Focus

Posted on 08:22 PM, September 10, 2015

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Amid traffic, airport woes, will you ‘Visit the Philippines Again 2016?’

THERE will be 10 regular holidays and nine special non-working days in 2016, the Palace recently announced. Are you planning a Holy Week sojourn in Siquijor? Or would you rather stay in bed, read, and do a TV series marathon instead, because, alas, you’ve had enough of a travel “ adventure” already -- that is, the everyday traffic and exhausting LRT/MRT commute?

WILLING AMBASSADOR: Apl de Ap -- AFP

 It’s more fun in the Philippines that it deserves another visit, so said the Department of Tourism (DoT) and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). Recently they announced next year’s travel campaign, “Visit the Philippines Again 2016.” And the government is targeting 10 million tourist arrivals in 2016.

But the more important issue is whether tourists are prepared for traveling in the Philippines as we know this discomfort.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS
The Philippines is a country (an archipelago at that) that could have long ago developed the complementary infrastructure for its geographical diversity -- with the same scope and vision committed by our colonizers, of all people. Today, it is broadly acknowledged that travel conditions have worsened through the decades -- with the amenities of vacationing established in the travel destinations but not in the trip itself.

To travel from point A to point B, one needs to get up early so as not to miss a flight because, chances are, traffic is heavy on all roads leading to the airport.

“People would really love to come to the Philippines but they are unable to come to the country because of the issue of access,” TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III told reporters on the sidelines of a travel mart conference in February. But he also said these problems are “temporary setbacks” and expressed the hope that the Philippines would have the “best airport in the region” soon.

Because despite some recent improvements in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), this airport continues to make the news in terms of its now-faulty infrastructure and still ranks among the worst in the world -- the eighth worst airport last year, according to the Wall St Cheat Sheet.

But improvements continue to be made. Early this year, the airport had a makeover--refurbished with new air conditioners, lights, ceiling, and flooring. And in July, its Terminal 3 opened a new transit lounge.

Outside Metro Manila, infrastructure projects are underway, aimed at lessening traffic, connecting regions, and opening new travel routes.

The influx of tourists is another (good) problem. According to the DoT, the “Visit the Philippines Year 2015” campaign drew in 2.26 million foreign tourists in the first half of the year. Earnings from tourism activities in the first six months amounted to P111.05 billion, the department also said, while jobs generated reached 4.9 million.

Mr. Enerio said the remaining “ber” months, being traditionally the peak season, is expected to generate more tourist arrivals. The DoT is targeting 5.5 million tourist arrivals this year.

 Where are they going to stay? Mr. Enerio said there are 8,000 new hotel rooms in Metro Manila alone. There are also new hotels in Iloilo that are ready for accommodation. For backpack travelers, the DoT has accredited homestay options in 29 tourist areas like Boracay and Baguio.

MUSIC VIDEO
The Philippines indeed offers much more, beyond Metro Manila’s congestion problems -- which unfortunately is where all stops are inevitable. But, yes, there’s more to offer in this “tropical paradise,” as some international travel magazines would tag us.

Where are the best diving spots to see our fish and corals in their abundance? There’s the municipality of Donsol (called the whale shark capital of the world) in the Bicol province of Sorsogon, Sabang Beach in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, and Coron in Palawan (called the wreck diving capital thanks to a sunken Japanese ship), and Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, a UNESCO World Heritage site (which unfortunately was damaged by a US Navy Ship two years ago).

To gather more tourists, the DoT and TPB are tapping personalities from a wide range of sectors to promote the Philippines and “to speak about the wonderful destinations we have in the country.”

 “It’s more fun in the Philippines. It feels like you’re in a dream,” Filipino-American rapper Apl de Ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) sang in his “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” music video, as featured in the travel/trade event Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) on Sept. 2. That video may well be a followup to his 2009 song “Take Me to the Philippines,” also in partnership with the DoT.

“Apl de Ap is a willing ambassador. We’ll be seeing more of him in our tourism campaign. He wants to share to all the Filipinos who have been too long in the US [what the Philippines has to offer],” Mr. Enerio said

 Mr. Apl de Ap said he’s proud to be a Filipino and his tourism crusade includes encouraging foreigners and expats to visit the Philippines.

