Persistence pays off for new GSM Blue flairtending champion
MANILA, Philippines - Gino Carlo Simbillo wasn’t ready to give up on his dreams. A 19-year old Wesleyan University student from Nueva Ecija, he had competed in the GSM Blue Flair Idol competition in 2011 to pursue his dream of becoming a world-class flairtender.
He worked hard at developing his skills, practicing four hours every day and perfecting new tricks that he himself came up with. His persistence paid off. Besting 15 of the best young flairtenders, he bagged the title of “GSM Blue Flair Idol” for 2012 at the finals held recently in Metrowalk, Pasig.
But more than the prizes — P40,000 in cash, his very own mobile bar business, and bar equipment for other Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students in his school — it’s the bright career prospects that his new title offers that he is excited about.
The inter-school competition, a project of GSM Blue, a brand under Ginebra San Miguel Inc., aims to give HRM students like Gino a chance to showcase their skills. Together with another program, the GSM Blueniversity which provides students intensive training in the art of mixing
GSM president Bernie Marquez spirits, the project endeavors to help develop and upgrade students’ skills to better equip them for careers both here and abroad.
He narrowly beat female Tracy Marie Mabal (University of Cebu-Main) and Franz Jherick Santos of La Consolacion College-Malolos with his 94.3 percent rating. Mabal, one of two first–ever female finalists, got a rating of 93.9 percent with her Green Orange Seduction while Santos had had a 91.5 percent rating with his GSM Blue Hawaiian Surprise.
The judges were Wild Cocktails Mobile Bar owner Derick de Borja (Smoothness of Routine, Promotion of Product and Flair Creativity); bar owner Milano Sanchez (Entertainment Value, Confidence Level and X-Factor); Celebrity Chef/TV cooking show host Mark Uy (Taste Factor) and business consultant and food writer Butch Lagdameo (Taste Factor).
