Housewife trains to become welder

Behind the welder's helmet: Minerva H. Bañas, a 33-year old housewife trains to become a welder.

In a male-dominated vocation, a housewife has stepped beyond her boundaries to join the industry and prove that women can likewise take on heavy jobs. She is Minerva H. Bañas, a 33 year-old mother of two from Malama, Ligao City.

Minerva is one of the first 22 trainees enrolled in the Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC 1, a training program implemented by the City Government of Ligao in partnership with Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez and Technical Education and Skills Development Auhority (TESDA) under the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).

Minerva spends more than an hour to travel from her house at Barangay Malama to the training center at Robredo Bldg., Tuburan, Ligao City. She also leaves her two children aged six and four to her mother-in-law everyday to attend the training. Despite the challenges she faces as a housewife, she did not hesitate to enroll in the program.

Furthermore, Minerva felt motivated to join the program to develop her skills that she can use to earn additional income. Her husband, who works as a laborer, earns a weekly income of Php 1,700. Minerva, on the other hand, does not earn any income by herself. She wanted to help her husband and her parents but could not afford to due to financial constraints.

Empowered

When Minerva knew about the training program, her husband encouraged her to join in. She also knew from her husband that construction firms are accepting female welders and that he currently works with a few of them. She was then convinced that she too can do it.

Unlike other housewives, Minerva was more interested to undergo training on welding rather than take on the usual inclination of women in dressmaking, tailoring, beauty care, and cosmetology. Although she finds some parts of the training difficult (i.e. grinding and cutting) due to her slender built, she is able to keep pace with her fellow trainees.

Future direction

When asked about her plans after the training, Minerva said she wants to apply abroad for greener pasture. However, if they are able to afford all the resources to build a local welding shop, she would decide to stay and live with her family.

Minerva completed the training on 26 October 2015 together with her fellow trainees. She is now preparing for the Competency Assessment to get her National Certificate.

Minerva also wishes that the program will continue so more people can benefit from the program and Ligao can build a community of competent individuals capable of creating their own success. Lala Peñafiel \ albay3d.blogspot.com