President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the inauguration this morning of the four-storey "Sentro ng Karunungan" building in Tayuman, Tondo where free livelihood courses willl be offered to the indigent and unemployed youth of the City of Manila.

Wearing a short-sleeved red dress with black collar and a native red shells-and-balls necklace, the President cut the red-and-green ceremonial ribbon at the building lobby entrance before proceeding to unveil the blue marker of the concrete and green glass building.

The Chief Executive was flanked by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Manila 2^nd District Rep. Jaime Lopez, and former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez.

The President then climbed the stairs to the second floor whose west side was converted into an instant beauty parlor and jewelry shop to showcase the skills learned by enrollees, especially in hairdressing arts which were demonstrated on three girls with long hair who acted as demo clients.

Here, the President called the attention of the project proponent, Rep. Lopez, to get more youth to enroll in welding. "Kulang na kulang tayo sa mga welders," the President enthused, to which the Manila congressman promised to expand the coverage of the welding module.

The Sentro ng Karunungan cost P35 million, with P5 million coming from the President’s Social Fund (PSF), and the rest from the countryside development fund of Rep. Lopez.

Built by the North Manila Engineering District (NMED) of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the building has a floor area of 1,200 square meters. It will also house the Congressional District Library and the Lopez-TESDA Livelihood Training Institute.

Aside from "Cosmetology with Spa and Caregiving" and "Welding," the livelihood courses to be offered in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) include Cellular Phone Repair, Computer and Electronic Technician, Building Wiring, Automotive, Hotel and Restaurant Services, Reflexology and Massage Therapy, Food and Meat Processing, Baking and Fruit Preservation, Jewelry Making, Liquid Soap Processing, Perfume Making, and Culinary Arts.

While watching the hair-science demonstration together with the other guests, the President, noting the presence of Mayor Lim to her left, told the audience, thus: "Kilala si Mayor Lim sa peace and order…"

To this, the come-backing Mayor Lim quickly replied: "We will make sure the President will stay until 2010," earning instant peals of approving laughter from the President and the crowd.

Interviewed after the event, Mayor Lim reiterated his statement, pointing out that maintaining peace and order "especially in Malacaņang" is his duty as Manila mayor until 2010.