 While this year brought Pope Francis and One Direction to the Philippines, the lineup of events in 2016 will include, among others, Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 (this year’s convention was a sweet success) for foodies; Asian Tourism Forum and Routes Asia for businessmen; MTV Music Evolution and Malasimbo Music Festival for concertgoers and music lovers (plus, the Madonna will also come to Manila); and Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship for sports fans.

 Amid endless traffic tales and commuter woes, there is much beauty elsewhere in the Philippines even if that quality has vanished in the capital. Discover (or rediscover) the beauty of Palawan, Batanes, Marinduque or Dumaguete (the fourth best retirement place, according to Forbes magazine). Yes, the Philippines deserves another visit--again and again.

Arts & Leisure

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Posted on September 09, 2015 04:44:00 PM

Japan on your plate

Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

THERE SEEMS to be a tsunami (pun intended) of Japanese restaurants in Metro Manila. They range from ramen and soba joints to sushi and sashimi houses. Name it, it is here. But what makes the dishes appealing and appetizing to Filipinos?

  

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TENYA’s All-Star Tendon meal

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The culinary success of new Japanese restaurants in the city perhaps has its roots in two things. They offer unlimited servings of something -- rice, shredded cabbage, tea, or side dishes like pickled cucumber -- and boy do we love our unli (unlimited offers). Then, of course, the flavors hit home. Filipinos love anything deep-fried, golden, and crispy, which makes tempura a sure hit.

There are some things, though, that are not yet that familiar. 

Have you tried a serving of a crispy tempura paired with a bottle of Yakult or a teddy bear-shaped Japanese cake with ice cream? Perhaps not yet. 

Minus the airline ticket, these flavors of Japan are brought to your bowls at Tenya, a newly openedtempura and tendon restaurant at Market! Market! at Bonifacio Global City. 

Originally from Asakusa, Tokyo, its founder Yoshio Iwashita started Tenya in 1989 in a Yaesu underground mall at Tokyo station. Tenya comes from the root words “ten” (tendonand tempura) and “ya,” which means house or restaurant in Japanese. 

As its name implies, the restaurant champions its tempura (deep-fried seafood and vegetables) and tendon (a tempura served on donburi or rice bowl) that range from salmon and squid to shimeji (mushroom) tofu and beans.

FROM ASAKUSA TO MANILAAsakusa, though not the birthplace of tempura, is one of the homes of the best tempuramasters in Japan. It is unsurprising then that Tenya’s roots are from Asakusa. From a small eatery in an underground mall, the restaurant has grown to at least 15 branches across Tokyo alone. In the Philippines, it has three branches and still growing. According to general manager Iggy Ramos, two tempura masters traveled to Manila to teach the staff on how to make oishi (delicious) servings of tendon and tempura.

In a sea of Japanese restaurants in Metro Manila that offer almost the same menu, founder Mr. Iwashita said on its Web site that Tenya isn’t just another cookie cuttertempura house. “Quality is never an accident,” he said. Since 1989, Tenya’s manner of making tempura has not changed. It has maintained its quality and only upgrades its menu. It currently uses 350 ingredients to make 31 tempura and tendon items 

Tenya’s tempuras are light, crunchy, and juicy -- the way they should be. Mr. Ramos spilled the secret. Tenya’s kitchen has an auto fryer especially developed for the restaurant alone.

PRETTY AS A PICTUREEvery plate is a work of art in Japan. Tenya is no exception. The meals are pretty and look so appetizing they’d surely be wiped out faster than anyone could say “itadakimasu!” (Let’s eat!). 

The dishes served at the media launch on Sept. 3 were examples of the exquisite art of plating. Everything was Instagram worthy. The kiddie meal, for instance, features miniature versions of golden shrimp and salmon tempura and potato fries paired with a cup of rice bound by nori (seaweed) served on a cutesy toy car turned plate. It comes with a bottle of Yakult and a pair of teddy bear utensils. 

