Pinoy farmer finalist in International Cocoa Awards

Filipino farmer makes it to the finals of 2019 International Cocoa Awards


Antonio Colina
Manila Bulletin
18 August 2019


DAVAO CITY – Jose Saguban, a farmer from Kialaw, Malabog in Paquibato District, Davao City, will compete with 49 other farmers from all over the world for the prestigious 2019 International Cocoa Awards (ICA) during the Salon Du Chocolat in Paris, France on October 30 after his beans were selected as one of the top 50 cocoa beans out of the 223 samples from 55 countries.



Saguban’s entry was the only one to make the cut out of the five bean samples from the Philippines. The farmer supplies beans to Auro Chocolate, maker of fine dark chocolates.

Auro Chocolate said it has been helping Saguban and other members of the Paquibato Tree Developers Cooperative with new farm techniques to achieve better quality, mentoring them on the fermentation protocols. The company prepared and sponsored Saguban to join the competition.

“We’d like to thank all of our farming partners for working tirelessly to improve the quality, and not just put the Philippines on the map for cacao beans but for showing the world that we can make gold,” the company said.

Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI) executive director Valente Turtur said five samples — two from Compostela Valley, two from Calinan District, and one from Paquibato District — were sent to Paris at six kilos per entry last February.

All the bean samples were subjected to physical quality and sensory evaluation from February until June, and flavor sensory evaluation of coca liquor by the Cocoa of Excellence (CoEx) technical committee from July to August.

The entries from the Philippines were all winners of the Philippine National Cacao Industry Council’s National Cacao Award System, which was established to select the best cacao beans that will represent the country in the international competition, Turtur said.

According to CoEx, the ICA, a global competition recognizing the work of cocoa farmers and celebrating the diversity of cocoa flavors, and spearheaded by Bioversity International and Event International, recognizes “quality, flavor, and diversity of cocoas according to their origin.”

The best 50 samples, which will be processed into chocolate, will undergo another stage of flavor sensory evaluation by the CoEx technical committee and a broader panel of professionals. Out of 50 finalists, the CoEx will select 15 to 20 winners.

The winners, including the finalists, will be showcased at the Salon Du Chocolat, which will gather 500 participants from 60 countries, including over 200 renowned chefs and pastry chefs.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country’s cocoa beans production level reached only 7,983 MT in 2018, 81% of which came from the Davao region.

From 2008 to 2018, the production only grew by 2,834 MT or 55.04% of the Philippines’ cacao production which is insignificant compared to one million MT a year from Ivory Coast, 800,000 MT from Ghana, and 400,000 MT from Indonesia, Turtur said.

PH Hoffer Book awardee

Filipino cookbook emerges first runner-up in 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards


Roy Mabasa
Manila Bulletin
07 June 2019


Following its successful worldwide release last year, “The New Filipino Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Around the Globe,” a cookbook edited by Filipino author Jacqueline Chio-Lauri bagged the first runner-up under the Home Category of the highly-prestigious 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.

The New Filipino Kitchen is a collection of well-loved Filipino recipes from the Filipino diaspora community around the world. (PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN LONDO VIA DFA / MANILA BULLETIN)

United Kingdom-based Chio-Lauri said the recognition spoke volumes, and was an “affirmation of the rich pool of talent” in the Filipino diaspora.

“To stand out in a crowd of hundreds of thousands of books published is an incredible feat. It’s proof that if we work together—the book is a labour of love by many migrant Filipinos from around the globe—we make a bigger impact.

Each award or achievement the book garners is great light shining on Filipino food and the Filipino people,” she added.

The book is a celebration of Filipino cuisine and culture, with more than 30 personal stories and recipes from chefs, home cooks, and writers from the Filipino diaspora.

Since its release last September, the book has gained positive reviews from renown personalities such as Emmy-nominated director and executive producer of ‘Chef’s Table” Brian McGinn who described it as “an engrossing, page-turner of a cookbook.”

Among those who contributed their pieces in the book include White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, Bocuse d’Or Europe 2018 winner Christian Andre Pettersend, MasterChef New Zealand 2015 runner-up Leo Fernandez, five-time Palanca Award winner and poet Francis Macansantos, and the acclaimed Food Buddha, Rodelio Aglibot.

With nearly a decade’s experience in the food industry, Chio-Lauri’s writings have appeared in various anthologies and compilations such as “Tales of Our Lives: Fork in the Road”.

Her first book, “The New Filipino Kitchen”, won the Sunshot Prose 2018 Finalist Prize even before it was published.

