Our Warped Tour discovery highlight goes to One OK Rock

No doubt about it! They’re awesome!!!

Music Junkie Press

Vans Warped Tour truly brings so many great bands to everyone, some you may know, some you may have heard of but never seen and some you may have never heard of before. The great thing about Warped Tour is the exposure that these bands receive and how they make so many new fans after their performances. Our Warped Tour discovery highlight choice goes to a band that I have never heard of or seen before and when I did, they completely blew me away!  They are One Ok Rock from Japan. I wish I had learned of them sooner because I would have been cranking them out loud for the past several years!

One OK Rock have an aggressively live performance that completely captivates you. Their songs blend rock and metal with some fierce Japanese flair. Their stage presence is one of the best and will take you by…

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Destiny fulfilled

Watching a LIVE of ONE OK ROCK was farthest in my mind when the year 2013 started. Like most fans, I noticed their music when the credits of Rurouni Kenshin started to roll inside SM Cinema and Taka’s voice started singing the line, “Just give a reason.” His voice and the song literally stopped me in my tracks when I was just getting up from my seat.

When I heard and watched the music video in full, I was hooked and began fangirling over the band. As my One OK ROCK playlist grew, I knew it would be totally awesome to watch them perform live.

I wished hard and the universe listened and conspired to bring me to Malaysia in November in time for their Asian tour. I never thought I would get to watch them merely months after I first heard their song, “The Beginning.” Destiny came and was fulfilled on Nov. 22 in Kuala Lumpur and here’s how it went:

Around 5 p.m., after getting ready and waiting for my ride, I checked my Facebook page to find the latest Amuse post: A photo showing Malaysian fans already lined up for the 8.30 p.m. concert. Amuse also announced that the official merchandise store was already opened at 5 p.m. By then, I was already anxious to get to the venue and a bit worried that the official merchandise (merch) might sell out fast.

By 6 p.m.,I was on my way to KL Live at the Life Center. With a bit of traffic, I got there by 7 p.m. and was in line at the 2nd floor. While the line got longer, I was hoping to bump into fellow Philippine OORockers (were were you?), and wishing there were merch left ‘coz from where I was I couldn’t tell where the merch store is.

At 8 p.m., the doors were opened and the line started moving slowly. At the 3rd floor, I finally saw the merch store. I hesitated at first but eventually bolted out of the line to buy some fan stuff. This was part of the mission and I cannot simply fail a fellow fan who sent me money to buy her One OK Rock official merch. I was a wee disappointed that copies of the DVD were not available but really got excited when I saw the rest of the official merch. So, I ordered two sets of two shirts and Jinsei x Boku CD. Wheew, finally, I got them in my hands, stuffed them in my bag and went on my way.

Although wary that fans might get annoyed with me, I simply slipped back in line, got my stuff checked and went straight inside the dimmed venue. My ticket afforded me a place at the Yellow Zone, next to the one nearest to the stage. I was in the third row from the steel barrier but I knew I could get closer eventually.

By 8.45 p.m., the announcement said absolutely no recording of any kind are allowed and if the crowd fails to comply, the concert will simply and abruptly stop with no excuses.

The Band

THEN, the lights dimmed and walked in the awesome foursome! Immediately after they reached their places, the rocking music began filling the venue. Hands held high, heads banging with the beat and jumping on their spots with fans singing all their might, the ONE OK ROCK concert was into full swing.

Song after song, I cherished every moment. I was really elated with this experience, and got teary eyed for some time ‘coz I was still in disbelief that the band was right in front of me, singing the songs I grew to love. At one point, I did not know whether to keep my eyes open to record every moment in my memory or to close my eyes and let the music speak to me.

During his MC, Taka spoke in English but at one time he asked the crowd if it’s okay for him to speak in Japanese. Of course, the fans were with it. Ryota was really in his element when performing, singing to the crowd. Tomoya was incredible with all the energy he gave banging those drums. At first, I was somewhat disappointed ‘coz Toru was at the other side of the stage but there was no need to worry all along, for he walked to my side of the stage several times so I got a better look at him and soaking up in his sex appeal.

The energy of the band and the fans went a little higher when the song “The Beginning” began playing. This was really the highlight of the concert and my short fan life with One OK Rock. Months ago, I really wished I could hear them playing this song LIVE and finally here it was!

The Venue

It was really small compared to the Sky Dome at SM North Edsa and somewhat similar to Hard Rock Cafe in Makati in size. The crowd in attendance was big but did not really fill the whole venue. While those on the second floor got a better view of the whole stage, it is still better at the ground floor since the band interacts with the fans on the ground and rarely looks up. The stage is small in size but the band can move around plus, it provided for a better view of Tomoya behind his drum set.

This made me realize that if the same venue was in the Philippines and with VIP tickets just around P3,000 at cost, we could easily fill it up, right OORockers?