More than looking pretty, they pack a punch in terms of flavors.

For a grownup dish, the all-star tendon, one of the best-sellers, features a big and beautiful serving of crispy, crackling salmon, black tiger prawn, squid, kani stick, green beans, and mushroom tempura, on a bed of two cups of rice. 

The cameras love the desserts, too. They are as picture perfect as their taste. Tenya popularized the ningyo-yaki (molded Japanese cake) ice cream served with popcorn, vanilla ice cream, and a choice of Nutella or dulce de leche syrup. 

But if a sweet serving of ice cream is not your thing, there are juice popsicles which come in coconut lychee, lime, orange vanilla, and strawberry flavors. 

End (or start) your culinary trip to Japan with a kampai (cheers). Have a bottle or two ofsake, soda, beer, or Yakult and let your dining experience transport you to Asakusa. 

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Negros Oriental as water capital

HOME to 79 natural lakes and 451 rivers, and being an archipelago, thus surrounded by water, the Philippines faces a perennial water shortage.

  

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THE KABALIN-AN LAKE in Sibulan, Negros Oriental looks picture perfect thanks to its crystal clear water and tranquil ambiance. -- NICKKY FAUSTINE P. DE GUZMAN

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This is as much a public concern in the National Capital Region as it is down south, going by the Sun.Star’s report of a water shortage in portions of Cebu City and Talisay City last April. As if to affirm this situation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has recommended the relocation of 500 households near a watershed to give way to a new dam, to prevent an anticipated water shortage in Metro Cebu by 2020.

This problem is being tackled in Cebu and elsewhere in the Visayas. “Water is important yet we look at it like there’s no problem. There is more to it than the water that comes from the faucet. Basta may connection ka okay na [as long as there is water connection, you think it’s already okay], but a lot is going on with water and that is the challenge with management,” University of the Philippines-Los Baños chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz said during a media visit in Negros Oriental, upon the invitation of advocacy group Water Excellence Philippines (WEP). The invited journalists were acquainted with best practices in water management and conservation.

“There are more than 30 agencies engaged in water management, and yet what do we see? Why is there [a] crisis in Cebu or [in] Manila? It’s in the balancing act that we are not yet good [at],” the US-trained Mr. Cruz, who holds a doctorate in watershed management, also said.

The invited journalists were acquainted with best practices in water management and conservation.

“Water is the most critical yet the most under-advocated resource that we have. It encompasses everything -- food, agribusiness, health and sanitation, tourism, trade, education. We cannot do away with water yet no one is talking about it,” WEP director Amor Maclang, for her part, said.

ACCESS TO POTABLE WATERNegros Oriental, with its track record of water-resource management, is poised to become the country’s “water capital” as recommended by the WEP. Negros Oriental Gov. Roel R. Degamo had issued Executive Order No. 15-11 as a commitment to transform the province into a water capital. 

According to Mr. Cruz, the group had also considered Davao City and Cebu province in determining the location that would serve as the country’s water capital.

“Negros Oriental, it seems, has the highest per capita in terms of environmentalists,” Ms. Maclang, for her part, said. So the choice was obvious. The province has access to potable water and is home to 25 rivers and watersheds, 47 streams, and a number of waterfalls.

The Negros Oriental website noted the high access to potable water in the capital city of Dumaguete and five other municipalities. Water in this province is cheap, at least P100 per month, depending on the volume of use. Dumaguete has 100% potable water access, followed by Bacong with 98.9%, Amlan with 98.3%, San Jose with 96.1%, and Sibulan and Tanjay both with 95.3%. There is no private-owned water provider in the province, but the province’s 25 local government units (LGUs) supply water to the communities, said Joaquin de la Peña, chief of Negros Oriental’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Another advantage of the province, as Mr. Cruz points out, is the involvement of its academic community. Silliman University and Negros Oriental State University have been involved in water sustainability through their research and studies. In these areas, the province “has a science-based management, [and is] stakeholder-driven and LGU-driven,” Mr. Cruz also said.

