Scholars to showcase skills, solidarity

After earning its place as one of the country’s premier culinary festivals, this year’s Philippine International Food and Wine Festival (PIFWF) set in October 2014 transcends into a diverse platform that ushers Filipino cuisine and indigenous local ingredients into the spotlight.

Previously launched under the name Manila Food and Wine Festival in February 2013, this year’s event will also mark the participation of the first batch of scholars of the Culinary Education Foundation (CEF), the direct beneficiaries of the first food and wine beneficiary event.

The scholars (174 finished their classes and OJT both in Manila and Candon, Ilocos Sur with another 150 to follow before the year ends) are armed with the knowledge, confidence and competency skills they learned at CEF.

They will also explore business opportunities during the festival happening from Oct. 10-14, 2014. Apart from volunteering their time and energy, the students will also be selling their own organic food products as their way of helping raise funds to support the educational and scholarship goals of the foundation.

Organized by the CEF, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, this year’s theme is “From Farm to Fork.”

While most aspiring students are drawn to culinary careers because of the promising growth prospects, many average-earning and underprivileged adults—like Sinagtala “Baby” Cabrera, a single mom and part-time pub singer—are left challenged to pay for their culinary education and training.

But upon receiving the CEF scholarship, not only was she able to nurture her interest in cooking, she was also able to explore food-related goals to maximize her entrepreneurial growth.

With the motivation and full support of CEF, Cabrera is starting a food retail business together with fellow Malabon scholars.

She sells bottled vegetable pickles, rice vinegar, as well as cakes and pastries.

Apart from enjoining fellow scholars and neighbors in a very promising venture, Cabrera is also proud to announce that their products have been successfully sold and carried by local food establishments under the name “Scholars.” “We couldn’t think of any better word that can best describe our gratitude to the foundation. We are inspired by them,” she added.

Conrad Madarang Jr., a fellow CEF scholar, couldn’t agree more. Also a bright culinary talent from Malabon, Madarang said he was blessed to be among the few chosen to undergo the foundation’s program.

Besides joining Cabrera in their joint business and actively participating in various CEF-initiated outreach and livelihood training programs, Madarang was also the first CEF scholar eventually employed by C2, one of Cravings Group’s chain of restaurants.

“CEF unleashed the potential that I never knew I had. Now I’m able to support my family because of this employment opportunity. I’m also excited and inspired to realize my own food business when the right time comes,” he said.

Last June 28, both Cabrera and Madarang finally received their certificates of completion.

As a non-profit institution that highlights the role of food and accessible education in positive societal transformation, the CEF, founded and headed by Susana P. Guerrero, aims to provide prospective students like Cabrera and Madarang the chance to undergo free top-quality culinary education, livelihood and career training.

“One of the foremost missions of this year’s PIFWF is to raise more support and renewed funds for the scholarships of another round of 6 batches of more or less 250 poor but talented Filipinos,” said Roxanne T. Oquendo, Manager of CEF, Inc.

“Last year’s food and wine festival raised an amount big enough to give 500 individuals, including Conrad and Baby, the opportunity to make meaningful improvements in their lives by pursuing their avocations. Imagine the many more lives that we can help if we could do this food and wine festival again this year,” concluded Oquendo.