Goldenstate College, Inc.

Yesterday, it was a dream…..Today, it is reality.

Farthest from our minds that we will be a part of this very huge, wonderful, and amazing event… Many have expressed their intentions of participating...but only one was called; the Goldenstate College of General Santos City.

Upon the invitations of the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam headed by Ambassador Jerrel Santos, a letter was sent to Goldenstate College informing us that we will officially represent our beloved country, the Philippines, to the World Food Festival 2010 to be held in Vietnam. Everybody was surprised because we could hardly believe the good news. Imagine a modest school in General Santos City representing the entire nation in this very gigantic event. Soon, excitement filled the hearts of every member of the delegation. Headed by our CEO Dr. Warren A. Manilay and his wife Mrs. Sara Jane T Manilay, the whole entourage prepared its way to going global.
 Goldenstate College accepted the CHALLENGE!

World Food Festival 2010 is an annual food exposition participated by different countries around the world. This is an event where delegates from other nations demonstrate and exhibit their expertise in preparing and cooking their native dishes, an event that showcases each country’s artistry and skill in food preparations. It is also introduced in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Longest Food Buffet within a 3-kilometer stretch.

This year, World Food Festival 2010 was held in Vung Tau City, Vietnam. It is a 3- hour drive from Ho Chi Mihn. The event was participated by 35 countries around the world and 32 Provinces within Vietnam.  Vung Tau City was chosen to be the venue for this year’s Exposition because right now, they are promoting it as a Tourist destination in Asia. It is indeed a beautiful place, amazing beaches, International standard Hotels and Restaurants and definitely good but spicy food. We never felt that we were strangers in the place because the people accepted us so warmly.

Preparations was never easy for all of us here in Goldenstate College. Members of the delegation shed sweat and tears in preparing all the things we need to secure our success in this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent the Philippines in this huge event. We only have two weeks to prepare all the ingredients and the food we will bring in Vietnam. Chosen by the organizers, we needed to exhibit our very own dishes such as Adobo, Kare-kare, Pinakbet, Embutido, Balot and Salted red eggs. Because we did not only represent the entire Philippines in this Exposition but also Goldenstate College and General Santos City as well, we brought in our very own Tuna Chicharon. This is our way of promoting our beloved City to other nations and the people of the world just loved it, especially when it is dipped in sukang sinamak.We have also with us some Manny Pacquiao t-shirts and our very own civet coffee. The chef we brought in Vietnam including our very own chefs from Goldenstate College had the opportunity to work with great chefs from other countries. They had difficult but memorable times in the kitchen because they need to prepare our native dishes for at least 70 thousand guests and participants for 4 days and they need to exhibit them in the Philippines’ booth so guests and visitors could have a chance to buy and taste the Filipino dishes. How they clamored for Adobo and Embutido……..they simply want more. The food exhibit ran for 5 days and the chefs moved heaven and earth just to come up with delightful, mouth watering dishes. The visitors as well as the Vietnamese had a sumptuous Filipino experience. After all, as the old cliché goes, “the best way to a person’s heart is through his stomach”…true indeed for they all fell in love with Filipino delights. Even the Philippine Attaché to Vietnam, Mr. Froilan Pamintuan congratulated and commended the efforts and the preparations of Goldenstate College in this worldwide event. He was too happy to see that the Philippines were well represented by the delegates they have chosen in the World Food Festival 2010.

Adding to the pressures of participating in this event was the need to prepare for a cultural presentation of 20 minutes showcasing the dances from our own native land. The delegates who included the College President, Mrs. Josie Yap-Tirador, MBA, Faculty Members and selected students took time out to rehearse 5 dances from the Philippines. They have had long hours of rehearsals and stayed up so late just to perfect the production they will present. Through the artistic direction of Mr. Ferdie Alcantara, MAED, all the performers gracefully danced and presented Igorot, B’laan, Muslim, Subli and our National Dance, the Tinikling. The dances we performed were all big hits that we were requested to perform every night in all the stages within the Festival Area. With this of course was the sleepless preparation of all the props and the costumes we brought also in Vietnam. But everything paid off. The performance was a huge success and all the Vietnamese and the visiting guests enjoyed the entire production, come rain or come shine.

The Carnival Parade was awesome. All the delegates from other countries paraded in the main streets wearing their National Costumes. The Philippine delegation was well applauded in their Jusi-Pina Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana Terno Gowns. Each country was made to perform one of their traditional dances as the parade goes on. The colorful, well lighted and animated floats also were showcased during that very exciting and amazing Carnival Parade. We are indeed so proud to be a part of this event……to represent the Philippines. All these are memories to treasure.

After all, we had also a chance to splurge our Vietnam Dongs, the official Vietnam currency. We were given the privilege to explore the Vietnam malls and the souvenir shops to buy “pasalubongs” to all our friends back in the Philippines. It was all fun those times because we were able to be just ourselves in a foreign land. We tested our friendship and our camaraderie and they passed with flying colors. Shop, eat, sleep, laugh and joke around, a lot of photo ops and bonding moments were just few things to reckon with. We miss Vung Tau.

Goldenstate College’s journey to Vietnam to represent our beloved country, the Philippines is indeed never easy. But the PRIDE and the REWARDS we brought home is priceless. The recognitions, appreciations from other nations, the friendship we developed, and plaques we accepted is more than enough to make us proud of our own native land and of course of our city, General Santos City.

For now, this is our journey to Vietnam….Soon, the WORLD!