Perhaps the most obvious attraction of Negros Oriental is its own capital. Dumaguete City remains a largely rural and laid-back town, with few establishments including the local malls and restaurants and four international business process outsourcing (BPO) offices. But the city’s access to potable water is 100%. And it has this distinction, according to Forbes magazine, of being the fifth best place in the world to retire. Other cities selected in that magazine poll are Cuenca in Ecuador, George Town in Malaysia, and Chiang Mai in Thailand, along with the Portuguese southern region of Algarve. The cost of living in Dumaguete City is an average below-1,000 USD only, which attracts expats to return.

Apart from the efforts of the academic community, the Negros Integrated Water Resources Management Council was organized in 2008 as an advisory body to protect, rehabilitate, and develop the province’s water, land, and other resources. Its initial budget of P3 million covering the next five years (until 2013) was allotted to meeting certain targets in terms of watershed profiling, water quality, and water management .

Another initiative is President Benigno S.C. Aquino III’s Executive Order No. 183 creating a single Negros region for the island that had been traditionally divided in terms of language and culture by its mountain range. 

The EO aims to “further accelerate the social and economic development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental and improve the delivery of public services in the aforementioned provinces” -- which happen to share the same protected resources such as the Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin, one of the biggest in the country. 

FORESTLANDBut where does Negros Occidental figure in this vying to become the country’s water capital?

“In natural resources management, the planning unit has to be consistent with the biological and physical process that is going on in land,” Mr. Cruz said, emphasizing the obvious that’s still taken for granted. “If you look at watershed, the boundaries  of watersheds will not really respect the boundaries of political units. They don’t coincide, and yet it may be better if the political boundaries coincide with the natural boundaries of the watershed.”

Among Negros Oriental’s advantage, besides its clean, accessible water system, is its forestland. Negros Oriental’s website cites a total forest area of 281,386 hectares, which constitute 52.09% of the total land area. This is further divided into unclassified forestlands of 63,091 hectares and classified forest lands of 218,295 hectares. “The classified forestlands include area established for reserves, timberland, national parks, game reserves, bird sanctuaries, watershed, and fishpond,” the website said.

“Negros Oriental has completed its forest management plans. It has planted [trees in] 65,000 hectares. It also has the biggest mechanized seedling nursery of 9.4 hectares,” said Charlie Fabre, head of the provincial government’s Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office. The mechanized nursery is projected to produce and accommodate 15 to 20 million seedlings every six months.

The province has 25 LGUs, 19 of which have already completed their solid waste management plans. It also has a program called Adapt a River involving the barangays and NGOs, urging a community administration of the province’s river system, including its regular cleanup.

The Anatomy of Philippine Health Care: recurring problems, challenges, and solutions (By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman)

Posted on 05:09 PM, August 27, 2015

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

The Anatomy of Philippine Health Care: recurring problems, challenges, and solutions

OUR geographical location and growing population are still the top and perennial reasons why developing the Philippine health care system remains a challenge, said the Department of Health (DoH) and several United Kingdom-based pharmaceuticals executives in a recent dialogue.

The World Health Organization recommends that there should be 20 beds in a hospital per 10,000 people. The current population of the Philippines is over 100 million. Beds, among our many needs, are usually insufficient. According to the 2008 DoH report “The Philippine Health System at a Glance” available on its website, almost all regions have insufficient beds relative to population. The sufficiency of beds is one indicator of a good (or a failing) health care system. The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the smallest bed-population ratio, said the data.

“The ARMM has the worst health system in the Philippines. It shares the same health care level with Africa,” said GE Healthcare country manager Ivan Arota at the recent dialogue with private pharmaceutical companies held at the British Embassy on Aug. 11.

“We still conduct our operation under the trees,” affirmed an audience member from Mindanao. She pleaded for assistance from PhilHealth central branch manager Arsenia Torres, who said PhilHealth would help but it could not enter if there is no hospital to begin with.

