USLS Wins Big at 2nd MassKanamit Culinary Showdown

BACOLOD CITY – The University of St. La Salle-Bacolod culinary students were named overall champions at the 2nd MassKanamit Culinary Showdown, held on Thursday, October 17, at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.

La Consolacion College-Bacolod secured the top medals in the Sweet Revenge category for pastries, while VMA Global College (Main) claimed victory in the Food and Beverage category.

Asian College of Dumaguete took the championship in the Kucina Moderna Kulinarya category.

More than 300 students from 18 culinary and hospitality management schools across Negros Island — including Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos, and Dumaguete City — participated in the annual cookfest. The event was hosted by the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation in cooperation with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental’s (HRANO) 8th Sabor Bisaya and the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines’ 15th National Food Showdown.

“This year’s MassKanamit Festival is bigger with more competitions than last year and a larger number of participants,” said Ana Tison, chairperson of the BYF Food Committee.

The annual culinary showdown highlights Bacolod’s rich gastronomic culture, featuring innovations on local and traditional dishes with an emphasis on food sustainability and environmental protection.

Renowned celebrity chefs Robby Goco, Myrna Segismundo, cookbook author Nina Daza-Puyat, cheese master Olive Puentespina, Virginia de Guzman, celebrity chef pioneer Glenda Barretto, Cheong Yan See, Niño Angelo Comsti, Raul Ramos, Cristina Legarda, F&B consultant Beth Romualdez, and Kalel Chan served as judges.

Joining the pool of judges were Bacolod-born chefs Tom Bascon, Fern Aracama, Jomi Gaston, Sunshine Puey, and Tonyboy Escalante.

Pastry Capital Potential

With more students raising the bar in pastry competitions at the MassKanamit Festival, celebrity chef Myrna Segismundo emphasized Bacolod’s potential to become the country’s Pastry Capital.

“Sweet is always a very welcome flavor that resonates well with the locals,” said Segismundo.

“With all the pastries, cakes, and desserts they have here, Bacolod should promote itself as the Pastry Capital of the Philippines.”

Segismundo also linked this potential to Bacolod’s association with being the capital of “Sugarlandia.”

She recognized the city’s efforts to promote food tourism and its potential to become Asia’s Slow Food hub.