By Robert Michael V. Buchholz Jr

(DMC Eximius writer)

Showing that, indeed, it has the premiere education and training in the field of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, the DMC College Foundation SHRIM recently held a Bartending Seminar-Workshop, conducted by Jamaican Food and Beverage Training Center based in Cagayan de Oro City.

The seminar was held at the DMC Auditorium and Covered Court last January 27. The seminar, the second time it is held here in DMC, was conducted for all SHRIM first year level students of DMC.

Heading the Jamaican F&B Training Center contingent to DMC is the owner and training director himself, Rey Sumania who brought along with him three of his “most excellent” flairers.

The event is aimed at unleashing the hidden talent of each DMC SHRIM student in “flairing” and to give them knowledge in bartending and flare tending.

The team of expert bartenders brought with them the experience and expertise in the field and imparted such to the students in the one-day seminar.

“With the knowledge and skills they brought and showed to us, the seminar was very successful. It was enlightening to see the career path we, as SHRIM students, are hoping to undertake in the near future through their eyes as they speak before us. Not to mention that their flairers are amazing in flair tending,” first year DMC SHRIM student Krizaine Cordero said.

At the start, a short lecture about bartending was given in the auditorium. Then, a series of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were given to selected students to give them a taste of “something new”. After that, the students went down to the DMC covered court to practice a simple routine with the help of the trainers which the said students performed in front of their batch mates.

Using wooden bottles and with enough time to practice a routine for their final performance, the students showed their participation by showcasing DMC students’ drive and focus towards quality and perfection as they managed to perform the tricks shown to them by the trainers.

When the main event of the seminar started, the whole crowd was jubilant in excitement when each pair performed on the stage of the auditorium.

“It is a fun experience! Being exposed to all the activities that helped me improve myself, the mixing, flaring and specially the tasting is a memorable one. I am looking forward to a next one,” Jocer Pet Regencia of  SHRIM Marriott said.

Another student, Marian Grace dela Cruz of SHRIM Hilton quipped, “before, I had a hard time flaring because I only know a little bit about it. But after the seminar, I realized that it is not that hard and terrifying at all. This event proved to me that all of us, SHRIM students should not be afraid of flaring. As they say, if you have it, then flaunt it!”

After the exhibition of each pair, the training team also showed their skills in flaring. The mob was so happy to see the expertise of the training team hoping to have the same skills in the future.

Jamaican F&B Training Center training director Sumania, in his closing message, expressed his gratitude and thanks for the full cooperation of the students in the one-day activity. He said, “I love the outcome of this event, the students learned something. I saw happy faces. I just hope that next year, we will see each other again or this coming August for the Kumbira 2010. See you there! We are also proud to say that maybe we will also conduct a Barista workshop here.”