The DoH data available on its website said private hospitals outnumbered government-owned hospitals in all levels. There are four classifications of hospitals. Level one is comparable with infirmaries and has a limited level of access. Level one hospitals are scattered around the country, but level four hospitals -- which have the most advanced technology -- are concentrated in Metro Manila and Region III only.

REFORMING FORMULARY
Despite the challenges, the DoH hopes to welcome new innovative drugs into the country through its plans of reforming the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF), which aims to make drugs available, accessible, and affordable.

“It is a paradigm shift we’re trying to implement,” said DoH Undersecretary Kenneth Hartigan-Go.

The PNDF has over 600 drugs listed and approved by the Food and Drugs Authority.

Mr. Hartigan-Go said the formulary was last updated in 2008. Many drug innovations have happened since then; new drugs need to be listed and entered into the formulary. “There are also a lot of drugs, which are not cost effective, that need to be replaced,” he said.

He added that sometimes, choosing more innovative and yet expensive drugs is more cost-effective than cheap but inefficient drugs.

A panel of expert decides on what drugs should make it to the list based on their cost-effectiveness and safety. Now the number of experts in the panel is down to five members only, said Mr. Hartigan-Go. It makes the evaluation faster.

INCREASED SPENDING
According to United Kingdom Trade and Industry director Iain Mansfield, health spending in the country has been increasing twice as fast as our gross domestic product.

The market, however, remains self-pay (the public pays for its health needs). From 1997 and 2007 and until today, the majority of our health spending comes from the consumers’ pocket, said the DoH data available on its website. In 2007, the bulk of health expenditure were paid out of pocket (57%), followed by the national government (12%), local government units (11%), and social insurance (9%).

But Mr. Hartigan-Go said the DoH is also increasing its spending.

PhilHealth now covers and shoulders 80% of the population and has included retirees as its latest members.

PRIVATE HELP AND CLINICAL TRIALS
While Mr. Hartigan-Go said that the DoH and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) are supportive of homegrown talent, he said only a handful of students apply to the DoST program. The majority leave the country and work for international companies. He said the DoH is working on better incentives for skilled workers to address the problem of brain drain, or the exodus of professionals in pursuit of greener pasture.

Still, the Philippines is the third biggest country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, next to Singapore and Thailand, when it comes to clinical research, said GlaxoSmithKline general manager Francis del Val.

Clinical research ensures the effectiveness and safety of drugs and treatments for human use.

According to Mr. Mansfield, the United Kingdom committed €2 million for scientific research by British and Filipino scientists. Private pharmaceuticals like GE Healthcare meanwhile allocates $6 billion for its research program targeting health care in the country, said its general manager, Mr. Arota.

NOT A MEDICAL DESTINATION
While private pharmaceutical companies in the country are continuously conducting their private research and innovating on cheap drugs, the Philippines, in particular Metro Manila, isn’t ready yet to be a medical tourist destination, said Mr. del Val. But the country has all the right ingredients to be one. He said we are English proficient, have a good pool of experts, and service-oriented.

But then again, perhaps, we need to address other significant issues first.

New band takes inspiration from the 1980s (By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman)

Arts & Leisure

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Posted on August 20, 2015 04:13:00 PM

New band takes inspiration from the 1980s

Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

CLAD IN closed-neck shirts and crazy hair colors, the members of the American band Walk the Moon -- the men behind the hit single “Shut Up and Dance” -- are crazy and funky personified. They said everyone is weird and should learn to embrace it.

THE MEMBERS of Walk the Moon goof around before guesting on the TV show Good Morning America. -- PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM PAGE @WALKTHEMOONBAND

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Band members Nicholas Petricca (vocals), Kevin Ray (bass guitar), Eli Maiman (lead guitar), and Sean Waugaman (drums) were in the country for a three-day Ayala mall concert tour, which ended yesterday.

“We are unafraid to be kooky because we all have that weird quality. We’re all a goofball, a nerd, whatever you call it, everyone has that. It’s being courageous [enough] to show that side to everyone. It’s how we become. It’s the weird stuff that breaks the mold and inspires artists,” said the quartet from Cincinnati, Ohio.