The Crowd

Although they were doing the stuff rock fans do in a concert, Malaysian fans are toned down. They were very disciplined and respectful of one’s personal space. After a few songs, I finally got hold of the railing and got a better of Ryota and Taka. (I was at the left side facing the stage.) Everybody was into it when Taka requested everybody to crouch and jump following his count to three and when Taka requested to sing WHOA OH OH several times for about two minutes.

At one point, the steel railing in front of me, fastened by two wires, got loose. The three male friends beside me began asking one another if they would like to go into the next zone. They all shook their heads. Noticing that I was watching them all the while, one of them asked me if I wanted to go in. I also shook my head. Hey, if the locals are not doing it, I might as well follow their example, right? Besides, I was already really enjoying myself from my vantage point. I did not see the point of rocking the boat any further.

Another remarkable thing I noticed is that, there are NO security guards or bouncers outside and inside the venue! The are no burly men in uniform or otherwise to ruin your concert experience. Isn’t that great?!

The Good Byes

Finally, I noticed it was almost two hours into the concert, a little after 10 p.m. I knew it was coming to an end. Taka took a break so Ryota and Toru made their guitars sang with the beats coming from Tomoya. Taka went up on stage again and sang with no trace of fatigue settling in. After the last song, the band bid their goodbyes and exited the stage but obviously, the fans did not let them off that easily. We shouted, “We want more!”, “One OK Rock!”, clapped, stomped, shouted/sang WHOA OH OH again and again until they appeared back on stage.

Taka held up his finger, saying, “We will sing one song, okay?” Then Toru began strumming the familiar chords of “Wherever You Are.” The fans sang all along while I took up the courage to record a bit of the band’s performance using my phablet. (Some fans were doing the same thing at this point.) Sadly, the techie God was not with me with this one and I ended up with a video recording sans the audio! What a bummer!

After the last song, Taka called for an interpreter on stage. Taka then issued an apology for not having the Malaysian band perform as their front act due to some technical problem. He did acknowledged the presence of band who watched the show. He also apologized for having to start the show late. Of course, the fans were very forgiving and gave them their thumbs up. I thought that was very sweet of them to ask for apologies. They are really down to earth rock stars!

After that, they said their final goodbyes: Ryota and Toru were busy giving away high fives, Taka draped the banner made by Malaysian fans on his back and Tomoya threw away his drumsticks.

THEN, they stepped off stage and were gone. Well, for now, at least for now and up until the next concert, hopefully, on Philippine shores this time!

Be safe during the Hungry Ghost Month

Hungry Ghost Month Festival

This year, the Hungry Ghost Month is from August 17 to September 15. According to Chinese culture, it is during this time of the year when the Gates of the Spirit, both from Heaven and Hell, open up and release spirits to freely roam the Earth.

From wofs.com, “the day of the Hungry Ghost, which falls on the 15th night of the 7th month, is when the gates of Heaven and Hell is opened up completely, releasing billions of spirits to freely visit those in the human realm.”

It is also said that these spirits may do some mischief during this period. Others even view this month as dangerous and can cause great misfortune especially for those whose chi energy is low or experiencing bad luck. In response, most Chinese and feng shui practitioners “spend the month offering rituals and feasts to appease these spirits.”

To ward off the negativity brought by the Hungry Ghost Month, please these simple rules:
Do not swim at night.
Do not go out late at night.
Do not start construction of any structure.
Do not get married.
Do not buy a home.
Do not start a new business.
Do not move into a new home.
Avoid too much travel.
Avoid medical procedures.

It is also advised to wear bright colors during this month to invite more yang energy. Somber colors represent the yin energy.

Re-engineering Reproductive Healthcare for Mother and Child

The heated discourse over the Reproductive Health bill has divided the nation. While the Philippine government institutions, women’s groups and other concerned organizations pushes for legislation, the opposition lead by the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines campaigns for the junking of the said bill.

The Reproductive Health bill, popularly known as the RH Bill, is a Philippine bill aimed at providing maternal care and universal access to methods and information on birth control.

The RH bill contains provisions addressing issues like maternal and child health, dispensing widespread information and distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills and IUDs through health care centers, sex education and population control.

According to the National Anti-Poverty Commission undersecretary Florencia Dorotan, the Philippines is the “lone Asian country with no consistent population control.” Dorotan also said that overpopulation has led to the country’s “weaker economy compared to other Asian counterparts.”

Filipino women comprise half of the country’s population and their current situation is quite alarming. According to the Department of Health, maternal mortality rate is high with eleven mothers dying of childbirth and pregnancy-related complications every day. In the 2006, Family Planning Survey of the National Statistics Office showed that maternal mortality rate was recorded at 162 deaths per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage, hypertension, and other complications during pregnancy or childbirth as leading causes of maternal deaths.

Infant mortality shares the same trend with seven out of ten infant deaths occur at birth or within a day of delivery.

The National Demographic Health Survey indicated that women at the lowest economic bracket tend to have not only the highest number of children but also the greatest difficulty in accessing reproductive health and family planning services.

