MARIE ANN BARLISO, 25, was performing well as an employee at Expedia Inc., a Washington-based online travel agency that allows users to book for airline tickets, reserve hotel rooms, rent cars, join cruises or avail of vacation packages at competitive prices in Cebu.
Despite her stellar performance, her goal of scaling the employment ladder was hindered by her lack
of diploma.
“I worked with Expedia, which has an office in Cebu, for three years, but I could not grow because I have yet to finish my schooling. I have no diploma to show them, hence I lack the credentials that I need to be promoted,” she said, her hands folded and her head bowed while recounting her story.
Barliso, a Cebuana, then browsed the web for opportunities. She came across an advertisement in Facebook that bore the promise of attaining a diploma degree in less than two years. Not only that, she said, the ad also promised to train her based on international standards and teach her global practices in hospitality management.
Desperate to be more competitive in life’s trials at a shorter pace, she left for Manila and enrolled at Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute (CTHI), an international franchise of the Canadian Tourism College (CTC), which is based in Vancouver.
On her first day in school, the then-employee had high hopes in her heart that her decision to leave Cebu and enroll in a small school in Manila was right and wise. She was correct.
“Your desire to become competitive in the international scene should be backed by a paper that represents yourself, not just years of experience under your belt. It pushed me to really pursue my studies in the shortest possible time, but without compromising the quality of education that I get,” Barliso said.
CTHI is still in its start-up years in the Philippines, although its goal is to grow its network to 100 schools across Asean economies in 10 years. The institute, located at the 2nd Level, Paragon Plaza, Edsa corner Reliance Street, Mandaluyong City, boasts of facilities and professors that are already seasoned in the hospitality and tourism industries. Barliso is just one of the many students currently enrolled in the international school.
“CTHI gives us the education that we need at a cost that is practically lower because of the shorter diploma year,” she said. “The quality of education here is at par with international standards, and I must say that there are a lot of things that I have learned here that I didn’t learn from the industry.”
Thinking practical, Kristen Portugal, a former Assumption College psychology student, shifted to hospitality management to pursue her dreams of being a part of a ground crew. Her experience in her 10 months in the institution proved to be the best in her learning years.
“Here, we get to apply what we study in school. We go outside the four corners of the classroom and go on tours, learn from conventions, expos and symposia and enjoy ourselves,” she said, smiling as she remembered her first 4×4 experience in Ilocos with her professors and classmates.
She also got enticed to enroll at CTHI because of the Facebook campaign. Portugal went immediately to the school’s office to inquire.
The tuition amounts to P150,000 per year, which, she said, is quite cheaper than taking a four-year course in a university.
“To top that off, my diploma bears the name of an international school, recognized in the global community, which makes us better than those who have been pursuing the same courses in local universities,” she said.
What made her decide to finally enroll was the curriculum, which, she claimed, was packed with major subjects, instead of minor courses.
“I really liked the curriculum here. We get to really learn what we need to learn before applying it in real life. Plus, we get to apply that when we go on excursions and familiarization trips,” Portugal said.
CTHI, she added, helped her develop the self confidence that she lacked through social gatherings and training sessions.
“They don’t just hone your competence and skills through experience and hands-on training. This school helps us build our self esteem and self worth,” she said.
Vanessa Landicho, who is Portugal’s batch mate, agreed.
“My experience, so far, could be summarized into one word: training. They are really letting us experience the theories that they teach us at school, and so, I could say that what we get from CTHI is the best education there is in the industry,” Landicho, who also took up the same course in Lyceum of the Philippines, said.
The institute, she added, provides the needed experience outside the school, not just inside the classroom.
“We get to learn to be competitive in the industry, which helps us to be prepared for our future,” she said.
Margie Jurado, a former entertainer at noontime TV program Showtime, said the institute is her stepping stone to experiencing new things in life.
“I want to work as part of a cabin crew and tour the world. CTHI has been a great help in aiding me achieve that goal in life,” she said.
The Vancouver-based institute boasts of its parent company’s 30 years of providing real-world quality tourism education.
The school offers intensive on-the-job training through module-based learning for a span of one year, preparing students for immediate employment in the industry whether in or out of the country.
CTHI graduates enjoy more than 90-percent employment rate through the training system provided by industry experts, who have no less than five years experience in the tourism and hospitality field.