Panagdait Festival: A showcase of talents

LICEO de Cagayan University’s Hospitality Management and Tourism Department (HMTD) successfully held the colorful and flavorful “Panagdait Festival” last February 6 at the school’s civic center.

Now on its 4th year, “Panagdait Festival” is the most anticipated event that showcases the college’s own version of Kumbira, an annual prestigious culinary showdown organized by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (Cohara). It has become a venue where guests, sponsors, instructors and students not only show off their expertise in culinary arts but also their love for Kagay-anon and Filipino cultures through dances, their passion for teaching and learning, appreciation for labor, respect for one’s work and compassion for people through genuine services.

This year’s theme, dubbed as “Fun in Full Flavors,” highlighted a culinary competition by the different year levels of Tourism Management students as a test in showcasing their notable talents and capabilities to represent their school to this year’s Kumbira.

During the opening, a grand street dancing and kitchen musicale performed by the students certainly amused invited guests from the different sectors, among them Department of Tourism Region X Director Catalino Chan III, Ms. Rhia Rita Abalos of the City Tourism Board, Cohara President Joanna Yu, Ms. Myrna I. Galarrita of the Commission on Higher Education, former DOT director now consultant to the Governor on tourism affairs Ms. Dorothy Jean Pabayo, and university’s officials Mr. Alain Marc P. Golez, Vice President for Administration; Dr. Jose Vicente N. Noble, Vice President for Student Personnel Services and Dr. Teresita T. Tumapon, Vice President for Academic.

The two-day-event showed a highly levelled up competition of the participants’ skills and abilities in culinary arts through various competitions and exhibits such as the Chef Wars with the theme “Mango”; Dessert Platter with the theme “Kasuy Sensation”; Visayan Singing Contest, Balay-Balay sa Tunghaan with the theme “Provincial”; Create Your Own CDO Delicacy; Dawata Pre (Waiter’s Relay); Pinakurat nga Hulagway (photo contest); Tinda-tinda sa Daplin; Kapihan sa Kilid; Panagdait Top Model (costume: recycled items); Squash and Watermelon Carving; On-the-Spot Bed Setting; Flair Tending; Table Skirting; Buffet Table Set Up; Floral Buffet Center piece; Pinoy Henyo; and Larong Pinoy.

For the “Balay-Balay sa Tunghaan,” the Balay na Bato with the theme “Batanes” made by the students of the 7:30 Monday and Thursday class bagged the first prize while Bahay Kubo (Visayas) got silver and Khayhak (Muslim) won third place.

Group 7 was declared champion for the Create Your Own CDO Delicacy contest followed by Group 1 in second place and Group 5 in third place.

For Dawata Pre (Waiter’s Relay), the team of John Mighty Albarando, Welly Dela Torre and Axle Anthony Nacalaban was adjudged first place while the girl power team of Josephine Ranjedo, Desiree Joy Besas and John Balas-o won second place and the team of Michael Cezar Medenilla, Teddy Untalan and Miguel Pagaduan bagged the third spot.

Pinakurat nga Hulagway (photo contest) was awarded to Kevin Biongcog, a first year HRM student, as the champion while Keren Happuch Enterina is in second place and Michael Medenilla in third place.

For the buffet set-up, Team 1 won first place while Team 4 is in second spot and Team 3 in third place while for the bed making contest, Team 7 was declared the winner with Team 2 in second place and Team 10 in third spot.

For Pica-Pica, Team 10 bagged the first prize followed by Team 9 in second spot and Team 8 in third place while for the flower arrangement contest, Team 2 was declared winner, Team 1 in second spot and Team 5 in third place.

The other gold winners are the team of Fritzie Leyerio, Germaine Lauron and Darul John Pioquinto for Dessert Buffet; Mackelyne Jasper Sarrage for the best in Recyclable Material Fashion Show, Reynante Suico for the singing contest and Team 1 for the Squash and Watermelon Carving.

For the Chef War Competition, which served as the highlight of the event, the team of Acenal, Venus and Ratunil won the top spot.

Preciosa dela Cruz, chairperson of the Hospitality Management Department, said the event was conceptualized to give the students the chance to shine and be chosen to represent the school to the annual Kumbira.

She says “Panagdait” is also a venue where “pakikipagkapwa” and “bayanihan” are seen, as demonstrated by the students and their coaches who worked as a team.

“Food alone cannot satisfy hunger. It must be delicately and properly crafted. This is taught in the classrooms, applied in the kitchen and served lavishly on tables. In Panagdait, the table where flavorful dishes are displayed not only bear the makers’ skills but also the fun in making their guests smile,” dela Cruz adds.

She claims that the school aims to produce competent students in the industry, which drives them to hold a festival that mirrors “the real world of delivering quality products and services.”

Dela Cruz hopes that next year’s "Panagdait Festival" surpasses the expectation from the previous activities.