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“…and, I hope I could Wow the judges…” This is an unforgettable line by Lawrence Anne Baldove when she was interviewed by the ICHEF Campus News way back November 15, 2014, the JICC Elimination Round. She answered the questions by the student reporters with so much determination to win, and, as how fate really plays, with the guidance of God, she successfully surpassed all the challenges of the Elimination Round, the Semifinal Round, and even the most challenging Live Cooking Final Round at Abreeza Mall.

 

When the final drumroll sounded and as the applause ruled all over Abreeza’s Activity Center last December 6, 2014, the moment seemed to stop as the emcee announced the Junior IChef Culinary Challenge 2014 Culinary Edition Grand Winner- LAWRENCE ANNE M. BALDOVE of the University of the Immaculate Conception. Her final dish, Noodles in Two Ways, impressed the judges’ palate, and therefore landed her to the most coveted victory. 

 

The Junior ICHEF Culinary Challenge (JICC) is the only culinary competition facilitated by a culinary school in Davao City. It started last 2012 in its Culinary Edition dubbed as “Let’s Get Cooking!” In 2013, JICC ventured in to the Pastry world: The Junior ICHEF Culinary Challenge 2013 “An Adventure of Sweet Creations”. This year, the Junior ICHEF Culinary Challenge is back for a brand new challenge and thrill to the participants: The Junior ICHEF Culinary Challenge-Fire It Up! The Asian Culinary Journey.

 

There are 44 3rd and 4th year high school students from different public and private high schools who joined. The ICHEF (Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship), the biggest and most modern culinary and hospitality school on Mindanao in partnership with WorkSkills Australia organized this prestigious culinary competition in order to search for young students with potentials in the culinary industry. 

 

After the interviews and plating presentations during the elimination round last November 15, 2014, from 44 hopefuls, 23 students levelled up to semi-finals. The top 23 semi-finalists did a market basket in which the participants are given twenty minutes to get all the ingredients they need for their culinary masterpieces. The finalists’ creativity was tested as they made their masterpieces with just the available ingredients given. They cooked their best dishes for the win, however, after a nerve wrecking judgement, the competition’s cream of the crop for the Grand Finals is finally chosen. They are the following: LAWRENCE ANNE M. BALDOVE of University of Immaculate Concepcion, EARL JOHN R. TRINIDAD of PRECIOUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DAVAO, CHRISTIAN DOMINIC R. ANG of DAVAO CHIRSTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, TIFFANY B. BARLIS of ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY, , SHERWIN L. GONZALEZ of Davao City Special National High School, EARL CLINT O. TALIDANO of ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY, CHRISTYRIENE U. ESTREMOS of Rizal Special Education Learning Center, PETER VINCENT R. MEJORADA of BROKENSHIRE COLLEGE OF TORIL, KAREL REIZ A. CLIMACO of DAVAO WISDOM ACADEMY, and STEPHANIE G. LAGUROS of DAVAO WISDOM ACADEMY

 

The grand finals became tougher as they did the Pencil Box Challenge. The Top 10 JICC Participants  picked  a box, and they  made a dish out of whatever the ingredients are inside their chosen box. Most of the finalists were surprised, however, win-win attitude says yes to challenges. They did their best to create their culinary masterpieces. Cautious judging is done and everyone is anxious for the results. 

 

The most awaited announcement of the winners arrived at last. The Junior ICHEF Grand Winner LAWRENCE ANNE M. BALDOVE of University of the Immaculate Concepcion received an educational voucher worth 200,000 pesos. The First Runner Ups, EARL JOHN R. TRINIDAD of PRECIOUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DAVAO, and CHRISTIAN DOMINIC R. ANG of DAVAO CHIRSTIAN HIGH SCHOOL both received 100,000 peso worth educational vouchers. The 2nd Runner Up TIFFANY B. BARLIS of ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY received an educational voucher worth 75,000 pesos. The 3rd Runner Up SHERWIN L. GONZALEZ of Davao City Special National High School and 4th runner up EARL CLINT O. TALIDANO of ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY both received a 25,000 worth of educational voucher. CHRISTYRIENE U. ESTREMOS of Rizal Special Education Learning Center, PETER VINCENT R. MEJORADA of BROKENSHIRE COLLEGE OF TORIL, KAREL REIZ A. CLIMACO of DAVAO WISDOM ACADEMY, and STEPHANIE G. LAGUROS of DAVAO WISDOM ACADEMY received a 10,000 peso worth educational voucher as consolation prizes.

 

The Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF) is the leader in Professional Global and International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship which provides outstanding credentials by developing culinary creativity that will ensure a successful career in the International Culinary and Hospitality  Industry with internationally renowned and multi-awarded resident chefs who work hand in hand in preparing the world’s greatest cuisine, thus making ICHEF the largest and premier Culinary Arts school in the country. Together with its international partners American Hospitality Academy and Work Skills Australia, students graduate with dual certification proving the advantage of an ICHEF education. ICHEF is owned and managed by Joji Ilagan Bian.

ICHEF is located at De Jesus Street, Davao City.