Philippine Ambassador to London Antonio Lagdameo said the book’s recognition was a testament of how Filipinos around the world have done their part in elevating cooking into an art form and a powerful medium for telling the story of a diverse nation.

“The book underscores the important contributions Philippine cuisine has made in the rich culinary tradition of the world,” he said.

Founded at the start of the 21stcentury, the Eric Hoffer Award honors freethinking writers and independent books of exceptional merit, especially books that are from small, academic, and micro presses, including self-published offerings.

PH wins Goldin Robotics

Philippines wins gold medal at European robotics contest

By Dhel Nazario| Manila Bulletin

06 June 2019

A bright future awaits the field of Philippine robotics.

Last month, the Philippine Robotics National Team won the gold medal at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Lego League (FLL) European Open International Turkey 2019 in Izmir, Turkey.

(PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-SCIENCE EDUCATION INSTITUTE / MANILA BULLETIN)

The team was fresh from a double victory at the FLL World Championship held in USA last April.

The national delegation, represented by Kid Imagineers from Dr. Yanga’s College, Inc., came home victorious after winning a Gold Award for Project Presentation and finalist on Project Research. Eighty-two teams from 41 countries and over 600 students (ages 11-17 years old) participated in the competition.

The theme, “Into Orbit”, challenged students to find solutions to physical and social problems associated with long-duration space flight.

The team won for Project Mu.S.C.A., an innovative, effective, and systemized way of helping astronauts solve musculoskeletal problems they face during their stay in orbit. The suit gives a solution to various physical problems such as bone loss and loss of muscle mass in microgravity environment of space.

Project Mu.S.C.A is a self-adjusting suit that can monitor the astronauts’ pulse rate, exercise their legs and arms, help them maintain proper posture in space, massage their arms and legs, help attain the right temperature for their body and protect astronauts from radiation.

The Kid Imagineers from Dr. Yanga’s College, Inc. is composed of team members Gwyneth Sabusap, Aaron James Amar, Andrea Luz Guevarra, Daniella De Guzman, Annette Nicole Ambi, Nicole Flores, Shervie Dela Cruz, Gabriel Ortega, Michael Ronnie Estrella, Renz Daren Flaviano, Assistant Coach RV Mendoza, and Coach Romyr Gimeno.

Mylene Abiva, FELTA Multi-Media, Inc. president/CEO, led the delegation and was selected as one of the judges during the event. Among the 41 judges, she was the only judge to represent Southeast Asia.

“Human space exploration helps address fundamental questions about our place in the universe. Space exploration drives us to explore the unknown, discover new worlds and push the boundaries of our scientific limits. Hopefully, with the victory of the Philippine Robotics National Team, the Philippine government will initiate a Space Education Program for the Filipino Youth,” Abiva said.

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), through its director, Dr. Josette Biyo, congratulated the team and thanked the national organizers for their efforts in helping young Filipinos’ maximize their potential in robotics.

“The Philippine Robotics National Team made the country proud and opened doors for future robotics experts. Robotics will play a crucial role in the country’s transition to Industrial Revolution 4.0. These victories will help us gain traction to push for more youth science programs that would prepare the youth for jobs of the future,” Dr. Biyo said.

PH senate honored Pinoy scientists

Pinoy scientists hailed for work in medicine, astronomy, other fields

ABS-CBN News

 May 23 2019

MANILA—The Senate applauded a Filipina doctor and 8 scientists for "bringing pride and prestige to the country."

Under Senate resolutions 882 and 923 adopted Wednesday, the upper chamber honored Dr. Gay Jane Perez for winning first place at the 2018 Asian-US Science Prize for Women and 8 Filipinos who were among the Asian Scientist 100 (AS100).

Perez, who was up against 7 other scientists from Southeast Asia, was honored for her work using satellite date to forecast drought, which could help farmers identify ideal planting areas and seasons to improve their yield.

The 8 scientists recognized were: Lucille Abad, Philip Alviola, Nathaniel Hermosa II, Mario Antonio Jiz II, Lanndon Ocampo, Jeffrey Perez, Rogel Mari Sese and Aletta Conception Yñiguez.

Abad was credited for working on irradiated carrageenan as food supplement for plants. A carrageenan is a substance extracted from a specific type of seaweeds.

Alviola was recognized for his study on wildlife, while Hermosa was honored for his research on light and light-matter interaction.

