As part of the Gokongwei Group, Universal Robina Corporation, one of the country’s largest food and beverage manufacturers, is fully attuned to the conglomerate’s unrelenting commitment to provide its customers with better choices and create shared success with stakeholders. As proof of this, in URC’s own Purpose, Values, and Ambition (PVA), the all-important duty of “enhancing the lives of our employees, customers, consumers, and communities” is given great importance.
Having this in mind, the company's Flour Division organized the URC Flourish Pilipinas 2022: The CEO Initiative competition, helping to inspire and mold the country’s next generation of baker entrepreneurs. The competition, which awarded generous bakery start-up packages to each of the six main winners, is part of the food and beverage company’s efforts to support young Filipinos who dream of becoming the future CEOs of their own baking businesses.
The six finalists of the URC Flourish Pilipinas: The CEO Initiative baking competition. Top row, from left: Ericka Mae Tuliao, Jeremy Garcia, Alaura Daele Pabandero, and Sandra Camille Montenegro. Bottom row, from left: Jhon Michael Sarabia and John Kenneth Nogodulia. IMAGE URC Flour
Before the baking competition’s final phase, participants from the Manila and Davao legs of The CEO Initiative engaged in a series of technical training sessions in Phase 1 (“Fuelled by Flour”), followed by business lectures in Phase 2 (“Name & Fame”). These aimed to improve their skills and equip them with knowledge that can be useful as they start their own business ventures.
Winners from The CEO Initiative-Manila leg being congratulated by URC executives. From left: Alaura Daele Pabandero (1st runner-up), Ellison Dean C. Lee (Managing Director, URC Flour), Sandra Camille Montenegro (Grand Winner), Marilyn Grande Esguerra (R&D Chapter Lead Snackfoods, URC), Jeremy Garcia (2nd runner-up), and Dennis J. Magallanes (Deputy Chief Financial Officer, URC Agro-Industrial and Commodity Foods Group).
After a rigorous selection process, six candidates made it to the final round, “Pitch Forward”, where they presented their business plans and confectionery concoctions to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs. In the end, Manila’s Sandra Camille Montenegro with her “3 Cs” (Cookies & Cream and Corn cookies) and Davao’s Ericka Mae Tuliao with her mango-based creation “Kaka Mangifera” were declared the grand prize winners. Apart from a cash prize, they each took home a start-up online bakery package worth P200,000.
Winners from the competition's Davao leg and URC officers. From left: Jhon Michael Sarabia (1st runner-up), Ellison Dean C. Lee (Managing Director, URC Flour), Ericka Mae Tuliao (Grand Winner), Marilyn Grande Esguerra (R&D Chapter Lead Snackfoods, URC), John Kenneth Nogodulia (2nd runner up), and Dennis J. Magallanes (Deputy Chief Financial Officer, URC Agro-Industrial and Commodity Foods Group). Image URC Flour
The first and second runners-up (from both the Manila and Davao legs of the competition) received start-up packages worth P100,000 and P50,000, respectively. All winners received top-of-the-line baking equipment, high-quality ingredients, and access to a network of industry professionals.
The CEO Initiative is just one of the many activities under Flourish Pilipinas, URC’s program that aims to uplift the Philippine baking industry.
Since its launch in 2017, URC has conducted several activities that promote bread and pastry baking as a viable form of livelihood. Among them is the implementation of the Flourish Pilipinas learning enhancement program in selected public high schools in Davao, Pasig, and Makati, which has benefited more than 1,000 students in Grades 11 and 12.
For the rest of 2023, Flourish Pilipinas will continue to roll out more livelihood programs, with local communities being the primary beneficiaries.
For more information and updates on URC Flour, visit urcflour.com and follow its Facebook page. To learn more about URC, visit urc.com.ph.
