Mothers of Korean-Filipino children or “Kopinos” can now learn Korean language for free after an international civil society group opened six-month night classes in a university in Manila under a three-year Program.
Two classrooms were officially opened for this endeavor at the Universidad De Manila (UDM) through the Grand Korean Leisure Company Limited (GKL) Foundation and its Help Kopino Care Philippines Inc. (HKCPI), here, with Mayor Joseph Estrada as the guest of honor.
Each classroom is impressively equipped with 32 latest laptops to be used for the language classes that will also include modules on conducting tour guide sessions to develop the skills of the mothers for livelihood opportunities.
FREE ‘KOPINO’ EDUCATION — Retired former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (right) leads the blessing rites for the computer rooms of the ‘UDM-GKL Kopino Educational Center’ donated by the Grand Korean Leisure Company Limited of Korea (GKL) to the Universidad de Manila (UDM), yesterday. Also in photo are (from left) GKL President and CEO Byeong Soo Lim, Lions District 301-A1 Past Governor John Siy, DSWD Assistant Regional Director Jacel Paguio, UDM President Benjamin Tayabas, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, former Supreme Court Justice Manuel Pamaran, Dr. Primitivo D. Chua of the UDM Board of Regents, Manila 5th District Barangay Chairman Francis Villegas, and Rev. Fr. Dave Clay also of the UDM Board of Regents. Estrada said the computers will be used by UDM students at day time and then classes will be offered at the center for the free education of children known as ‘Kopinos’ and their Filipino mothers abandoned by their Korean fathers. (Linus G. Escandor, II)
Dr. Primitivo Chua, a member of the UDM Board of Regents and HKCPI president, believes the program would rectify the wrongs of the Korean fathers who fail to support their children in the Philippines. He said the program could somehow quell the despair of the mothers who are missing out on the financial provision of their previous Korean partners.
“This school is for free…Our donors are Koreans. Those who committed the mistakes are also Koreans so they (donors) are trying to help,” Chua said adding that the tour guiding skills component of the program would enhance the skills of the mothers because it gives them an advantage over other tour guides who do not speak Korean.
At present 10 Kopino mothers have enrolled in the program and will make up the first batch of the trainees, but with yesterday’s official launch, Chua expects more from the 4,000 estimated Kopinos in the country to avail themselves of the program.
“We had a little difficulty in finding Kopino mothers for the program because of past experiences with their Kopino groups. But we are hoping we could get more enrollees as the program goes on,” Arzi Marie Atienza, HKCPI program development officer revealed.
Atienza said at the end of six months, the brightest graduates of the certificate course will receive assistance from the HKCPI on acquiring their license to conduct tour guide sessions.
In the duration of the course, HKCPI will provide the school supplies and transportation allowances of the Kopino mothers.
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