By Stephanie Nicole Peligman
BAGUIO CITY – Fresh off their success at WorldSkills, the TESDA Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education (CSITE) has once again demonstrated its leadership in hospitality training, earning top honors at the 18th Annual Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism (HRT) Month and 16th National Food Showdown. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) organized the event and held it at the Baguio Country Club from October 9 to 11, 2025.
CSITE stood out as the only Public technical-vocational institution competing against leading universities and colleges.
Competing against the region’s top hospitality and culinary schools, CSITE students earned prestigious awards in highly competitive categories. Their gold medal victories include:
Gold Medal – Klasika Moderna Kulinarya “Pagsasalo ng Kalikasan at Kultura”: Culinary students Agee C. Docayso, Lawrence C. Serrano, and Gibran A. Sudango earned the Gold Medal after besting 17 other teams.
Gold Medal – Best Traditional/Modern Regional Cooking Technique: Adrian S. Demandante and Muhammad Sarim P. Rehman took home the gold for their innovative “Italian Pasta with Native Bird” dish, winning against 14 contenders from different regions.
In service excellence, the institute was also strongly represented:
- Silver Medal – Bellman’s Hour “Trust and Confidence” Competition (Student Division): Adrian B. Rimando secured a Silver Medal among 21 regional competitors.
- Diploma Award – Bellman’s Hour “Trust and Confidence” Competition (Student Division): Gene Ian C. Ingalla also received recognition in the highly contested Bellman event.
A Legacy of Continued Success
Guiding the team to victory were coaches Chef Mary Kristine Iris Pasion (Culinary), Assistant Expert Joshua Lizardo (Culinary), Coach Leomar Nepomuceno (Bellman’s), and Assistant Coach Resty Odasing (Bellman’s).
“Our students’ success at HRAB reflects not only their skill and discipline but also the quality of training and mentorship that TESDA CSITE provides,” said Daisy C. Bungallon, CSITE Executive Director. “Coming so soon after their WorldSkills achievements, this win proves our commitment to maintaining a world-class standard.”
These victories reinforce CSITE’s steadfast commitment to advancing technical education and solidifying the Cordillera region’s strong representation in national and international hospitality events.
