MANILA, Philippines - TGIFriday’s Asia-Pacific Bartender championship will be held on Sept. 10, 7 p.m. at TGIFriday’s in Bonifacio High Street.
This year’s contestants are champions in their respective countries: Matt Ambler from Australia, Yogesh Adav from India, Daniel Lee from South Korea, Koki Yokoyama from Japan, Wang Zhai from China and the Philippines’ GenRev “The Revolution†Bacasno.
The finalists bested their colleagues in competitions held in their own countries to earn the right of joining the regional tilt.
The reigning Asia-Pacific Bartending Champion is Japan’s Hiroyuki Mark Yamada who won the regional contest in Melbourne, Australia, last year. He was also adjudged TGIFriday’s World Bartender champion when he bested contenders from all over the world in the championship held in Dallas, Texas, last March 6.
“We are honored and happy that the Philippines was chosen by TGFriday’s International to host yet again this much-celebrated event. And we want to make sure that the competition will give everyone —bartenders, judges, guests and friends of Friday’s — an awesome experience,†Guia Abuel, TGIFriday’s VP for operations, said.
Representing the Philippines is Rev “The Revolution†of Friday’s Tomas Morato who has been named TGIFriday’s Philippines’ Best Bartender twice, having won the inter-branch competition for two years. He rose up to the occasion each time, besting other Filipino finalists because of his excellent showmanship, sunny personality and impressive working flair. All these catapulted him to the top, earning him the title “Shake, Rattle and Pour Bartending Champion†and giving him the chance to represent Friday’s Philippines at the Asian Bartending Competition in Melbourne, Australia, last year where he emerged second runner up.
The 2013 TGIFriday’s Asia-Pacific Bartender Championship is sponsored by Red Bull, Captain Morgan & Smirnoff Vodka.