Goldenstate College, Inc.

Built on the theme “Gensan Tuna Festival Experience (GTX 2009)”, Goldenstate College showcased the skills of high school students in the culinary field in the recently concluded 4th Tuna Skills Olympics at KCC Convention and Events Center in General Santos City.

According to Event Coordinator, Mr. Christian Turqueza, Bake-Off Cake Decorating was one of the events of which 13 schools – SPED, CSP, PPNHS, LNHS, TNHS, ILNHSMD, ANHS, New Era University-High School Dept., and GSNSAT were competing for the prizes.

After the baking, which was done on September 2, 2009, a day prior to the main event at KCC Mall of Gensan, cake-decorating contest has begun among the determined participants. The criteria set were as follows: Sanitation (10pts), Speed/Duration (10pts), Design (10pts), Texture (10pts), and Workmanship (10pts). An hour was given to each competitor. Judges who were from Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation, one of the event’s major sponsors adjudged the event. The emerging participants were: Poblacion Polomolok National High School (PPNHS) – 1st placer; Christian School of Polomolok (CSP) – 2nd placer; Lagao National High School – 3rd placer.

“I desire to be in culinary in the future…” was the statement of John Dave Vardas of PPNHS.

Just beside the setting of the Cake Décor was the Angel Hair Pasta Cooking and Presentation also for high school students. There were 11 participating schools. The event was judged based on the following criteria: Speed (10pts), Taste and Palatability (10pts), Work Involved (10pts), and Over-all Presentation (10pts). Significantly, the good taste of tuna as the main ingredient should dominate in each taste so as to satisfy the judges’ taste. The winners were New Era University which garnered the first place, ILSNHSMD and Lagao NHS bagged the second and third places respectively. They were given cash prizes courtesy of the City Government and Goldenstate College.

It was indeed an event of skills and an eye opener for the other skilled youngsters who will be good contenders in the year to come.