The Department of Tourism (DoT) has already chosen the country’s official welcome drink for the Visit Philippines 2003 via its “WOW Welcome Drink Competition” held recently at Westin Philippine Plaza’s Siete Pecados.
The winning concoction, “Viva Biyahero”, was created by Gerardo dela Paz of Chili’s Bar and Restaurant-Greenhills. “Viva Biyahero” will be offered by members of Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) to their guests as a welcome drink. Dela Paz was also given a 5-day/4-night holiday package to Cebu/Bohol as prize.
The said competition was in line with DoT’s “WOW Perks” campaign in co
peration with the Philippine Bartenders’ League (PBL), International Distillers Philippines, Inc. (IDP) and Gilbey’s Gin.
The 10 participants were finalists from the recently-concluded “Lambanog” competition. Each contestant created on-the-spot, one original cocktail recipe of a Tropical drink using Gilbey’s Gin as liquor base and at least one kind of local fruit or juice as modifier or mixer.
Among the ingredients used were dalandan, calamansi, mango, pineapple and orange.
During the competition, the contestants prepared three of their entry drinks simultaneously with full garnish, under time limit of five minutes. The preparation of the drinks was made more entertaining with the bartenders also doing their routine performances with background music, showmanship, flairing and jugg
ling of bottles and other mixing paraphernalia and props.
The winning drink was judged according to its taste, aroma, presentation and name relevance. Additional points were given to the bartender’s showmanship. The judges included: Chuck Janolino (marketing director, IDP); Alfonso Teotico (managing director, Trips Travel and Tours); Rene Lapid (director of sales, Dusit Hotel Nikko); Jess Sordan (beverage manager, Manila Hotel); Joe Cabanatuan (secretary-general, PBL); and Coleen Niguidula (product manager, Gilbey’s Gin).
The other competing drinks were: Pearl Passion, which also won first runner-up (Alessandro Salvoro, Chef and Brewer-Makati); D’ Refreshing Star (Allan Avila, WG&A Superferry, Manila); Island’s Best (Anthony Salustiano, Annabel’s Restaurant-Quezon City); Sinulog Fest (Erwyn Unigo, Krokodile Grillery-Makati); Island Perks (Ma. Gwen Legaspi, Cable Car-Makati); Viva Manila (Kristoffer Reña, Westin Philippine Plaza); Island Passion (Christopher Roque, Ciboney Café Bar and Restaurant); Luzviminda (Aldrette Abante, Cable Car-Quezon City); and Tagay-Tai (Stephen Latigay, The Heritage Hotel).
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