Jiz did a research on a disease caused by a type of parasitic flatworm and developing a vaccine, Ocampo made contributions in manufacturing sustainability, while Perez was credited for studies on fault lines and earthquakes.

Sese was recognized for his contributions in astrophysics and his space-research advocacy, while Yniguez for her work in marine biology and fisheries.

“To be recognized as an honoree of AS100, one must have received a national or international prize in 2017 for scientific research or leadership,” said outgoing Sen. Bam Aquino, who authored the resolutions.

Best Asian Bars in PH

Three bars from the Philippines were just declared among the 50 best bars in Asia

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 has just been announced: a Hong Kong bar tops the list while the Philippines has its best showing yet. 

Cyrene dela Rosa
10 May 2019

It was a super proud moment for me tonight at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore when the 2019 list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars was announced. The new entries included two bars from the Philippines, for a total of three Philippine bars making it on the list this year—the Philippines’ best performance so far, topping the two bars (The Curator Coffee & Cocktails and ABV) listed on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars inaugural year in 2016.

From left: Jericson Co and David Ong receive the Best Bar in the Philippines award for The Curator; House Blended Amaro, Bulleit Bourbon. Photograph from @thecurator_ on Instagram

Four-time list veteran The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, located in Legazpi Village in Makati, ranked No. 37 this year (down from No. 25 in 2018), retaining its title of Best Bar in the Philippines for the third consecutive year. OTO, a two-year-old bar located in the hip and bustling Poblacion district of Makati came in at No. 47.

Shangri-La at the Fort’s speakeasy The Back Room debuted at No. 50, an impressive feat for a bar that is less than a year old, having opened only last September 2018. Head bartender Aldrin Ivan “Poch” Ancheta was at the awards and shared his thoughts: “Overwhelming honestly. I still couldn’t believe it personally. We really weren’t expecting it immediately. It’s one of our goals but not within less than a year of opening,” He adds, “I have a very young team. Being included in the list now means we really have to work harder moving forward.”

This new kid on the block just opened last year but is already showing its potential for greatness, thanks to its curated list of well-made, signature cocktails executed by a very competent bar team led by Shangri-La The Fort’s Head Barkeeper Ulysse Jouanneaud and bartender Poch Ancheta.​ Photograph courtesy of The Backroom

Also present at the awards, The Curator co-owner Jericson Co had this to say about having two other bars join The Curator this time around: “So proud! They both have connections to The Curator with David (Ong), of course, being a part-owner of both OTO and The Curator, and with Poch of The Back Room originally working at The Curator. So of course, (we have) a pseudo grandfather role and I’m super happy about that. It makes life easier if there’s a colocation among us and that everyone has their voice being showcased. So we hope this continues.”

The No. 1 spot went to The Old Man in Hong Kong (No. 5 last year). Conceptualized by Agung Prabowo, James Tamang, and Roman Ghale, this elegant bar is an homage to Ernest Hemingway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1952 novel of the same name. They have created cocktails inspired by Hemingway’s favorite concoctions, including a butter-fat-washed gin and a beeswax-infused bourbon.

Last year’s No. 1 bar, Manhattan in Singapore came in at No. 2, and was bestowed the Legend of the List Award, sponsored by Michter’s, honoring this landmark bar that has most consistently proven its excellence over the history of the list.

Manhattan’s Filipino assistant manager, Gab Carlos. Photograph from @manhattan_sg on Instagram

Bar Trigona in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is this year’s winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award which spotlights the bar on the list with the highest sustainability rating, as determined by audit partner The Sustainable Restaurant Association. Pussyfoot Saloon in Seoul, Korea is the recipient of the Campari One To Watch award which recognizes a bar that is not on the list, but considered a rising star in the region.

The Asia’s 50 Best Bars list was introduced in 2016 as an extension of The World’s 50 Best Bars which was launched in 2009. The annual list is created from the votes of more than 200 industry experts across Asia. Now on its fourth year, this year’s edition kicks off a new three-year partnership between William Reed Business Media, which organizes the 50 Best awards, and the Singapore Tourism Board. This partnership will also see The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards making its Asian debut in Singapore later this year, to be followed by The World’s 50 Best Bars awards in 2021. This makes Singapore the first city, apart from its original home of London, to be confirmed as host of both World’s 50 Best awards.

After tonight’s awarding, the Asia’s 50 Best Bars festivities continue with #50BestTalks, a thought-leadership and discussion platform that brings together leading industry talent, bar owners, and media to encourage positive change in the drinks sector. The talk will feature an all-female line-up of panelists that will tackle key topics, trends, cocktails, and bar culture under the title “Female Spirit.”

