Premium sake now in the Philippines

Last Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, Crystal Cup Ozeki Philippines (CCOP) invited friends to the company’s launch at the UMU Restaurant of Dusit Thani Manila.  This was CCOP’s introduction of their various sake products to Metro Manila, and from 6:30 to 9:30 in the evening, sake flowed throughout UMU, served in tiny sake cups by Dusit’s smiling service staff.

I would have loved to immerse myself in this rare sake experience, as was my original plan. My friend Eric Roxas who is CCOP president had told me about the planned event much earlier and I had committed to attend. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get back from Subic (where I was trying to tie all the loose ends for the STV Auto Rally Corporate Challenge scheduled for Nov. 30) to Manila on time for the cocktails, so my wife Babes had to brave the sake immersion alone. And what an experience, Babes said, as she downed tiny cups of different flavors of sake, all served cold, enjoyed the Japanese cocktail fare and met up with old friend Eunice Roxas, Eric’s better half together with their children Mark and Michele.

Filipinos are admittedly not a sake-drinking people, though many of us who travel to Japan enjoy this traditional drink hot or cold with Japanese friends, enjoyed in tiny sips from ceramic cups or the more traditional wooden cups.  Good sake, according to Eric, can be served hot or cold, so if the sake that someone gifted you with is suggested only as a warm drink, the quality is not top-notch.

There is something, though, about Japanese sake that sets it apart from other alcoholic drinks. The clarity of the liquid, the pure, clean taste suggests a long brewing tradition that the Japanese people have appreciated over centuries. The Ozeki Corporation of Japan is itself 300 years old, and the fact that the company has opted to trust a Filipino company through a strategic partnership to bring the prestigious Ozeki brand to the country is testament to the Filipino group’s reputation in Philippine business circles as well as their business savvy.

Mr. Nishikawa, chairman of the board of CCOP and president of Ozeki Corporation of Japan, together with Mr. Nagano, director of both CCOP and Ozeki Japan who has worked in the company for the last 34 years, and Mr. Makoto Kinoshita, director of CCOP were there prompt and early, as Japanese people are known for, and though they were not very conversant in English, they welcomed the guests warmly to the reception. Dexter Tiu (who came with his lovely wife Happy Ongpauco) as director and Eric Roxas complete the Board of Directors of CCOP.

My Business & Leisure TV crew was there to cover the event, and my camera man patiently recorded the video presentation they had that evening which I had a chance to view. Sake, as we all know, comes from fermented rice, but it is not just any rice. The special rice grains grown in Japan specifically for sake are very long and very white, and are fermented by hand, the large crumbs gently kneaded before they are stored in large containers to age. The pure clean liquid, clear as the purest of water belies this long process, but the Sake experience is worth the wait as one sips and savors the alcohol-laced drink in conversation with friends.

One of the highlights of the presentation that evening was the breaking of the barrel ceremony called “Kagamibiraki” in Japan where all the company executives led by Ozeki chairman Nishikawa-san went up the stage and broke the barrel that contained the traditional Sake. This traditional ceremony is performed during happy events and traces back to the time of the 4th Shogunate Tokugawa Ietsuna. Then, everyone in the audience was given wooden cups and invited to drink the Sake from the barrel before the raffle of special prizes from Ozeki Japan which included sake-infused cosmetics(!) was conducted.

Very soon, Ozeki’s various sake products will be available in reputable supermarkets, initially Rustan’s and SM, and Ms. Rie Maeda, International Sales Executive of Ozeki Japan who spoke effortless English talked about CCOP’s line of products: One Cup Black (180 ml)/ 30 cups per case) which is the no. 1 Cup Sake in Japan for over 45 years, has an alcohol content of 13.5 percent and can be served warm or chilled; Osaka-ya Chobei (300 ml/12 btls per case) is their premium Daiginjo-sake named in honor of the founder of Ozeki Sake and carefully fermented at a low temperature for a super smooth taste, has an alcohol content of 15.8 percent  and should be served chilled or at room temperature; Ikezo Sparkling Jelly Sake, Peach or Berry Mix (180 ml/30 cans per case) are fruity and sparkling, perfect as ladies’ drinks especially with the signature jelly in the drink. The alcohol content of these is a mild 5.6 percent and can be served chilled, warm or at room temperature. My wife, Babes loved the superb acidity of the peach-flavored sparkling drink that comes in small cans and can be chilled and served readily. They don’t come cheap, but one has to pay for quality, and like good alcohol, they are savored in sips to appreciate the full or mellow flavor, whichever one you opt for.

I personally think the Filipino palate is ready for this pure, clear traditional Japanese drink, and that the party-going young generation will soon make the sake experience an integral part of the local party scene. Congratulations to Crystal Cup Ozeki Philippines for bringing this novel, great idea to the Philippines.

Convention of Filipino Consultants

“Developing the Philippine Consulting Industry: Moving Forward” is the theme of the upcoming Confederation of Filipino Consulting Organizations (COFILCO) general assembly meeting and constitutional convention at the Architectural Centre Club at the Rockwell compound in Makati City on Nov. 12, starting at 1 p.m.

This convention is seen to enhance the ability of Filipino consultants to be more competitive against their foreign counterparts or foreign consulting firms. Keynote Speaker in the event is Hon. Dennis Santiago, Executive Director III of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB).

COFILCO is the umbrella organization of consultants and recognized by the GPPB as such especially in the areas of disaster, environment, infrastructure and management.

It’s about time that a prestigious organization unifies and professionalizes the consulting industry in the Philippines, especially in the fields of infrastructure and agribusiness. And with the recent calamity that struck Bohol and Cebu, this convention couldn’t have come at a better time. Also expected to be discussed at the convention are the Washington Accord and its relevance to Filipino consultants as well as the impact of free trade agreements on the Filipino consulting industry. If you are a Filipino consultant worth your salt, go and be counted. If you are not yet a member, you can still go and process your membership there and learn from the convention.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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