General Milling Corporation, in partnership with Bakers Avenue, organized an event that aimed to strengthen its engagement with Visayan Bakers and uplift bakery practices and operations. The event, which happened from May 2 to 3,2019 and May 9,2019, at La Marea Mandaue City, was also the opportunity for GMC to express its appreciation to its bakery business partners and was dubbed as BAKERS MEET 2019 – Bakers Guild Appreciation Week.
Bakers, bakery owners and operators from Visayas and Mindanao joined the event and were engaged in interactive learning activities. Bakers Meet 2019 was composed of three (3) phases: 1) Let’s Dough It! – A Bake Off Challenge 2) Bakery Management Forum 3) Fellowship Night.
Let’s Dough It Bake Off Challenge was joined by 12 major bakery chains of Cebu. The elimination round was conducted last May 2 & 3, 2019 and finalists are Arbee’s Bakeshop, Julie’s Bakeshop, Mang Tinapay Bakeshop, Patty’s Bakeshop and SYT Bakeshop. Final bake-off round was conducted last May 9, 2019 at Bakers Avenue Cebu and among the judges are Chef Celina David, an award-winning Chef and instructor, and a guest chef from Singapore, Chef Judy Koh, who is the current Secretary General of the Singapore Bakery, Confectionery and Trade Association.
Judges ( L-R ) Almelou Ontong, Emil Lanon, Chef Judy Koh, Chef Celina David & Antonino Tendero.
(L-R) Jerome Villareal ( SYT Bakeshop) together with Chef Celina David, Chef Judy Koh and Francisco Alegado during the final round. 
(L-R) Almelou Ontong , Emil Lanaon, Excy Dayaganon and Norberto Raagas ( Patty’s Bakeshop ) during the preliminary round.
The Bakery Management Forum was held on May 10, 2019 at Bai Hotel. Top-notch speakers joined the event: Mr. Joseph Sowers, the Regional Vice President of US Wheat Associates, talked about the Baking Industry Trends in Philippines. Michael Krueger, the Senior Analyst and Contributor of World Perspectives Inc., talked about Global Commodity Trends. Dr. Senay Simsek, Professor of North Dakota State University, also joined with the topic The Science Behind Baking. And Chef Judy Koh talked about Bakery Management.
(L-R) GMS Sales Manager Antonino Tendero, Guest Speaker Michael Krueger, Chef Judy Koh, Joseph Sowers, Dr. Senay Simsek and GMC EVP Joselito Parco
The event culminated with a Fellowship Night where business partners enjoyed food, music and raffle draws. Appreciation tokens were also given to all business partners. The night was capped with the announcement of winners of Let’s Dough It Bake Off Challenge where MR. NORBERTO RAAGAS of Patty’s Bakeshop emerged as the Champion.
Top 5 Finalists : (L-R) Jerome Villareal (SYT Bakeshop), Raul Langit ( Mang Tinapay Bakeshop), Joy Virgel Baltazar (Julies Bakeshop), Norberto Raagas (Patty’s Bakeshop) &Noel Nilles (San Vicente Bakshop)
(L-R) Chef Celina David, Chef Judy Koh, together with the Bake off Champion Norberto Raagas (Patty’s Bakeshop) and GMC EVP Joselito Parco.
(R-L) Joselito Parco (GMC EVP) together with the awardees Brenda Galang (Maiqui’s Bakeshop) , Neil Ponce ( Julies Bakeshop), Ahl Richie Tio (Ahl Richie & Ahl Rose Bakeshop), Hermogenes Galang (Arbee’s Bakeshop) and Guest speaker Joseph Sower.
