Saint Mary’s University has once again proven its commitment to excellence in the world of Hospitality and Tourism. With SMU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) department’s participation to the 16^th Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) Week, and the 14^th National Food Showdown from September 21 to 23, 2023 in Baguio City, the delegation of around 50 students were able to successfully reap several awards.

Over the three-day event, the talented and smart students across different year levels, as coached by their professors and invited Alumni practitioners from the industry, showcased their skills and passion in the different challenging contested events revolving the varied areas of hospitality and tourism management. Despite the intense competitions where equally very good HTM schools in the Philippines participate from the professional and student divisions, the SMU-HTM delegation efficiently managed to garner several awards. All the entries were carefully prepared for, aligned on the event’s theme which is, “Malakas at Maganda”: The Surge of Philippine Cuisine. Apart from the competitions, several seminars were also attended by the students together with the accompanying Instructors/Coaches. This event is organized by the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) where Saint Mary’s University is an active member as manifested by its regular participation to the contested events and organized seminars.

In detail, Saint Mary’s University has brought home one (1) Gold Medal (Highest Pointer), four (4) Silver Medals, 11 Bronze Medals, and five (5) Diploma Awards and these are as follows:

Professional Division:

WEDDING CAKE (SILVER- Highest Pointer)

• JESUSA ANA MARIA F. JACALNE, HTM Faculty Member
• ARXEL REIGH A. CATUBAY, BSHM Alumnus
• JOEY C. PASCUA II, BSHM Alumnus

Student Division:

TRAVEL AND TOURS (GOLD- Highest Pointer)

• JESICA SARA DV LONGINOTTI
• CHRISTIAN DAVE R. MENGUIS

TRAVEL AND TOURS (SILVER)

• JESUSA GRACE P. DELA CRUZ
• ALEXA LEI A. PUMARAS

TABLE NAPKIN FOLDING

• MARY ANGELA L. GAMIDO (SILVER)
• BRENETH S. NAPUDO (SILVER)

EVENTS PLANNING (BRONZE)

• SHANE B. DONATO
• ZHEKAINAH MARVI A. SORIANO
• MIKEE ANGELIQUE FLORENDO
• PILAR KHAETREEN F. ANTONINO
• TRISTAN JAY C. CABREROS

BELLMAN’S HOUR

• JOHAN XIAN G. TUMANENG (BRONZE)
• ALMYRA JOY B. GARCIA (BRONZE)

CREATIVE CAKE DECORATION (BRONZE)

• THALA ANGELIC M. CASTILLO
• JAN CYREL JOY J. COLLADO
• ALLEN JOY N. BERNALES

PRALINES (BRONZE)

• RHIANA MASHIELLE E. INFANTE

KLASIKA MODERNA KULINARYA (BRONZE)

• ALEENA JAINE A. GAMBOA
• MA. ALETHEA DAPHNE B. FIESTA
• MODROW PIERRE RICO BANCOD

PASTA AND SAUCE SHOWDOWN (BRONZE)

• APRIL MAE P. VIERNES
• MARCELITA A. DOMINGO

COCKTAIL MIXING

• DESIREE E. ROLDAN (BRONZE)
• JMORE B. CHAROG (BRONZE)

MOCKTAIL MIXING

• SHYNA L. DELA CRUZ (Finalist)
• GIAN CARLO E. BARBOZA (BRONZE)

PANGHIMAGAS – KAKANIN FLAMBE’ – (BRONZE)

• LEI-ANN MALCINO

BABY CAKES (DIPLOMA AWARDEE)

• RHIANA MASHIELLE E. INFANTE

BEST TRADITIONAL/MODERN REGIONAL RECIPE PINIKPIKAN (DIPLOMA AWARDEE)

• JOHN AIDAN P. CABANAG
• HYDRIAN P. ESTIMADA

REGIONAL FRUIT JAMS AND PRESERVES – BAGUIO BERRIES (DIPLOMA AWARDEE)

• MA. KHURT NICOLE T. EVANGELISTA

WEDDING CAKE (DIPLOMA AWARDEE)

• LHENZEL JOY P. RACIMO
• KRYSTEL NATALIE B. PASCUA
• JEMIMA FAYE V. ANDRES

REGIONAL PICA-PICA (DIPLOMA AWARDEE)

• JOHN RAPHAEL JOVINAL

HRT QUIZ BEE (Finalists)

• SHANE B. DONATO
• ROSE ANN D. SAN ANDRES
• NICOLE ANN A. BELMIL
• JASMINE CLAIRE R. PANGANIBAN
• ROELLA GRACE U. CAOILE
• REINER T. JOSE

COFFEE CONCOCTION (Finalist)

• ZYMONE ANJELO E. CASTILLO
• EUGENE CHRISTIAN A. QUINTO

Coaches/Experts:

JOHN MICHAEL C. IBARRA
MRS. JESUSA ANA MARIA F. JACALNE
WINDELL MARIE M. COLOBONG
MARK IAN J. SORIANO
MAYVELYN S. COVITA
SHERWEEN JERRY PAUL V. SAQUING
GEORGE RAWSON A. GUIAB
ANA VICTORIA CELESTINE R. BELEN
CHEF ARXEL REIGH A. CATUBAY, BSHM Alumnus
CHEF JOEY C. PASCUA II, BSHM Alumnus
NEIL ALDRIN S. CACAL, BSHM Alumnus
SHERWIN JUMHEL C. MARZAN, BSTM Alumnus
MARIA DHESZ CARPO-MURILLO (OWNER/MANAGER MARIA COFFEE)

Report by: Dr. Mayvelyn S. Covita, HTM Faculty Member