The Philippine Online Chronicles

In this challenging economy, students are choosing courses that will most likely reward them with stable and good paying jobs.  Students are becoming more practical by picking degrees that project good income which can sustain them in the future.  Job security has become an important criterion in selecting the ideal course to take up in college.

According to Global labor statistics and employment projections, there are certain careers that remain persistent through the years despite economic problems such as recession. Among the strong contenders are courses in education. There is always a need for more professors, teaching staff and guidance counselors.  Demand for healthcare courses remains steady.  Many students continue dreaming of becoming doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, therapists and nurses.

According to Inquirer online, medical and allied disciplines as well as hotel and restaurant management (HRM) are the most favored courses in the Philippines.  The following are other “in” courses that top the list of many students today.

Hotel Restaurant Management (HRM)

The influx of big hotels, both in the local scene and abroad has enticed many students to take up Hotel Restaurant Management (HRM).  Many colleges and universities in the country offer HRM courses such as College of St. Benilde, Centro Escolar University,  University of Sto. Tomas, Philippine Womens University and Asian School of Hospitality and Arts. HRM courses prepare students for careers in the service industry by integrating theory-based instruction and practical experience.

Culinary Arts

The rise of lifestyle shows that feature international chefs like Jamie Oliver, Mario Batali, and Anthony Bourdain has opened the eyes of many Filipinos to the exciting doors of opportunities that Culinary Arts can open for them.

More Filipinos are pursuing Culinary Arts because there is a rising global demand for chefs and cooks particularly in Australia, Macau, Maldives, Europe and Middle East.  There is also a bid for skilled chefs and cooks in cruise ships.

Filipinos are enticed by the high salaries. In fact, a chef in a cruise ship can earn $4200-$4600 a month based on an online cruise ship job listing.

According to Manila Bulletin online, the Philippines is becoming a reputable source of kitchen talents for foreign countries.  There is an increasing demand for chefs across the globe. England and Australia are hiring more chefs and cooks. The Middle East continues to bid for skilled kitchen staff.  There is also a persistent demand for kitchen personnel recruits in cruise ships.

Many new culinary centers have risen to meet the high demand to learn Culinary Arts. Many culinary schools offer short culinary courses such as commercial cooking.  There are culinary short courses that include entrepreneurial components to help students engage in small food enterprises.

Students who want to achieve more than becoming a good cook enroll in culinary schools that offer bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts.

In the Philippines, Cente for Culinary Arts, Manila (CCA) is the pioneer in culinary arts education. It started offering culinary courses in 1997. CCA Manila first offered their one- and two-year programs in Culinary Arts and Technology Management, to provide students with a solid foundation to become a chef. The center later added a Baking and Pastry Arts Diploma course and short courses. CCA began offering programs that catered to beginners and professional chefs. In its 15 years in the industry, CCA has produced a number of successful chefs. CCA is the considered the first culinary institution in the country accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation. For more details on short courses and diploma courses, you may contact CCA at 426-4840 to 41.

Another world-class training center is the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM). The center offers Diploma in Pastry and Bakery Arts and Kitchen Management with Australian Certificate III in Patisserie and Diploma in Culinary Arts and Kitchen Management with Australian Certificate III in Culinary Arts. ISCAHM also offers several short courses such as pastry arts, bread making, Asian cuisine and more. For more details on short courses and diploma courses, you may contact ISCAHM at 926-8888 / 920-1481.

Global Academy is another leading Culinary Arts school in the country that aims to help Filipinos realize their culinary dream.  Global Academy offers Professional courses (for aspiring chefs and pastry chefs); Epicurean Lab courses (the culinary science department); and Lifestyle courses (recreational and short courses for culinary hobbyists). For more details on short courses and diploma courses, you may contact Global Academy at 638-5949.

Enderun is another top choice by culinary enthusiasts. Enderun goes beyond culinary education by offering four-year hospitality degree which allows students to learn both culinary arts and hospitality management. For more details on courses, you may contact Enderun at 856-5000.

Design and Arts

In today’s digital age, many students have learned to embrace the benefits of technology in terms of their career. Today’s modern world is also the age of design. The growing influence of technology is evident in the rise of courses in multimedia, design and arts.  Many courses today integrate new technologies in their programs.

College of Saint Benilde offers SDA degree programs such as Bachelor of Arts in: Animation, Arts Management, Digital Filmmaking, Multimedia Arts, Music Production, Photography, Production Design, Technical Theater, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Performing Arts major in Dance, Industrial Design, Interior Design and Architecture. For more details, you may contact CSB at 536-6752.

Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI) is a training center for digital imaging and painting, illustration and desktop publishing, web and interaction design, digital video production, 3D animation and more. For more details, you may contact PCCI at 759-3087.

Information Technology (IT)

In this day and age where computers are essential in everyday transactions, Information Technology (IT) has become an integral key in a company’s progress and development.  IT is the study of design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems. There is a constant demand for System Administrators, Database Administrators. Majority of leading colleges and universities in the country offer IT courses like University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center (UPITTC), De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila, FEU East Asia College, and iAcademy

[Information and Communications Technology Academy].

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