The Mountain Maid Training Center in Baguio (northern Philippines) makes organic food known across the country. Established by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the facility offers training courses for dozens of students.

Manila (AsiaNews/ Agencies) - Jams, marmalades, preservative-free chicken and pork are some of the products made by the young students at the Mountain Maid Training Center in Baguio City, Mountain Province (northern Philippines), a school established by the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS).

Last Friday, the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recognised the school as a national training facility. The current group of 33 graduating students will received a National Certificate II, which should open the door to employment or help them become entrepreneurs on their own.

RGS Sisters have been involved in vocational training for a number of years, especially among Tribals. They have been involved in the centre, which offers a five-year programme. Courses range from how to grow veggies and harvest fruit trees to animal husbandry.

The students learn how to prepare complex delicacies using honey and marmalade as well as salted meats.

The next certification will be in August 2012 in Baking Breads and Pastries and Cookies.

For Baguio residents, the centre supervised by the nuns is one of the best makers of food since 1953 when they started making non-industrial, preservative-free food for local markets.

One of their specialities is a jam made with the purple yam, ube in Filipino, hence the name ube jam, which is famous in the whole country.

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