18th Mindanao Business Conference in Koronadal City

All set for The Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009

The General Santos City Tourism Association is once again making preparations for the biggest food show in Socsksargen, The Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009.

The General Santos City Tourism Association is a private association of hotels and restaurants in General Santos City that has been spearheading various activities to promote tourism and assist member companies in their overall operations through trainings and business opportunities.

One of their major projects is the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo which will be held on August 29-31, 2009 at the Gaisano Mall of Gensan Atrium.

This year, Tuna Festival being a FOOD festival, the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo will be packed with activities that will promote dining in Gensan in general and benefit hotel and restaurant and foodservice operators like culinary competitions (Live Market Basket and Table Setting Contest), daily cooking demonstrations and Food and Hotel Trade Exhibition. Big prizes await winners of the culinary competitions. Distinguished chefs and food writers from Manila have already confirmed attendance to be judges to the culinary competitions.

The TFCE 2009 is organized by the GSC Tourism Association under the leadership of Kring Macion and Chimes Concepts Event Management. Our supporters: The GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tuna Festival Council and the City Government of General Santos.

Our thanks to our sponsors: Magnolia Cheezee, Dari Crème, Star Margarine, Magnolia Nutri-oil, Jelly Ace, SAFI UFC, Kikkoman, Unilever Food Solutions, La Germania, Shellane, Marasa Grill,  Generals Brew, Kristan Educational Supply and  Family Country Hotel.

Please also visit our media partner, Bariles’ Online News Magazine, www.gensantos.com.

To know more about how to be a contestant, exhibitor or sponsor to the TFCE 2009, you can call 083 5524628, 09159806462 or email tcegensan@gmail.com.

I’m on Smile Magazine!

This may sound a bit pathetic but hey, I’m on Smile Magazine, the inflight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air!

Yup,  it’s a small pic of me on the General Santos City section of the magazine in theirAugust issue. Ms. Maya Calica, editor for Smile, asked me if I could be the Gensan local for Smile and answer the questionnaire. I was more than glad to say yes!

Just glad to share my short media exposure.

To see it online, just click here.

Briefing about the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo

To all restaurant owners and managers, hoteliers, foodservice operators, caterers and foodservice suppliers, the General Santos City Tourism Association invites you the briefing on its upcoming event, the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009.

The briefing will be held in Marasa Grill, Kadulasan St., General Santos City, July 30 (that’s tomorrow) at 2pm. There is no fee if you want to attend the briefing. The brieifing is for you to know more about how you can participate in the expo and the contests that we will be having.

To confirm your attendance, please call 5524628 or text 09159806462.

7th National Vegetable Congress in Gensan

From Ms. Rue Ramas by email. See you all there!

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The 7^th National Vegetable Congress will be held in Gensan on July 14-16, 2009.  Official venue is the Family Country Hotel Convention Center.  The activities are:

July 14 – 8:00 A.M.  Registration of participants at the Family Country Hotel (2,500/person)

8:30 A.M.  Motorcade to Malungon, Pacman Farm

Day’s activities at Pacman Farm:  (No ID, no entry)

Vegetable Derby by 6 vegetable seed companies

Opening Ceremony of the Congress

Luncheon

One hour photo session with Pacman

6:00 P.M.  Fellowship Night at Family Country Hotel hosted by the City Mayor

July 15 – 8:00 A.M.  Plenary at the venue

Exhibit at the Family Country Hotel atrium by 30 companies.  This is open to the public. (whole day)

5:00 PM   Fellowship Night at Isla Parilla hosted by the Provincial Governor

July 16 – 8:00 A.M.  Farm visit to Seminis/Monsanto Research Farm

Farm visit to Felicidad Orchard and Garden Organics

Plenary (rest of the day)

Open exhibit (whole day)

Categories of company exhibits:

(The 2-day exhibit on July 15-16 is open to the public, free.  The companies will showcase the following latest hi tech products and technologies. Please invite your friends, planting enthusiasts, students, to this very rare event in Gensan)