At a press conference on Aug. 18, they demonstrated their own crazy brand of dance moves, from a “dad dance” where one should pucker his lips and groove to the beat, to the “subtle dance move” or a shy hip thrust to the left and right.

The members of Walk the Moon always incorporate quirky moves, whether in music videos or during live performances. In previous interviews, they said they’ve always wanted to make people dance.

The gentlemen didn’t disappoint. The fans -- majority of which are teenagers -- were over the moon when the three-year-old band painted the town red with their songs “Aquaman,” “Different Colors,” “Anna Sun,” and “Shut Up and Dance,” their latest single, which currently has garnered 84,112,928 views on YouTube as of press time.

The songs are part of the band’s third and latest album called Talking is Hard, except for “Anna Sun,” which was its first major hit single that catapulted the band into fame in 2012.

The men said Talking is Hard is the artistic by-product of a six-week writing marathon done in seclusion in an old building in Kentucky. They wrote 50 songs, sifted through them, and voila, the latest album was born. Talking is Hard has 12 tracks. The remaining 38 songs, the band said, might be included in an upcoming album. Or the next.

Talking is Hard perfectly articulates that it’s sometimes hard to communicate with words, said the band members. So they resort to music.

“It’s like learning a new language,” said lead guitarist Mr. Maiman.

The album also expresses the band’s opinion on individuality. “It’s an opportunity to say something important like in our song ‘Different Colors,’ which is [about] celebrating and tolerating differences,” said vocalist Mr. Petricca.

The band said it was a conscious effort to evolve for its third album. From romantic to rock and roll, the band has covered all genres, “except country,” said bassist Mr. Ray. “We haven’t tried it yet.”

ODE TO THE ’80SThe members of Walk the Moon -- which got its name from rock band The Police’s song “Walking the Moon” -- love the music of the 1980s and the fashion that came with it -- except the shoulder pads, they said.

“It was a special time because electronic and rock music came together in a popular way,” said Mr. Petricca, who was rocking a vintage closed-neck shirt paired with piles of beaded bracelets. 

So their mission is to celebrate the music of the ’80s -- but add their own spunk to it.

“Everyone has something to bring to the table since we’ve started playing at a young age. We like experimenting genres from Phil Collins to Sting,” said Mr. Maiman.

JUST DO ITThe band said it’s also the best time to take advantage of technology, “because anyone can record songs even in the comfort of his home,” and connect with fans via social media.

Walk the Moon currently has 208,000 Instagram fans and 182,000 Twitter followers and counting.

Before enjoying worldwide recognition, they started performing at schools first. Their advice to startup bands? Just do it.

“We didn’t wait for our magical moment to come. We didn’t wait for anyone to discover us. It’s the best decision we’ve made,” said Mr. Petricca. 

Of Foodies and Oranges (By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman)

Posted on August 12, 2015 05:16:00 PM

Of oranges and foodies

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

WHEN LIFE throws you lemons -- make orange juice and let the world wonder how the heck you did it. After all, “You make your own rules,” said Australian chef Wade Watson.

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The mixed-up cliché rings true for Mr. Watson. He said he’s now at a stage in his life where he’s free to do whatever he wants. He said he’s done with following kitchen rules and regulations after 20 years working in hotels around the world.

“It’s different when you cook as a chef for someone. I [realized] I am not a hotel guy; too fancy, too many rules. I don’t like rules,” he said.

He made his dream came true when he opened his own bistro three weeks ago: Bondi and Bourke. It is located in Salcedo St., Makati City. “Without intention I nailed the perfect spot,” he said, because his location is right in the middle of Australian companies. The bistro’s name comes from Australia’s famous Bondi beach and Bourke street, which is a food strip.

“I wanted to own and work for myself. It’s a chef progression... This is my restaurant so it’s not just about cooking but also running a business,” the 41-year-old chef said.

His menu features comfort food like classic pies, ribs, grilled seafood spaghetti, pork belly, classic steak, burgers, and fish and chips.

“It’s simple, nothing fancy. I’ve done fancy. Now I cook food that’s more susceptible in running a business, which is real food and good ingredients, that’s it.” He added his mission was to make his restaurant a go-to place where people can eat every day.

