Ambassador in Paradise Boracay invites the Boracay community to employ an Ati in order to give them a proper job and a chance to sustain themselves through The Ati Project.
The Ati Project allows Boracay’s original settlers to live independently and finally start to integrate themselves into the community of Boracay, as we know it.
Currently, Ambassador in Paradise Resort has 13 Ati working full-time and one (1) part-time. This project was instigated by an Ati, named Robert whom Resort Manager Ryan Alba hired intermittently in mid 2023 to clean their coconut trees at the beachfront.
Recognizing the need to hire Bell Attendants, Mr. Alba sought possible candidates among the Ati Community. As a result, two Atis, Gibbs and Vincent stepped into this beachfront resort in June 2023 to apply for the position and received training as Bell Attendants.
This year, more people from the Ati community began coming to Ambassador in Paradise Boracay to grab the opportunity that awaited them. An Ati, named Boni followed suit in April 2024 for Housekeeping, and in July 2024, Marlon applied as a Beach Butler.
In August 2024, on launching their new food garden project in the island’s northern town, called Hagdan, Ambassador in Paradise Boracay began training five Ati women. These women were assigned in the garden kitchen to produce jams, coconut milk, coconut oil, chili oils, chili garlic, and coconut vinegar. With the garden as their natural habitat, they have turned out to be the ideal caretakers for the vegetable garden.
A month later, three more Ati women came to the Ambassador in Paradise Boracay to apply for a job. The arrival of these women was unexpected by the staff of the resort, nevertheless this validated the fulfillment of the Ati Project’s vision.
Thus, on Oct 3, 2024, a 12-year old Ati, named Langlang began working part-time at the Reception during her days off at school. Soon after, more Ati women came to the resort and are now undergoing training in Housekeeping and Laundry for one month, from Oct 23rd till November 23rd.
Given the increased arrival of Ati job applicants into Ambassador in Paradise Boracay, this signaled the potential arrival of more Ati people into the resort and the need to expand the Ati Project’s network by involving Boracay stakeholders to provide more job opportunities for the Ati community.
In this regard, Ambassador in Paradise Boracay has come up with productive options where stakeholders can participate in support of the Ati Project. These are the following:
Option 1
Since Ambassador in Paradise Boracay have trained Ati women to make food products, such as fruit jams, coconut milk, coconut oil, chili oil and chili garlic, these women stand to be capable of producing them anywhere.
Therefore, stakeholders may hire two (2) Ati women to produce these products at their kitchen, or these Atis could produce the products at Ambassador in Paradise Boracay’s kitchen for the stakeholders.
While these food products make for great merchandise items, as well as ingredients in restaurants, stakeholders will simply have to pay the Ati women a Daily Minimum Wage rate of PHP 480 plus one (1) meal per person on days of their productivity.
Option 2
Ambassador in Paradise Boracay will train the Atis to produce whatever product the host stakeholder may require. The resort will train them at their premises, while the stakeholder pays the Atis Daily Minimum Wage on days of their productivity.
Option 3
Stakeholders may hire two (2) Ati people to work at the garden or start a vegetable garden, with supervision from Ambassador in Paradise Boracay’s Gardener in exchange of their Daily Minimum Wage on days of their productivity.
Option 4
Stakeholders may train the Atis on other skills that could further aid them in expanding their job opportunities, with the assistance of the Ambassador in Paradise Boracay, if needed.
Out of these options, a handful of stakeholders have already participated in the Ati Project and actively extended their support for the Ati Community, including Footzeez Boracay on giving Atis Skills Trainings from 1pm to 4pm for Nails and Massage; Mama’s Fish House and Mama Mia on hiring Kitchen Help and Waitress for their restaurant; plus,l a couple of private residents, who have hired them to work on their garden and are giving them Self Development Training.
The Ati Project is truly a groundbreaking opportunity for Boracay’s original settlers. This aims to not only provide them with income to sustain their lives and a steady job that they could grow in, but this also allows them to evolve and progress physically, mentally and emotionally, making them resilient and efficient in these fast-changing times.
Be part of the Ati Project in Boracay, contact Ambassador in Paradise Boracay on Station 1, White Beach at +63 946 987 4104, email them at info@ambassadorinparadise.com or visit their website, ambassadorinparadise.com.