Last but not least, the Singapore Cocktail Festival (SGCF) is happening from 10 to 18 May to showcase the region’s vibrant cocktail culture. Asia’s 50 Best Bars is working with SGCF to bring its celebration of the best bars and bartenders across the continent to the Festival Village on Empress Lawn from 10 to 12 May, including guest bartender shifts featuring some of our top Filipino bartenders. You can visit www.singaporecocktailfestival.com for the complete schedule of cocktail experiences.

Pinoy wins US engineering design contest

18-year-old Filipino student wins engineering design competition in US

GMA News

May 9, 2019

An 18-year old Filipino student led his team in bagging the grand prize in an engineering design competition in the United States with his air quality sensor, called Re-LAQS (Respiratory Local Air Quality Sensor).

Representing the Oxnard High School (OHS)-University of California Sta. Barbara, Carl Vincent Camilon Cuyos was hailed as over-all winner in the 2019 State Championship in Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement National Engineering Design Challenge (MESA-NEDC).

The competition was held at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on Sunday.

Other nine competitors were students from UCLA, San Jose State University, California State East Bay, California State University Fresno, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Davis, San Diego State University, and Imperial Valley College.

Cuyos was behind the design of the winning entry of his team, while teammates Sara Centeno was on research,  Jenna Huynh on business, David Pulido worked as programmer and teacher Nicholas Peterson as their adviser.

Re-LAQS is sensor built to bring information and awareness to the public, who are vulnerable to air quality changes, such as potential harmful gases, in times of crisis such as in wildfires.

During the blaze of California wildfire in 2018, citizens received conflicting and inaccurate data which aggravated their condition, especially those with upper respiratory tract infection like asthma.

“Hence, the Re-LAQs innovation, aimed to protect 91 percent of the globe’s population, who live in polluted areas identified by the World Health Organization. To reduce air pollution threat and health cost, people can use RE-LAQs, to measure air quality and take appropriate action,” said Cuyos whose grandparents originated from Mauban and Perez, Quezon.

Cuyos said the gas sensor is run by a nine voltage rechargeable battery, flashing LED alert and app compatible with Bluetooth, so it can be used both indoor and outdoor.

Due to this win, their team is set to participate in the National Championship at the University of Arizona in June 19 to 21. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA News

Pinoy flutist winner

Pinoy flutist bags awards in Denmark's Carl Nielsen

Sandra Sotelo Aboy, ABS-CBN News

Apr 09 2019 

A Filipino flutist bagged awards at the prestigious Carl Nielsen International Competition held in Odense, Denmark.

Rafael Adobas, 21, won third place in the flute division and best interpretation of a new piece.

"It has been like a roller-coaster mix of emotions. I had only 2 months of preparation after receiving the invitation from the committee. Every performance was a different scenario and with different repertoire - from baroque music, classical, romantic, and contemporary," he told ABS-CBN News.

"I had to learn to be flexible each day of every round. I had to acquire a general overview on everything, and yet be totally focused on every piece that I was playing. I had to be sure of what I wanted to express through my music on the moment of my performance."

Rafael, who was born in Ibiza, Spain, took his passion for music after his father.

His father Margarito, who hails from Southern Leyte, used to be a guitarist.

Music is life for the Adobas family. Rafael’s eldest sister Isabel plays the piano while his younger sisters Mary Grace and Mary Jane plays the violin and saxophone, respectively.

Rafael is currently studying fourth year of Music Performance-Flute at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich in Germany. 

Out of the almost 500 applications received by Carl Nielsen contest, only 66 young musicians were invited to perform.

In the first round, Rafael won the the best interpretation prize for his passionate delivery of the commissioned piece written for the competition by Austrian composer Thomas Larcher. He took home €2,000.

Rafael played "Life" in the second round, drawing inspiration from the works of Carl Nielsen. His piece is an expression of life from birth to maturity in the company of family, friends, and church.

In the semifinal round, Rafael, together with Odense Symphony Orchestra, played flute concerto in E minor by Franz Benda.

For the finale, Rafael was accompanied by the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra as he played 2 movements from Mozart concerto and Carl Nielsen flute concerto. He won 3rd place and €8,000 cash.

“I dedicate this victory, firstly to my family. They have always been supportive to me from the very first day I held an instrument. And to the church, the Filipino community and everybody who followed and watched me through livestream in this wonderful journey," he said.

"I am proud to be a Filipino."