Jamaican F & B Training Center

By Chef Ed Dychauco
Pots and Pans

HAVING attended and judged several barista, bartending, and flair tending competitions nationwide, I must say that we have come a long way when this little known skill have now flourished into a big business. A lot of our local and national winners and competitors have landed good jobs as such all over the world.

It is a known fact that aside from making money, these baristas and bartenders have the opportunity in meeting new people, traveling and honing their skills while at work. Blame it on the movie Cocktail several years ago!!! Because of the said movie, this type of job became so much in-demand!

And do you all know that we don't have to travel to Manila or Cebu to learn these skills? Located at the ground floor of Caballero-Briñas Building along JV Serina St., Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City is the Jamaican Food and Beverage Training Center, a school for baristas and (waiting for approval as of this writing) bartending with Mr. Rey Sumania as TVET School Administrator and Ms. Pamela Sumania as registrar.

The school started a year ago, May 15, 2007, to be exact when Mr. Sumania came back to the city after working as a barista in Metro Manila for the last ten years. Sensing a need for a training center with the vision of helping fellow Cagayanons to excel in this field and with the advice of Tesda, Rey finally decided to open its doors for all Tom Cruise wannabes.

Originally from Surigao de Norte, Rey worked in Cagayan de Oro City as a bartender for about seven years before trying his luck in the big city of Manila. After which in 1998, he was accepted at Starbucks at Robinson's Place in Malate. Being a fast learner, he went up the ranks to become a barista. And wanting to expand his horizons, Rey went on to work with the following shops and thereby sharpening his skills eventually: Ciaf Coffee at Tomas Morato, Key Coffee at Ortigas and Timbuktu Cafe in Malate (owned by the late Rico Yan, Diether Ocampo, and Senator Migs Zubiri).

Along the way, Rey got to meet and befriend people who became not only his friends but also his mentors. To name a few: Philip Boe (an Australian-American coffee connoisseur), Hiroyuki Hojo (Japanese coffee expert) and Carlo Lamperte (an Italian espresso machine expert from Roncillo Company in Italy).

Presently, Rey serves as the president of Philippine Bartenders League (Northern Mindanao chapter), is the founder of Philippine Bartending Academic Society, a member of the Barista Guild of the Philippines and International Bartending Association. He also serves as a consultant for CoffeeWorks, Coffee and Company, WheelMart Care Center and Cafe, PJoe's, Hotel Guillermo in Pagadian, D'Azure Cafe Valencia and Coffe at Yellow House in Davao City.

At the Jamaican F & B Center, one can learn to become either a barista and/or a bartender. To get a certificate on barista, one has to spend 119 hours (with 50 hours lecture). Lecture includes: coffee appreciation and familiarization, calibrating machine, maintenance, the art of coffee extracting, tamping, grinding, steaming, latte art and many others. Students get to practice making the art of coffee personally since the school is equipped with a top-of-the-line Roncillo coffee machine from Italy, Mauro Coffee Beans and Torani Syrups.

For the bartending part, 286 hours is required with 100 hours for lecture. It is a hands-on training (just like the barista course) where one is also taught the art of flairtending by the following experts from the city: Armando Molo of Pueblo Sports and Country Club, Tedwin Kamahalan of E-Blue Holdings (sister company of Equilibrium), Tito Redoble (a freelancer), Naren LaVictoria of Alfon's Grill and Jono Sumaylo of VIP Hotel.

For P3,500 only, one can become a barista or bartender in a month or two. Classes are limited to ten students and are available in the morning or afternoon. Special classes can also be arranged for those needing special considerations. So far, graduates from this center had landed good jobs in the Middle East, Macau and cruise ships. They also accept Tesda PGMA Scholars for baristas.

Jamaica F & B Center is also working closely with Equilibrium Corporation, exclusive distributor for Roncillo machines, Mauro beans and Torani syrups.

(For more information: visit Jamaican F & B Center in Carmen or call them at (088) 858-7324, or email them at: Jamaican_iso9000@yahoo.com.)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2008/06/12/life/jamaican.f.&.b.training.center.html