URC Aims to Build a Nation of Entrepreneurs Through Flourish Pilipinas 2022

The truth is, anyone can bake — but not anyone can become a successful baker. It takes time, patience, and a lot of effort to bake recipes repeatedly until you get them right, not to mention the confidence you’ll need to decide to share your creations with your community.

In pursuit of its efforts in nation-building, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) tapped its Flour Division to create the Flourish Pilipinas program. Its main goal? To grow and develop the existing local baking industry.

Each year since its launch, Flourish Pilipinas has conceptualized ways to promote bread and pastry baking as a viable form of livelihood for Filipinos. In fact, the project supports the vision of the late John Gokongwei Jr.

According to Chinkee Andres, URC Marketing Manager, “Mr. John believed and had the visions of building a nation of entrepreneurs … starting with our young Filipino bakers.”

What’s in store for URC Flourish Pilipinas 2022

This year’s URC Flourish Pilipinas 2022 is titled “The CEO Initiative.” It takes inspiration from a popular K-drama about aspiring entrepreneurs from various backgrounds who, against all odds, start a business venture that would benefit the community.

This year, URC Flourish Pilipinas’s goal for participants isn’t just to learn or improve their baking and pastry skills; it’s to take their dreams one step further and become future CEOs of their own businesses. Specifically, participants will be challenged to identify their purpose and potential by teaching them the skills and qualities of an effective CEO. From there, they’re expected to build a solid foundation for their “start-up” to transform into a flourishing business.

URC Flourish Pilipinas: The CEO Initiative is executed through three phases: Fueled By Flour, Name & Fame, and Pitch Forward. Two legs of this year’s program are currently held in Manila and Davao.

Phase 1: Fueled By Flour

Fueled By Flour focused on the fundamentals of baking and was held through a three-day program where participants received technical training on the basics of baking. They were first taught food safety and sanitation, bakery mathematics, baking equipment, and recipe building.

The bakers attended workshops and hands-on demonstrations on the second day to bake bread, cake, and cookie recipes. The final day was reserved for executing their own innovated recipes as a culminating activity, which was also scored through a sensory evaluation.

Below is the list of finalists and their creations:

MANILA LEG

- Apple Ulat: Malparey Bread, Nicocho Cookies, Cream-O Berry Cake
- Alaura Daele Pabandero: Cheesy Corn Bread, Strawberry Latte Cookie, Berry Kiwi Cake
- Rodrigo Finuliar III: Tunapay, Vitamin Coonips, Final Cake
- Jhon Cleid Caparal: Potato Squash Bread, Malunggay Nips Cookie, Mango Cake
- Jeremy Garcia: Camori Roll with Mango Filling, Banana Sundae Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookie Fruitie Yellow Cake
- Sandra Camille Montenegro: CheesyBerry Bread, 3Cs, KiwiBerry Bread

DAVAO LEG

- Jhon Michael Sarabia: Butter Garlic Breadnut
- Marimar Partosa: Parsley Cake with Banana and Almond on Top
- Jannaly Olaer: Parsley Cheese Bread
- Jamila Eloiza Pawai: Chocolate Naked Drip Cake
- John Kenneth Nogodula: Mango Bread Cinnamon Style Loaf
- Ericka Mae Tuliao: Mango Cake with Slice Almond
- Angeline Kim Gulo: Peanut Butter Cookie
- Airiz Jamisola: Musa Chocolate Delight
- Norlyn Nacion: Banana Bear Cookie

Phase 2: Name & Fame

The second phase of The CEO Initiative focused on the participants’ identities and potential to succeed. A two-day business seminar and workshop were conducted to build courage and confidence to help them become effective leaders in the industry. Coaching engagements were also held to help these future CEOs find their vision and create a strategy for their budding businesses.

In Davao, guest speakers Chef Marie Mae Tacugue, owner of Cupcake Couture, and Chef Caselyn Buenaventura-Ramos, owner of KC Bakes PH, spoke to the participants about their experiences in building their businesses. They discussed the different challenges they faced, the ways they innovated solutions, and their businesses’ eventual recovery.

For the technical side of the competition in both Manila and Davao legs, Valerie Basinillo of the URC media team lead the digital marketing workshop while Nicanor Ines spoke about finance and operations. Haraya coaches facilitated the business planning workshop.

On the final day of Phase 2, all participants were required to apply what they learned and present their own business ideas in 10 minutes. Only the top three participants from Manila and Davao were eligible to move forward to the third and final phase, namely:

MANILA LEG

- Alaura Daele Pabadero
- Sandra Camille Montenegro
- Jeremy Garcia

DAVAO LEG

- Jhon Michael Sarabia
- Ericka Mae Tuliao
- John Kenneth Nogodulia

Phase 3: Pitch Forward - What to Expect

The final phase of URC Flourish Pilipinas: The CEO Initiative will see the top three participants from both the Manila and Davao legs bring their business dreams further. The finalists will pitch their business plans before a panel of successful entrepreneurs who will choose the best business plan. The winner will be awarded a full package that includes monetary support and a start-up home bakery business package

Alaura Daele Pabadero, Sandra Camille Montenegro, Jeremy Garcia, Jhon Michael Sarabia, Ericka Mae Tuliao, and John Kenneth Nogodulia are set to make their appearance before the judges’ panel on Phase 3: Pitch Forward. Stay tuned for updates to find out who among the finalists will take the top prize!

For more information on URC Flourish Pilipinas, follow its Facebook page. For more info about URC, visit its official website.