Science Fueled Livelihood: Baking a Better Future at the Sisters of St. Dorothy Paula Frassinetti Community

Delicious and delightful creations will soon be coming out of the kitchen of the Sisters of St. Dorothy Paula Frassinetti Community, thanks to a substantive training program on bread and pastry baking. Held from March 7-9, 2025, the initiative was spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology – National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) PAMAMAZON CASTO in collaboration with the Technological University of the Philippines-Manila. The training took place at the community’s location at number 17 Philand Drive, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City.   

Twenty people joined the training, which covered essential baking techniques, product costing, and food safety practices and equipped the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their livelihood. The women of the community have long been engaging in baking as a means of economic empowerment, and this initiative further strengthened their capacity to generate income and sustain their bakery’s operations.   

Resource persons from TUP Manila, Prof. Jennifer P. Soneja, Prof. Jhomalyn A. Martelino, and Prof. Jenina D. Manabat, shared their expertise to ensure that the participants gained valuable insights and hands-on experience from the three-day event.  

Prof. Soneja delved on the basics and different types of packaging and labeling. Prof. Manabat guided the participants on a detailed discussion of the ingredients and process in making salt bread or pandesal emphasizing the importance of proper ingredient measurement, dough kneading, and proofing to achieve a soft and fluffy bread. Prof. Soneja further discussed the importance of packaging and labeling for bread products to increase its marketability.   

To complement the hands-on training, DOST-NCR provided baking equipment under its Regional Grants-in-Aid Project (RGIA). This intervention seeks to improve the efficiency and quality of the community bakery, ensuring that its members have the necessary resources to boost productivity and expand their business potential.   

Through science-driven interventions like these, DOST-NCR continues to pave the way for sustainable livelihood opportunities, empowering community-based organizations with the knowledge and technology to build better communities.  

By: Noel G. Calcetas, SCCU