Empowering Lives in Rural Communites: The Success Story of Da Vinci Massage Therapist Center.

Turismo Rural Foundation (TRF) is a non-profit organization that helps develop sustainable community-based tourism and livelihood programs in rural towns. Last February, 2010, it sponsored skills training to the residents of Oslob and Santander in southern Cebu. The participants were educated on massage and haircut techniques, including basic knowledge on starting a business with their newly acquired capabilities. The training produced 13 graduates.


Inspired by the Foundation’s lecturer and with a desire to succeed, five women graduates together formed a massage service enterprise. With an initial capital of P2,000 each, Da Vinci Massage Therapist Center was established at Lower Lilo-an, Santander, Cebu. “Equipped with our knowledge in training and our new found friendship, we decided to put up our own business,” shared Orlene Lou Bureros-Castigador, one of the founding women. “When turning a passion into a business, one must believe in their product or service,” she added.

POWER OF FIVE. The five dynamic ladies behind the successful Da Vinci Massage Therapist Center.

Business was initially brisk from regular walk-in clients. Soon, they widened their market by tapping partnerships with nearby resorts and offering therapeutic home services. To augment the increased demand for their services, they added two new members. 


Their hard work and determination produced a positive outcome in such a short period. In spite of their success, the partners opt to stay grounded. They make it a point to provide 10% of their income for church donations. It is their way of showing appreciation for the blessings received and give back to their local community.


The women behind Da Vinci are a living proof that TRF’s initiatives can make a difference in uplifting lives and help in the economic development of rural Cebu.


This year, Turismo Rural Foundation, in continuing partnership with PUM Netherlands Senior Experts and Bluewater Resorts, will again conduct free skills training on cosmetology, particularly manicure, pedicure and hair cutting. Everyone with the passion to learn is welcome to join the sessions. Training will be held in parts of Cebu and Bohol for the entire month of June: Municipal Covered Court in Poblacion, Oslob (June 4-8); Summit Design Furniture Manufacturing Inc. in Mactan (June 10-14); Municipal Hall of Sogod (June 16-20) and Panglao, Bohol (June 22-26). Limited seats are available. Register early. For inquiries, call Erica Caramol or Kat Biol at (032) 492 0100.


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About Turismo Rural Foundation and Bluewater Resorts


Turismo Rural Foundation (TRF), a non-profit organization spearheaded by tourism industry player Almont Holdings, Inc., the umbrella organization of Bluewater Resorts: Bluewater Maribago (Mactan, Cebu), Bluewater Sumilon Island (Cebu) and Bluewater Panglao (Bohol) and Almont City Hotel (Butuan), Almont Inland Hotel (Butuan), AlmontLake (Kitcharao), and Almont Beach Resort (Surigao). Its objectives are tourism training for all the key stakeholders in the community, education and employment, historical site preservation through synergies, mainstream promotion of partnered towns and communities and entrepreneurship through tourism.


About PUM


PUM Netherlands Senior Experts has over thirty years of experience in advising businesses in developing countries and emerging markets. PUM consults in almost every area imaginable: From logistics to welding techniques, and from the hotel & catering trade to carpentry. 
These experts use the extensive knowledge and experience that they have accumulated during the course of their careers to advise entrepreneurs in some seventy nations throughout the world. The main strength of this approach is that the experts offer one-to-one advice.


Press Contacts
Erica Caramol or Kat Biol
032 492 0100 loc. 520 and 512
amumaspa@bluewater.com.ph web: www.bluewater.com.ph