“I want to make sure I am doing simple food that people can go to daily,” he said.

"I HATE THE WORD 'FOODIE'"Before coming to Manila, Mr. Watson worked in Cebu for five years. He said he likes sisig, kare-kare, and crispy pata. He said he has witnessed how the country has intensified its palate.

“The Philippines is now evolving in food,” he said, “It used to be just lettuce and tomatoes but now the produce and varieties are a lot bigger. The local people are getting more cultured with food now. I mean no disrespect, but the local market now wants options, adventures, and realizes there’s a lot of great food out there.”

But when asked about the growing number of “foodies” among Filipino diners, he stopped, and said, “I hate the word ‘foodie.’ Everyone thinks he’s a ‘foodie’ -- ‘Oh I like to eat so I am a foodie.’ But everyone loves to eat. Everyone writes about a food and he thinks he’s entitled. I don’t want to come off as arrogant, but (the word “foodie” is) for people with a lot of experience... I think it’s being used loosely,” said chef. 

A legitimate foodie, the chef implies, must have experience, involvement, and exposure in the kitchen 24/7. 

AUSSIE ORANGE He said he gets inspiration from anywhere, and it may include adventures with oranges, like Australian oranges, which are now available in the country until Aug. 31.

Although there’s no orange-infused meal in the bistro’s menu, Mr. Watson said he is willing and open to creating a dish using the fruit. “It’s flavor is versatile,” he said as he prepped dishes using Australian oranges during the launch of Australia’s orange label, “Now In Season,” which is being sold for a limited time at Landmark, Robinsons, Rustans, S&R, Shopwise, and SM Supermarkets.

“Oranges are important [in our trade and economy]. Our produce is one of the things we are known for. Australians grow up with oranges,” Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell told the BusinessWorld at the sidelines of the launch.

Mr. Tweddell said there’s been significant growth in orange exports in the last two years because of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which enables most temperate-weather fruits from Australia to enter the Philippines tariff-free. Temperate-weather fruits include stone fruits like raspberries and blackberries, apples, oranges, and pears, among others. 

Manila Food & Beverage Expo: Tales from the kitchen (By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman)

Focus

Posted on 06:42 PM, August 06, 2015

Manila Food & Beverage Expo:
Tales from the kitchen

Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

FOOD, besides being a necessity, is a business. And business is doing good for the food and beverage (F&B) industry, be it in corporate meetings or gatherings of friends, among other occasions anywhere in this country with its diversity of cuisines.

  

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Mobile bar owner Paul Ceron -- Photos from Paul Ceron’s Facebook account

The Manila Food & Beverage Expo (MAFBEX), one of the biggest food celebrations in the country held at the World Trade Center, is one veritable festival of food. The latest expo was attended by 500 exhibitors from around the archipelago who showcased their products ranging from fishballs and corn dogs to veggies, chocolates, and Chinese noodles.

In the recently concluded MAFBEX, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who incidentally heads the Senate Committee in Agriculture and Food, noted the SMEs, including those in the F&B industry, which comprise 96% of businesses in the country. They provide 50% of the country’s employment, she also pointed out, adding that the remaining 4% make up the big companies, located in Metro Manila and other developing areas like Cebu.

MAFBEX also held talks and seminars to aspiring chefs, F&B businessmen, and food lovers. One of the symposiums was about the growing opportunities on bars and catering.

MOBILE BARS
Bartender Paul Ceron remembers mobile bar becoming a hit in the United States and United Kingdom in the mid-2000s. So he and six of his friends decided to bring the booming concept to the country. They started the local mobile bar scene in 2007 and called their business Flaming Olives, which caught on, and in just a year, they decided to part ways to create their own mobile bar business. It’s a friendly competition among peers, Mr. Ceron said. In 2008, he started his own mobile bar, Twisted Lemon, from a capital of P50,000 to customize his own mobile bar station and buy his own drinks and glasses.

