Today marks the anniversary of the Marawi Conflict.
For its special news feature, CNN Philippines News Anchor Ruth Cabal talked to Pilmico’s Bakery Technician Chef Wilburt Wong on his experience training wounded, differently-abled soldiers of the Philippine Army – some of whom fought in Marawi.
“Tumaas ang tingin ko ng husto sa mag sundalo natin … [Sa Noble Bakers program], doon ko nakita na kahit mayroon silang disabilities, maganda pa rin ang outlook nila sa buhay.” – Wilburt Wong, Pilmico Bakery Technician
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the timing of the CNN feature — on the Marawi siege anniversary — add context to the Noble Bakers program?
Publishing the feature on the anniversary of the Marawi conflict contextualizes the Noble Bakers program as part of the ongoing, long-term response to one of the most significant security events in recent Philippine history. The 2017 Marawi siege resulted in hundreds of casualties and thousands of wounded soldiers. By marking that anniversary with a story focused on wounded veterans rebuilding their lives through baking, CNN and Pilmico collectively drew public attention to what rehabilitation and dignity look like one year on.
What is the Noble Bakers program and who are its beneficiaries?
The Noble Bakers program is a joint initiative by Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz Government Relations, and Pilmico Foods Corporation that provided comprehensive bakery management training to wounded and differently-abled soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Some of these soldiers fought in the Marawi siege. The program was created to provide wounded veterans — whose service-related disabilities may limit their ability to return to active duty — with a viable vocational pathway and an income-generating business they could operate from within Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
Who is Chef Wilburt Wong and why was he featured by CNN Philippines?
Chef Wilburt Wong is Pilmico’s Bakery Technician — the instructor responsible for hands-on training delivery to the Noble Bakers. He was the subject of a special CNN Philippines news feature reported by anchor Ruth Cabal on the anniversary of the Marawi conflict. The feature highlighted Wong’s personal experience working with wounded soldiers and his observation that despite their disabilities, the soldiers maintained a remarkably positive outlook on life — a perspective he described as deeply elevating his regard for the Philippine military.
What was Chef Wong’s personal reflection on training the Noble Bakers?
Wong shared that training the Noble Bakers significantly deepened his respect for Filipino soldiers. He noted that what struck him most was that despite their physical disabilities — sustained in combat — the soldiers maintained a genuinely positive outlook on life. His reflection conveyed not just professional training delivery but a profoundly human encounter that changed his personal perspective on resilience and service.
Why was the CNN feature significant for the Noble Bakers program?
Media coverage from a credible news organization like CNN Philippines served to document and amplify the program’s human impact beyond its immediate institutional audience. Published on the first anniversary of the Marawi conflict, the feature connected the Noble Bakers story to the national conversation about the siege’s legacy and the obligations owed to the soldiers who fought there. This coverage brought the program’s humanitarian dimensions to a public audience that may not otherwise have encountered it.
