe Showroom

 The GROHE Dual Tech programmes in the Philippines targets socially disadvantaged people aged 17 to 25 who are unable to obtain vocational training. Courses in the academy start twice a year with some 30 participants each and comprise a 12-month apprenticeship at the Training Center including a 6-week internship at a GROHE partner company. What's great with the academy is that it has a widely recognized graduation certificates that young plumbers can use when they apply for a job with any other firm after their training.
GROHE Dual Tech also offers short-term training courses for assistant plumbers as well as further training courses comprising customized modules for young employees of construction and plumbing companies.
GROHE Dual Tech is a develoPPP.de project. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) fosters the involvement of the private sector at the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives intersect. The programme is put into practice by Deutsche INvestition-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) on behalf of the BMZ. DEG promotes business initiatives in developing and emerging countries and finances sustainable investments.

Alen Alban (Country Manager, LWT/Grohe Phils), Father Edwin Ulanday (Provincial Economer, Don Bosco)

So for moms who's knows young people in Tondo who seeks help and is willing to learn can be referred on this academy to have a future.

Dreaming, that's what most kids does when they are little and most often these kids aspire to achieve their dreams. Most of them start young, that's why House of Mode Elle grasp these little sweet dreams by opening an Academy for Dreamers.

Yes, House of Mode Elle opens a school name Mode Elle Academy that will hone the skills and talents of individuals as they face the challenges of the entertainment industry.  It is a fashion academy that is open to kids as young as two years old. Courses offered include modeling, acting, singing, dancing, personality development, makeup and photography. The students is categorized in three sections, 2 to 10 years old for kids, 11 to 15 years old for teens and 16 to 29 years old for adults.   

Sleek and sexy creation by Russ Cuevas

Adam Balasa’s wedding creation

Upon enrollment, students automatically receive lessons in modeling and personality development. The aspiring artists will undergo 25 sessions but may also avail of the unlimited sessions if they wish to. Tall ones get to have an advantage as the academy offers scholarship to girls who are 5’7” (and up) tall, and boys who are 5’10” (and up) in height.

Instructors from their field of expertise will share their knowledge to students and inculcate values and skills in them. The team of instructors will be headed by House of Mode Elle founder Allen Castillo, who has been training models for years and is also a theater actor from the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). Castillo will handle modeling, acting and personality development courses.

Creation of Alex Pigao.

Other instructors are Bong Lee for makeup, Ojie Ramos, Jolie Navia and Champy Cachola for advanced photography, Joanne Co of Kids at Work and Marc Alcala for acting, Jenny Saavedra of UP Music and Yamaha Music School for singing, and Christine Feliciano and Airalyn Dimapilis for dancing.

But for Mode Elle, beauty is not just skin-deep. The "fashion house with a heart" is what the House of Mode Elle has been called since its inception in 2012 because it was built for a charitable cause. As a cancer survivor himself, Castillo knows how hard it is to cope with such condition. His condition awakened compassion within him and led him to do volunteer work.

Collection made by Aaron Dela Cruz.

Castillo visited halfway homes and met other people suffering from cancer. They were just kids, trying to live each day, hoping a miracle will happen. The fight against cancer is a non-stop battle that not all patients can endure but with the support of family, friends and even strangers who are willing to lend a helping hand, the struggle may become a little bit more bearable.

Castillo knew he had to do something and hence, the House of Mode Elle was born. Castillo believes that promoting beauty inside and out is the right way to go. True to its mission to promote beauty while helping cancer-stricken children, the media presentation of the Mode Elle Academy kicked off with a fashion show for a cause, featuring 170 Mode Elle talents who were clad in clothes design by professional fashion designers.

Designed by a 14 year old girl, Chenee Abunda

A Mode Elle’s beautiful student wearing a Michael Sta. Maria creation.

Ticket sales were donated to the beneficiaries of Tahan Tahanan in Quezon City and Child Haus in Manila, two non-governmental organizations that provide temporary shelter to kids with cancer and other non-communicable diseases and their families.

“We give scholarships to kids with cancer who want to be artists and models. One of the cancer survivors that we trained is Chantal Rivera. She has performed in some of our past events. We also give medications and other hospital necessities for these kids suffering from cancer,” disclosed Castillo.