“Business is a gamble, and you should be willing to take your risks,” he said. “The competition among my friends was quite steep because we all share the same business knowledge and strategies.”

Mr. Ceron didn’t expect to break even in the first few months. He would sometimes shell out more money than it was coming in, but that was par for the course. Even while he was growing his business, he said it never crossed his mind to take for granted even the small birthday occasion because they were opportunities for word-of-mouth marketing.

“Huwag manghinayang kung barat o maliit lang ang kita. [Don’t be discouraged by the haggling or small income.] Look at the bright side. Debut parties usually invite teenagers, who would also want to have a mobile bar for their own 18th birthday party kasi maiinggit sila [because they would be envious]. This is where free marketing comes in,” Mr. Ceron said.

From debut parties to corporate meetings, he now handles big company gatherings like that of Rockwell and Emerson, to name a few. He still accepts debut parties, but is now choosier. Unlike in the beginning, he could now afford to turn down clients who haggle too much. He said this is only keeping up with the growing branding, “considering we were among the pioneers.”

His bestsellers include mojito, tequila sunrise, strawberry margarita, and piña colada, among others. “Know your drinks, plan well, and always be customer oriented,” Mr. Ceron said.

But the income generated from his business is seasonal. The peak is usually during the “ber” months.

Mr. Ceron wasn't born in a well-to-do family. He started working early at 16. He was service crew first, then worked his way up to being a drink specialist. Now 37, he has invested in other income sources like a fitness gym and a soon-to-open coffee shop.

“Take risks. Kapag hindi ka sumugal, habang buhay kang empleyado. Kung natatakot kayong sumugal, isipin ninyo na lahat ng nadadapa, nakakatayo. [If you don’t take risk, you’ll forever be an employee. If you’re scared to take chances, always think that those who fall can always stand up],” Mr. Ceron said.

He quoted his favorite businessman, Bill Gates: “If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake.”

FETING THE CARDINALS
To have a successful F&B business, one must keep up with the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, and heed the customers’ wishes -- no matter how whimsical they may be, said chef Mae Montalban, a member of the College of Saint Benilde culinary faculty. She was among the speakers who gave advice on how to start and grow a food business.

Ms. Montalban has two decades of culinary experience that includes working at Hyatt and New World Hotel. She served the cardinals when Pope Francis visited the country in January. She recounted her experience and told BusinessWorld that they preferred Italian comfort food like bread, potato, salads, and jam. They didn’t touch any of the Pinoy food served, so she left that out in the next servings.

“Follow your customer’s request, no matter how quirky they may seem,” Ms. Montalban said. She remembers one of the weirdest requests she got from a client was a combination of bacon and ginataang mais (corn and sticky rice with coconut). From a chef’s perspective, the flavors seemed amiss, but she obliged. Then there was an unforgettable experience with Manny Pacquiao in 2008. Manny stayed in Hyatt, which is known to serve continental, but he was craving for Filipino food, particularlykare-kare. How could she whip up a local delicacy without the ingredients? Ms. Montalban said she called the Aristocrat, the popular Filipino restaurant which happened to be nearby, and personally attended to the take-out orders because the streets were closed to give way to Mr. Pacquiao’s motorcade.

Another time, Ms. Montalban remembers being commissioned to serve 2,000 people in a wedding party. She knew somehow this was impossible, but she said yes anyway. She and her team were able to serve the guests, but because the devil is in the details, they also encountered such problems as melting ice and not enough utensils. In hindsight, she realized, “Huwag lang basta tanggap nang tanggap [Don’t take in more than you can handle].”

So these are the difficulties in catering, which is otherwise a fulfilling enterprise in many ways. It’s a much older enterprise than the mobile bar, but it’s a growing market, Ms. Montalban said. The income is considerable, especially during the peak season (the “ber” months). But Ms. Montalban knows as well as any caterer that her business must be complemented by other income sources.

An F&B entrepreneur should also be updated with trends in the industry. Customers nowadays have a more diverse palate, Ms. Montalban said and the trends nowadays are fusion food, farm-to-table concept, low fat, vegan, and organic.