Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Fourteen aspiring chefs from the Hospitality Management Department of the College of Human Ecology won several awards in the recently concluded KUMBIRA 2022 held at The Atrium, Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, on October 16 &17.
A total of ten awards were garnered by the participants, who were mostly first-timers in the competition. The students competed with other students and even professionals; hence it was an open competition.
Chef Master Silver medalist Dino Dengayan highlighted how it was a fantastic experience to compete against other students and chefs from all across Mindanao.
“I had amazing chefs as both my competitors and judges, and I learned so much from them that it motivated me to work harder and return the next year with improved skills and output,” Dengayan said in an online interview.
The two-day competition included KUMBIRA Masters and MASTER CLASSES, where competitors competed in elimination rounds for culinary, cake, bar, and barista. In the MASTER Classes, the organizers have partnered with renowned chefs and culinary masters to lead the lectures and demonstration series on culinary arts.
Margaux Albright Baja, who won the bronze medal in the Cake Master competition, spoke candidly about her experience in an online interview. She remarked that she had picked up a lot of fresh concepts from the chefs, including brand-new recipes and ingredient combinations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Allan E. Salonga, one of the faculty coaches, asserted that this year’s competition symbolizes the hospitality and tourism sectors’ revival from the pandemic. He shared that the coaches see this event as full exposure for their students; hence organizers decided to make all of the competitions open.
“We are really proud of the BSHM students for continuing to inspire optimism and pride in our beloved CMU despite the difficulties our industry and education [are facing] in general,” he added.
Furthermore, Faculty Coach and Hospitality Management Chairperson Ms. Gista Fel B. Barong believed that the experience was highly beneficial to all of their students. She professed that this competition was an excellent way for their hospitality management students to grow and expand their talents to achieve more while learning from one another and their competitors.
This year’s KUMBIRA was dubbed “TUBONG MINDANAW,” it promoted ingredients indigenous to this part of the Philippines, as well as Mindanao’s regional cuisine and products, specifically in Regions IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and BARMM.
Eight open categories were available for the tournament, in which 104 participants—professionals and students—participated. The following are the competition events and the list of the winners, participants, and coaches from the university. [Iyren Dalipe-Neri]
KUMBIRA Cake Master – Silver & Bronze
Silver: Edzil Glyjohnprylle Discaya
Bronze: Margaux Albright P. Baja
KUMBIRA Chef Master – Silver & Bronze
Silver: Dino I. Dengayan
Bronze: Rosalino T. Rosell Jr.
KUMBIRA Brew Master – Top 4 & 5 Finalists
Top 4: Albegil P. Vinzon
Top 5: John Paul M. Estañero
KUMBIRA Bar Master – Diploma
Diploma: Ivan Kit O. Terec
Basket Floral Buffet Centerpiece – Bronze
Zaramel R. Monsanto
Ramil Y. Cabaron
Plated Dessert – Bronze
Allien Kurt G. Martinez
Sheila Mae A. Naluan
Bread Showpiece – Diploma
Jayson Aringay
Francis Allen P. Colinares
Flairtending
Yanni Van Arted G. Agawin
𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒: Ms. Gista Fel Barong, Dr. Rubie Andoy Arroyo, Mr. Lance Salonga, Ms. Eula Non, Ms. Dafnie Dal Limocon, Mr. John Cesar Antique, Ms. Audrey Vivien Rinon, Ms. Sheena Rubin, Mr. Arman Valero, and student coach, Mr. Enzo Louis Torres
Photos from the College of Human Ecology
