Very encouraging

The youth is up to it—moving forward to better life, trying some entrepreneurial endeavors which could yet make them big in the field of business. It has been said that starting small is perhaps the best way to climb to the top. It is very encouraging to see that there are young ones (below 30 and slightly above) who are now engaged in small-time (at the moment) business ventures. We met some of them at the recently concluded Food Expo 07 mounted by Premiere Events at the World Trade Center.

A new feature of the fair was the Junior Chefs’ Congress which brought together participants not only from the city but from neighboring towns as well. We had a brief talk with a young lady enrolled in hotel management in Valenzuela, Bulacan who is optimistic about a career in the hotel industry. There was a very spirited group from the University of the East selling pizzas at P10 each. They use hamburger buns for crust and have Hawaiian and pepperoni toppings. The young man in charge promised us more details about their endeavor, but unfortunately by deadline we have not received anything from him.

Brownies, now proving to be one of the most saleable items, have also inspired many to produce and sell. One of them is Jazz who concocted it in three flavors—Classic, Walnut-topped and Cheese. We must say they taste good and keep for a few days. Another young man , RJ Zamora, is helping his mother Esmer manage their company, Roastery Incorporated, which sells coffee equipment, including Conti Espresso machines and Mocafe beans. They can be reached at tel. 523-9477. At the rate the young are pursuing a career in business, they should be headed for future success.

We had another refreshing trip out of the city recently. We visited the Coffee Farm, a small showcase of the industry in Lipa, Batangas, specifically at the foot of Mount Malarayat. We had fun picking the lovely red berries, feeling like we were picking apples in the US. It is almost incredible that while we thought we were a coffee-producing country, our output is not enough for even local consumption, thus we still import from Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Low production is caused by farmers who have diversified.

Not too long ago, the Coffee Foundation was formed basically to preserve our local coffee, barako. At the helm of this movement is Pacita (Chit) Juan of Figaro. She has written two books on coffee and has co-authored, with Ma. Regina Francisco, a third one entitled "Introduction to Coffee." The book is a perfect guide that could inspire people to pursue a career in the coffee business, considering the industry is a fast-growing one. The demand is higher than supply, therefore there is much room for participants. This is like a textbook, dealing with all aspects of the bean, from its history to being a good barista, mixing blends, setting up a coffee shop and proper use of equipment. Each chapter has some exercises for the readers to answer.

It might interest coffee people that the Philippine Coffee Board has been established and together they compose the Café Isla in Serendra at The Fort, where one can choose and enjoy his/her favorite brew, including Figaro. Ongoing is the "Coffee Break Festival."

In the course of that trip to Lipa, we stopped at Tarawoods, not quite like that in "Gone with the Wind," but is an expansive place where Robusta coffee is grown. We had a good lunch of kare-kare and chicken adobo, with of course coffee. Some of us bought calamansi (big!) at P35 a kilo. Tarawoods is a 17-hectare haven in Natatas, Tanauan, Batangas and is open for seminars and/or meetings amid lush foliage and fresh air. They have big and small houses that can accommodate a total of 35 people. They will entertain only one event at a time, giving the group exclusivity and time to enjoy, unhampered by other people. Meals are provided from P125 to P675. Room rates (from P600 per person) depend on type of accommodation and number of persons staying in a room. Tarawoods can be reached through telephone 632-812-7637, fax 632-813-9073 or e-mail [email protected].

Have good Sunday! Bond with your family.

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