A taste of Bacolod

There is one thing that binds Roberto Montelibano and Jose Maria Cajili: the Bacolod palate.

Montelibano and Cajili are among the brave entrepreneurs of Bacolod who ventured into the food industry, hoping to offer their townsfolk and the rest of the country a tasty homegrown flavor.

In 1993, Montelibano founded GH Foods Inc., which processes the American variety of cucumber (gherkins) into sweet pickles (whole, chips, relish and mixed). Also produced by GHFI are nata de coco, kaong, and coconut milk.

According to Montelibano, GHFI was set up to provide flavorsome complements to common favorites on the Filipino plate. Their products, which are freshly packaged in glass bottles (pickles, nata de coco, and kaong) and tin cans (coconut milk), have been singled out by major restaurants in Metro Manila like Pancake House, Dencio’s, and UFC, to name a few.

“No matter how challenging it is, we always make sure that our products appeal to the taste of almost every consumer,” Montelibano said. “The secret is to stay true to the ‘fresh’ and tested procedures which equal quality goods.”

Before GHFI, Montelibano also established RM Poultry Dressing Plant, which offers services for poultry dressing and blast freezing and storage. The company, recognized for four consecutive years as the Cleanest Triple-A Dressing Plant in Region 6, has been an active dressing plant business partner of Swift Foods, Inc. in Negros.

On the other hand, before Cajili came up with the idea to serve what would be known as one of Bacolod’s best, Chicken Inasal was unknown to most ooutside Bacolod. But when Bacolod Chicken House was founded in February of 1976, the scrumptious chicken wonder became an instant favorite.

With three branches in Bacolod City and four branches in Manila serving tastefully marinated and grilled spare ribs, pork barbecue, and lechon manok, Bacolod Chicken House continues to literally wow eaters from all over the country.

At Bacolod Chicken House, the eating public not only seeks out its meaty chicken but also its “pinangat” (gabi leaves with tinunuan), pansit molo, crablets, fruit punch with ubod and Napoleones, one of Bacolod’s delicacies.

Because of the hearty response to the restaurants, Cajili said that there are plans for his tasteful business to go global.

On July 13, Montelibano and Cajili will be recognized by President Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as Inspiring Bacolod Entrepreneurs, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo sa Bacolod slated at the La Salle Bacolod Coliseum.

Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions to key cities outside Metro Manila.

Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is supported by the Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bacolod City Economic and Business Council through the representation of Bobby Montelibano (president) and Bro. Rolly Dizon (chairman), respectively.

Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is presented by Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, DTI-OTOP and RFM Corp. Other partners of the event include SM Supermalls and La Salle Bacolod, The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corp., and Full Circle Communications.