1.           Agri-Ecology

2.           Agricultural Machinery

3.           Biotechnology

4.           Greenhouses

5.           Vegetable Marketing and Export Services

6.           Plant Propagation Materials

7.           Plasticulture

8.           R&D

9.           Turnkey Projects and Knowledge Transfer

10.       Fertilizers and Chemicals

11.       Fork Lift & Handling

12.       Farm Equipment

13.       Farming

14.       Irrigation & Water Management

15.       Organic Agriculture

16.       Packaging Material

17.       Plant Protection

18.       Post Harvest Treatment

19.       Vegetable Seeds

4th Mindanao Franchise Expo

Sent from Mr. Kotik of the Mindnao Franchise Expo. I’ll surely be going to this event. Hope to see you there.

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The General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SMED Council, Inc., the City Government of General Santos, and RK Franchise Consultancy together with the Filipino International Franchise Association (FIFA), will hold the 4th Mindanao Franchise Expo on June 26-28, 2009 at the Gaisano Mall of GenSan Atrium, General Santos City.
The three-day 4th Mindanao Franchise Expo is one way of bringing franchise opportunities closer to the Mindanao regions where the franchise market is growing stronger. This event is definitely a showcase of successful franchisers from Manila, Cebu, Davao and General Santos City to prospective franchisees and new and promising concepts in food, retail or services to consider franchising. Franchising has evolved also in Mindanao to be the most successful way to expand a business or to go into a business by yourself. The fastest way for business owners to grow a business is to franchise it out instead of opening own branches. On the other hand, the safest way to invest money is to get a reputable franchise as franchises offer the advantages of being proven profitable, provide training, opening assistance and operations manual.
Among the exhibitors will be the following Companies showcasing their franchise and business opportunities: Phoenix Fuels Life, Julie’s Bakeshop, RK Franchise Consultancy, Kuya Chito Takuyaki, Nadie’s Chicken House, Southern Synergy, Penong’s Barbecue Seafood & Grill, Mamma Maria Pizza, Solerex Water Technologies, Asian Tropics, Fresh Salon, Smart Choice Laundry, Hollywood Nails, Aficionado Germany Perfumes, Swiss Fregrances, Premium Graphics, Inkman Ventures, Global Business World, Greenrose Laundry, Dimsum Diner, Dermaline Facial & Skin Care, Beestop Foodhauz, Star Communication, Rocky Mountain Café, Botoy’s Lechon Manok, Best Buy Warehouse, Livingwater Systems, Business Mirror and FranchiseToday.
The expo timed during the GenSan Business Month or Yaman GenSan. It will open to the public during mall hours and is designed to allow prospective franchisees to get a close-up look at a range of different franchises, meet with the company representatives, attend franchise seminars and become familiar with the growing world of franchising.
A Franchise Seminar by senior franchise consultant Rudolf Kotik, who has 30 years of experience in the Franchise Business in 3 Continents, is scheduled at June 27, 2009. For reservation please call (083) 552-5105 or 552-8385.
For details or interested exhibitors please visit the website www.mindanaofranchise.com or contact the organizers CEO Events & Expo Organizers in Manila at (02) 995 0734 and in Cebu at (032) 273.3827 or in General Santos City the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Miss Pilar Afuang at (083) 552-5105 or email info@ceoexpos.com

Sarangani Highlands Holds Takdol Festival

Sarangani Highlands invites you to yet again another first in Gensan or maybe even in Mindanao.

The Takdol (or full moon in Bisaya) Festival is a food and entertainment festival happening every full moon at Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant in General Santos City. Every full moon date, a local or international cuisine will be featured together with live entertainment and dancing after the dinner. All efforts have been given to researching and putting together an authentic menu and entertainment that matches the featured cuisine.

