By Epifanio Reiner R. Mariano III, RND

Once again the School of Business through the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department has brought fame and prestige to Saint Mary’s University (SMU) when it bagged home two gold medals, one silver medal, three bronze medals, and diplomas during the 6th Annual Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Weekend of Baguio City held last September 10 – 12, 2009 at the Baguio Country Club.

The said event is organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) annually. More than being a venue where different institutions compete for special events related to Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, this also showcases the current trends in hospitality and tourism management. It is joined by different educational and commercial institutions from the different parts of the Philippines. Schools which joined the event aside from our own include The University of Santo Tomas, Letran College, The Center for Culinary Arts, University of Northern Mindanao, Philippine Women’s University, University of Baguio, Saint Louis University and the University of the Cordilleras to name a few.

 

 

 

QUIZ BEE – CHAMPION. The Quiz Bee competition was one of the most exciting events. It was joined by at most thirty schools. There were thirty questions asked that were really mind boggling. Topics included were from foodservice, geography, HRAB history and food cost control computations. For the geography topic, only pictures of the country’s flag were shown and it was up to the students to decide what country it was and to provide the country’s capital city. Our school’s representatives Mr. Job E. Lorenzana, Ms. Aurielle Joy M. Mateo and Ms. Crystal Queen D. Ramos were really the bests in this area since their groupis one of only two schools which got a correct answer for that topic. Unexpectedly, at the end there were three schools which got the same scores. These are Saint Louis University (SLU), Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) and our University. After the first bout of tie breaking questions, NVSU was eliminated leaving only the two sister schools SMU and SLU competing for the championship. In the end, it was Saint Mary’s University which has emerged as the champion in this year’s Quiz Bee after three bouts of five tie breaking questions.

TABLE SETTING (WEDDING THEME) – GOLD MEDAL. This event was one of the most highly budgeted events. Competitors have to bring everything they must use for the event, from chairs to tables even to the centerpieces and plates plus spoons and forks. The silver and bronze medalists have very expensive wares. Most of which were custom made. As such one should expect that they’ve really invested a lot in this event. Even though our table setting which was prepared by Mr. Raymund A. Balangue, Ms. Anafe B. Macutay and Mr. Michael Keith B. Tubiera was the cheapest since we have made use of recycled and endemic materials, the judges gave an outstanding ninety-six percent grade just one percent higher than our next competitor. The idea for the table setting was rooted on the ways of our brothers from the cordilleras – an idea that must have been seen unique by the judges.

COCKTAIL MIXING (FREESTYLE) – SILVER MEDAL. Our contestant Ms. Christiana Soriano mixed “Pink Cordi” while dancing to the tune of Barbie Girl by the Spice Girls. The judges may have been bemused by her choreography that she was awarded the silver medal.

We have also been awarded bronze medals in Cold Seafood (Free Style), Cold Meat (Free Style) and Plated Dessert (Free Style).

Thanks to the leadership of Reverend Father Manny Valencia, the University President, Dr. Christina Gallato, CPA, the School Dean, Mrs. Evangeline Remolazo, the Department head and the faculty members of the HTM Department (Mr. Brian Keith Torres, Mrs. Carmencita G. Acuna, Mrs. Mayvelyn S. Covita, Mr. Michael Noel A. Abiva, Mrs. Kristy Aireen G. Reamillo, Mrs. Me L. Gallate, Mrs. Jannete M. Arellano, Mrs. Evelyn S. Tiongson, Ms. Ronda L. Navalta, Ms. Jen Bangunan, Mrs. Rhodora Tipay and this writer), it is proven again that Saint Mary’s University has not faltered in providing her students with quality education. Education that is not only at par with the universities of the region but more so better than those provided for by prestigious universities around the Philippines.