The Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) marked the 30th Anniversary of its founding by honoring its founders and everyone who was crucial for the success of its signature event during the past 30 years on October 14th at The Atrium, Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
KUMBIRA!, the longest running and largest culinary show and live competitions outside Metro Manila, also celebrated its 30th Anniversary with The COHARA Circle of Honor for its Founders and Stewards, Partners and Establishments, Champions, Unseen Hands, and Mentors.
Founders and Stewards
- Hotel Conchita
- The Excelsior Hotel
- Grand Caprice
- Pryce Plaza
- Southwinds Hotel
- Casa Crystalla
- Dynasty Court Hotel
- Chali Beach Resort
- Lauremar Beach Resort
- The VIP Hotel
- Department of Tourism Region 10 (RD Dorothy Jean B. Pabayo, Decius Esmedalla, Josephine Roque)
Partners and Establishments
- Department Tourism Region10 (30 years)
- City Government of Cagayan de Oro (25)
- Del Monte Philippines Inc. (24)
- La Germania (23)
- Solane (22)
- Nature’s Spring (21)
- Nestle Phils Inc.( 20)
- Marca Leon (20)
- Caterplan/Unilever Food Solutions (17)
- Jamaican F&B Training Center (13)
- Limketkai Mall (11)
Champions
- Chef Mich Uapal – from competitor to mentor
- Chef Cathy Dano – from competitor to mentor/organizer
- Chef Khevin Cabactulan – from students to mentor
- 1st National Food Showdown Winners : Hotel Koresko, The VIP Hotel, Liceo de Cagayan
- 1st Barangay Winner from Hala Kumbira : Brgy Bonbon (James Robert Glomar & Micole Estorba)
- 1st Virtual Kumbira Winners : Kumbira Cake Master Kathryn Joy Purpura (Kidapawan), Kumbira Bar, Master Ferlan Daayata (CDO) & Kumbira Chef Master Jomar Agcogpra (Chali Resort & Conference Center)
Winning Hotels, Restaurants and Schools:
* Bigby’s Café (Most wins/Restaurant)
* Lourdes College (Most wins/CDO-based school)
* Tagoloan Community College (Most wins /out of CDO school)
* Other Over-all Champions in CDO (Limketkai Luxe, Monster Kitchen Academy, Liceo
de Cagayan)
* From Lanao del Norte and Sur – MSU Marawi, Iligan Medical Center and St.
Michael’s College
* From Bukidnon Province : Bukidnon State University and Pine Hills Hotel
* From Caraga Region: Father Saturnino Urios College and Caraga State University
Unseen Hands (Surprise on stage recognition)
- Lourdes College -HRM and Events Management Student volunteers
- Liceo de Cagayan – HRM and Events Management Students volunteers
- Fe Macion – Official Tabulator and Score Verification Lead
- Dan Jose Dy Yuchayco and Ching Tabique – Competition Officers in Charge.
- Jocelyn G. Balbon – Branding and Digital Marketing
- Nollie Arguelles and Fidel Pasillos – Secretariat and Coordination
- Rey Sumania – for organizing our Bar and Brew competitions
- Josephine Roque – services in the Awards and Recognition committee
- Decius Esmedalla for outstanding staging and hosting of KUMBIRA and II other events in the last 26 years.
The Mentors
Cheong Yan See (8 years)
Jessie Sincioco (12 years)
Raul Ramos (12 years)
Sandy Daza (14 years)
Dietmar Dietrich (14 years)
Michaela Makabenta (16)
Penk Tan (19 years)
Myrna Segismundo (19 years)
Ed Tuazon (21 years)
Norbert Gandler (23 years)
In Memoriam
- Dorothy Jean B. Pabayo – Former Regional Director of DOT-10 and Chair of the CDO Tourism Council who conceived the idea of a Kumbira-type culinary show & live competitions
- Catalino “Butch” Chan III – Former Regional Director of DOT-10 who succeeded Ms. Pabayo in sustaining Kumbira before he passed away in 2017.
- Dietmar Dietrich – Kumbira’s first chef judge served for 14 years before he passed away on 2024.
- Josy Aliñabon – Former COHARA Director for Restaurants
- Aurora “Awi” Chaves – Cagayan de Oro’s pre-eminent cake stylist, decorator and sculptor served as one of KUMBIRA’s local chef judges
Acknowledgement of COHARA Presidents
1996-1997 Pedrito Quiamjot, Jr. Pryce Plaza
1997-1999 Nelia B. Lee Dynasty Court Hotel
1999-2002 Eileen E. San Juan The VIP Hotel
2003-2004 Ingrid Ch. Agudo Southwinds Hotel
2004-2007 Alexis A. Chaves Chali Resort & Conference Center
2008-2009 Nelia B. Lee Dynasty Court Hotel
2010-2012 Joanna Cris L. Yu Bigby’s Café
2013-2017 Nelia B. Lee Ah Fong Asian Cuisine
2018-2022 Eduardo F. Pelaez Mapawa Nature Park
2023-2025 Jeffrey G. Limbonhai De Luxe Hotel
2026-2027 Jerome F. De La Fuente Limketkai Luxe Hotel
In a fitting tribute to the three decades of COHARA & KUMBIRA, the festivities climaxed with a massive ribbon cutting with 30 COHARA officers, members and Chef Judges on stage saluting their 30th Anniversary.
Hala Kumbira for Three Decades, One Culinary Legacy!
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