The treasures of Chef Boy Logro

With his antics, kitchen secrets, easy-to-follow cooking recipes and signature phrases ping-ping-ping and yum-yum-yum, Boy Logro has successfully become one of the country’s most loved chefs today.

The 58-year-old chef started working at an early age — from being a muro ami at the age of 10 in Biliran, Leyte, he became an all-around assistant in a Chinese restaurant in Quiapo when he was 16. 

In 1975, he was hired as a dishwasher in Astral Villa, a first-class Spanish restaurant in Makati. A fast learner, he was later promoted to become a chef and eventually as an interpreter and assistant to the Argentine executive chef. Two years later, he was accepted as a chef de partie in Manila’s Bayview Park Plaza. 

Blessings continued to pour in. One day while greeting their guests and checking the buffet, a foreign guest billeted at the hotel asked if he was the one who prepared the food. The guest praised the food and invited Chef Boy to apply for a sous chef position in Oman. 

Seeing this as an opportunity, Chef Boy agreed. Little did he know that he would be serving no less than the Oman Sultan himself, King Qaboos bin Said al-Said. He stayed in Oman for 10 years before returning to the Philippines where he joined Manila Diamond Hotel as a demi chef in 1992. And in 1995, he became the first Filipino executive chef in the country.

Now a household name on TV, Chef Boy banners GMA News TV’s weekend cooking show Idol sa Kusina and co-hosts GMA 7’s daily morning show Basta Everyday Happy. He previously hosted the daily cooking show Kusina Master and was one of the cast members of Tweets for my Sweet, which both aired on GMA 7. Recently, he was tapped by TESDA to be one of the agency’s career ambassadors.

Given all these, Chef Boy keeps his feet on the ground, always mindful of his treasures in life.

Most treasured person. If there is one person that Chef Boy treasures the most, it is his one and only love, his wife, Ermelinda.   

“She is my life. She has been supportive of all my endeavors and vice versa. She reminds me to stay humble. We do things together. Kahit noong nag-apply ako ng trabaho kasama ko ang wife ko. I believe my success is her success.

Most treasured pet. Chef Boy owns and takes good care of two horses in his 10-hectare farm in Davao.

“I have two horses and I named them Ping and Whitey. I bought and raised them. Masaya ako kapag kasama ko sila. They help me whenever I visit my farm. Just like any other pet, they respond whenever I call them by their names. Nakakatuwa sila at very close sila sa akin.”

Most treasured place/travel destination. Italy remains to be Chef Boy’s favorite place outside the country; while in the Philippines, Davao’s Compostela Valley is very close to his heart.

“I was part of the entourage of his Majesty King Qaboos bin Said al-Said whenever he would visit countries like London, US, Geneva, Istanbul, France, and my favorite, Italy. Ang sarap lang ng feeling. Biruin mo makarating ka doon sa mga lugar na iyon tapos VIP treatment ka pa.” 

“In Compostela Valley, we have a farm, a culinary school, which is the second branch of my school (CLICKS) that has a program for TESDA scholars in Mindanao, and a church named Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla. There is also an ongoing construction of my resort. I always love our place in Davao. Kaya pag wala akong taping lumilipad kami doon kasi malamig, sariwa ang hangin, malinis ang tubig, maraming prutas at gulay bukod pa sa sariwa ang isda at mura pa. Sa akin talaga, wala na akong hahanapin pa sa Davao.”

Most treasured moment. Believing that family should come first, spending time with his family is priceless for Chef Boy.

“Ang magsama-sama kayo, pagsalu-saluhan kung ano ang ibinigay ng Panginoon, treasured moment na po ito para sa akin. Sunday is the best day of the week for me because I get to see my children na napagkakamalang mga kapatid ko (laughs). I also get to bond with my grandchildren. Since my children are all chefs like me, I always ask them to serve a special dish for our weekly get-together. It makes our bonding more special, more memorable.”

Most treasured show on GMA. Although GMA Network has  entrusted him with various programs since 2011, Chef Boy chooses his first show. 

“It’s definitely Idol sa Kusina because this is my first solo show. Ito ang programang nagbigay ng pangalan sa akin. And I’m happy it’s now on its third year. Dito ako nabinyagan bilang si ‘ping-ping-ping!’ at ‘yum-yum-yum.’ Pero dun sa guesting ko sa Secrets of the Masters ako talaga nadiskubre. Tapos ipinagkatiwala nga sa akin itong Idol sa Kusina.”

Most treasured role. Aside from hosting cooking shows, Chef Boy also engaged in acting via TV show Tweets for my Sweet and flicks like Boy Pick Up and Fighting Chef.

“I treasure my role in Tweets for my Sweet. It’s my first acting venture where I played the ghost of Marian Rivera’s grandfather. Ang suwerte ko, biruin mo dati pinapangarap ko lang makita nang personal si Marian Rivera, napapanood ko lang sila Nova Villa sa TV, pero dahil sa programa naka-eksena ko pa sila.”

Most treasured advice (life, love or career). For someone who often looks back on his humble beginnings, Chef Boy acknowledges his mentor Val Gonzaga. 

“We met at the kitchen of Astral Villa where he was the chef and I, the dishwasher. Before I washed the pans, I would taste the leftover and later ask Val about the dish. Then I would write down the recipe in a small notebook. He welcomed all my inquiries and he was willing to share what he knows. I treasure everything he shared and all I learned from him. Val even said that I would be a better chef than him someday. Aside from his trust and confidence in me, Val was also the reason why I met my wife, his cousin. And both my wife and Val advised me to stay grounded.”

Most treasured moment as a Kapuso artist. Chef Boy shares that without his experiences and knowledge, there is no guarantee that he would be as successful or as blessed as he is today.

“I consider my knowledge and experience my greatest treasures in life. It gave me a chance to have a prosperous life, helped me to be respected in my field and even become a Kapuso. Naniniwala ako na ‘yung talino at kaalaman na ‘yun galing lahat kay Lord.”

What can the viewers treasure from his show? Just like how he learned from others, Chef Boy believes that sharing his knowledge and experiences can be a treasure to viewers.

“It is best to learn from the experts because not everything is written in the book. In my shows, I have no secrets. I’m very open with regards to my preparation, menu, recipes and techniques. I share everything because I want everybody to learn how to cook.” 

What treasure does he want to share to his followers? With over three decades of experience, Chef Boy has significant tips to his viewers and supporters.

“Stay humble, be open and listen to others’ suggestions. It’s not because you are the host, you are better or more knowledgeable than your guests. The person in front of you might just know something that you are not aware of. I may be 58 years old and very much experienced but I still listen and am very willing to learn.”

(Catch Chef Boy Logro on Sunday nights at 7 in Idol sa Kusina  on GMA News TV and on weekdays in Basta Everyday Happy (BEH), 11 a.m. on GMA 7.)