The cuisines and dates are as follows:
June 7, 2009, SUnday
“LUMAD”
July 8 2009, Wednesday
“LATIN/MEXICAN”
Aug. 6 2009, Thursday
“LUZON”
Sept. 4 2009, Friday
“ASIAN”
Oct. 4 2009, Sunday
“VISAYAS”
Nov. 2 2009, Monday
“MIDEASTERN”

For the First Festival, Lumad, on June 7, 2009, the food is a crossover of authentic cuisines from the B’laan, Muslim, Indonesian and Sangir.

Dance to authentic Sangir dancers and singers, witness Lerong Dancers and marvel at the beautiful sounds of the Bamboo Orchestra of pagang and the Kulintang.

Dinner is at P 450 per person. Buy or reserve for your tickets now!

Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant

Purok Wal, Tambler, General Santos City
Tel. 083 3040752
Cel. 0922 8590043

Email address: saranganihighlands@gmail.com

http://saranganihighlands.multiply.com

Have you been to O-ohlang?

When I heard the name, I knew it was another of Bebot Haw’s play of words. (remember his the lechon ni mang thomas and dili ka guapo?)

Why O-ohlang? Well, because the specialty of the house is Olang or ulang or fresh-water prawns. Although they have other seafoods and meat dishes on the menu, the star of the show is the ulang.

Personally, I like the way the prawns were cooked. Some of you might wish them cooked with lesser time because you want them really tender. We sampled three dishes of ulang: rebosado, nilasing and curry. All were good but I like the rebosado best.

Our waiter was attentive and courteous. Service was fast too. The dining area is cozy, unpretentious and not at all Japanese. LOL. (the waiters were greeting guests with Irashaimase). Sorry for the sarcasm but there was nothing japanese about the place. Maybe the menu with a few Japanese words here and there and the complimentary cold tea which was good, by the way.

All in all, we definitely enjoyed the dinner.

O-ohlang is located at NCCC Compound also. Just in front of Six Blings and Big Shot’s building.

De Boerderij Deli Store and Snack House

Swiss deli in Gensan? Really? Why not!

Together with laughtermates (we laugh out our stress all the time) , Chiclet and Chef Kring with Kuya Nelson, we headed off to De Boerderij for an unplanned date. Chef Kring didn’t even know the name of the palce until we got there. *smile* All the more, we didn’t know how to pronoune Boerderij: “bor-de-ri” or “bor-de-ray”. The staff said it’s the latter.

Sure enough, they sell a few deli products which the staff at the store said they get from Swiss Deli in Davao. It was good that they sell these items, though, few. I did not really put any effort to look at the products closely. Maybe in our next visit. For this visit, let’s talk about their food.

Its a snack house so there were a couple of burger choices, spaghetti bolognese and a few appetizers. I ordered French Burger. The others ordered Pakistani Burger, Hungarian Sausage and Spaghetti. I personally liked my burger except that it had catsup. Uggh. Some of you might like it. I will eat it but I think that the next time I order it I will ask them not to put catsup. The patty was great though! It was thick about 3/4 inch, juicy, perfectly seasoned and had a smoky flavor to it. I just wished I got another drink aside from my favorite C2 Lite. It was just not quite a match. A citrus juice might have done the trick. Now, the hungarian was a winner except that Chef Kring didn’t realy like the spices. Same with the spaghetti. I have to come back for their coffee because Chef Kring said it was good.

De Bourderij is located along J. Catolico St., Lagao.

Till next food trip!

What a beautiful year!

This being my last blog for 2008, I want to thank all of you who have checked out this blog. How time really flies! What’s On in General Santos City is already one year old.

When I started this blog this time last year, I did not imagine that the response would be so good even during times when I did not have time to blog like when I have events and when I gave birth. Your comments were a welcome message in my inbox and I had a lot of fun replying to them even those that did not seem to be as positive about Gensan as I am.

Next year, I hope to continue writing valuable blogs and to step it up. I am one with other bloggers who aim to give the world a good image of Gensan and Mindanao.

To all of you who have sent messges of appreciation, thank you. The pleasure is mine.

I wish you all a great 2009! Stay safe and enjoy the rest of the holidays!