While we are a rice-consuming nation, bread is not far behind. Many breakfast dishes include our popular local pan de sal or some other types of breads.Just check out our local bakeries and you would find creative bread items such as baked siopao (siopao ingredients inside bread instead of a bun). Innovations can be found even with ensaymada, cinnamon rolls, and breads that incorporate local ingredients as filling. Pilmico and Max’s Corner Bakery recognized how important it is to recognize and preserve the tradition of bread making in our culture. They teamed up to launch the Tinapay Natin Pinoy Bread Baking Competition,
Regional and semifinal rounds conducted around the country narrowed the search for the top local bakers to three finalist teams from Benguet, Cavite and Iloilo. I was able to catch the awarding ceremonies where the top three finalist teams faced off by spending a whole morning creating three (3) different breads — traditional, modern, and new bread. Pilmico and Max’s Corner Bakery representatives acted as judges, together with celebrity chefs: Chef Boy Logro, Ambassador of the Mahalin Pagkaing Atin; Chef Jam Melchor, Founder of Philippine Culinary Heritage; and Chef Ed Bugia, Executive Chef of Pino Group of Restaurants and Backyard Kitchen + Brew.
The whiff of fresh bread hit me as I entered the room. I think, next to the smell of coffee, I love the smell of bread. The stage to the left had breads from Max’s Corner Bakery and baking products from Pilmico displayed in such an appetizing way.
All three team finalists spent some time talking about their own backgrounds. Most of them came from simple families and just listening to their stories about dreaming big truly inspired me. I think their stories gave the entire competition even more meaning because these bakers were so YOUNG but accomplished!
Well, after a lot of judging (and tasting!), the judges decided who the winners were. Here they are!
Second Runners-Up (Connie L. Tumpao and Paulle Jesrael S. Tam-awen, Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet)
First Runners-Up (Johny F. Beria and Marc Kim Macasaet, Sisters of Mary School, Adlas, Inc., Silang, Cavite)
Grand Winners (Roy D. Tabocolde and Greegy P. Cabarrubias, St. Therese MTC Colleges, Iloilo City)
Of course, I was quite excited that the grand winners were from Iloilo City, my hometown! Roy and Greegy received PhP 50,000 as their cash prize. In addition, a public school of their choice will be the beneficiary of a feeding program and their bread entries will be sold at all outlets of Max’s Corner Bakery for 45 days.
I got to try the ensaymada of the grand winners and believe me….it was soooooo deserving to win the grand prize. The ensaymada was so soft, moist and rich!!! And the helping was so large that I really got to enjoy every bit of it.
The winning entries of Roy and Greegy are yours for the tasting too! Visit any Max’s Corner Bakery as soon as possible and check them out. I’m heading to one soon to get some more ensaymada!