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For the past six months, chefs Bryan Dimayuga, Vicente Cahatol and Rizalino Mañas, along with the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines, have been burning the midnight oil and perfecting intricate showpieces in the kitchen. Right after fulfilling pastry responsibilities in Makati Shangri-la Hotel, they proceed to daily practice, learning how to iron out the loose details in their grand entry.
 
This is all in preparation for the upcoming Coupe de Monde dela Patisserie or the World Pastry Cup, which will take place in Lyon, France on Jan 25 and 26. It’s the first time the Philippines will be represented, after qualifying and coveting its much-deserved passport from the Asian Pastry Cup in Singapore last April.
 

World Pastry Cup (Photo: archives.deccanchronicle.com)

The team of three will compete in an arena surrounded by a live audience. For 10 grueling hours, they are supposed to build three showpieces made of chocolate, sugar and ice, as well as a frozen dessert, a chocolate dessert and a plated dessert.
 
Yesterday, the Philippine contingent, which includes some of the country’s finest pastry chefs as support group and mentors — Buddy Trinidad, James Antolin, Peachy Juban, Jackie Ang-Po, Penk Ching and Miko Aspiras — was presented to the media, along with the entry of Rizalino, Bryan and Vicente. It was a sight to behold and is nothing short of a spectacle, made more delicious by the fact that it was a labor of much time, collaboration, effort and passion.
 
The theme the chefs have chosen dates back to a more primitive time. “For the design, we picked yung tradition dati,” says Rizalino. “Hunting, kasi mayaman ang bansa natin sa nature. [It shows] biodiversity. Kung ano yung culture natin before. May aeta and about nature.” They had so many ideas, confesses Vicente, and a lot of them were changed and rejected. After the smoke has cleared and everything has been fine tuned, they are finally happy with what they are left with — and what it is is a masterpiece that the whole country can surely be proud of.
 
We send all our best wishes to Team Philippines. May you have a sweet victory!
 
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(Header photo: Pastry Team Ph Facebook)

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