RH bill advocates merit the RH bill for providing women the freedom to exercise their right to full access to health care services and family planning programs. Though admittedly, Gabriela Women’s Party says that the HB 4244 is far from perfect. However, the bill “can potentially bring much needed relief to poverty-stricken women and their families by ensuring full access to reproductive health services.”

The Philippine government, as primary duty-bearer, is obliged to provide all means to help women, men and couples, especially among the poor, plan the number and spacing of their children at the same time provide for education and jobs.

President Benigno S. Aquino III said that he is committed to seeing the Responsible Parenthood bill passed into law.

The great debate from the church sector stems from key provisions on taxes funding the distribution of family planning devices that are abortifacients and carcinogenic and information dissemination through all health care centers and school systems to control the population growth.

Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. contends that birth control promotes the “undesirable outcome of depopulation” as seen in many developed countries. On formal sex education, the foundation said that the bill “undermines the right of parents to be the primary educators” and the “right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood.”

For the alliance, “poverty and hunger is not caused nor aggravated by overpopulation, but by the wrong economic policies, poor governance and systematic corruption.”

Church leaders and priests have been outspoken on their stand on the RH bill, taking the issue from the pulpit to the streets. Some preachers even tell parishioners that supporting the RH bill is a “serious sin” and may merit excommunication. Others pronounced that supporters of the RH bill are those that are having marital problems.

Notwithstanding the misgivings of some provisions, the RH bill stands as a landmark bill for women’s rights. In principle, women should have the right to their own bodies and the State should protect and uphold that right. Even women OFWs, should be given the access to health support services and information to make the right choices.

The RH bill is forward-looking as it primarily addresses women’s right to reproductive health. RH opposition groups may have brought up valid points for further study and refinement of the bill, however, they have noticeably failed to put up front alternatives that may liberate Filipino women from social injustice, inequality and poverty.

Filipino women, at the center of the discourse, will bear the brunt of whatever result will be coming from Congress deliberations. After 17 years after the first RH bill was filed, lawmakers, RH advocates and opposition groups should then look no further and ask for the answers from women.

Spoof on indie filmmakers wins at 1st Sineng Pambansa

The Grand Jury prize win of the film, Ang Mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro, capped the awards night of the first Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival in Davao last July 1 at the Abreeza Mall in Davao City.

In photo (from left), Jose Ramon del Prado (Best Animated Short Film for Si Pagong at si Matsing), Raul Morit (Best Actor Ensemble for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Nonie Buencamino(Best Actor Ensemble for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Dwight Gaston(Best Actor Ensemble for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Sigfried Barros Sanchez (Best Director for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Ronnie Lazaro (Best Actor Ensemble for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Epy Quizon (Best Actor Ensemble for Ang mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro), Ed Lejano (Director for Qwerty, Grand Jury Prize). Seated from left, Mai Saporsantos (Best Animated Short Film for Si Pagong at si Matsing), Sue Prado (Best Actress for In Bangka Ha Ut Sin Duwa Sapah), Mc Robert Nacario (Best Artistic Contribution for Qiyamah), Cierlito Espejo Tabay (Best Documentary for Walay Tumo’y ng Punterya).

Ang Mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro is a film about a ragtag of frustrated indie filmmakers that resorted to and orchestrated the kidnapping of “the most famous Filipino indie film actor” –Ronnie Lazaro. The ensemble, composed of Ronnie Lazaro, Nonnie Buencamino, Epy Quizon, Dwight Gaston, Soliman Cruz, Hector Macaso, Raul Morit and Mon Lee, garnered the Best Actor award. The film script was penned and directed by Sigfried Barros Sanchez.

Sanchez is an Urian nominated independent filmmaker, screenwriter, TV and advertising director, actor, and an awarded music video director. He took up a bachelor’s course in Political Science student at the University of the East in Recto but eventually dropped out of school to pursue his passion in filmmaking. To work on his craft, he joined the 11th Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop, the 10th Cinema-As-Art Filmmaking Workshop at the UP Film Institute, the Marilou Diaz Abaya Filipino Feature Filmmaking Workshop in Ateneo, and the Negros Summer Workshop with Peque Gallaga at the De La Salle-Bacolod.

As an independent filmmaker, he has directed three indie films such as “Lasponggols” for the 1st Cinemalaya Film Festival, “Ang Anak ni Brocka” for the first Cinema One Originals and “Tsardyer” for 2010’s Cinema One Originals. His last film has earned him six nominations from the 37th Gawad Urian namely for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score, and Best Supporting Actor.

In 2007, the University of the East in Recto gave Sanchez a special award for his exceptional contribution to the performing and visual arts.

The quirky Sanchez, who dedicated his latest triumph to fellow Filipino indie film makers, was more euphoric over his film’s screening schedules: “Way before the awards night, we already felt like winners when it was relayed to us that the Spiderman movie got bumped off from two theaters at the Abreeza Mall venues just to accommodate the public clamor for our film. With that, we felt have triumphed over Hollywood at their game,” enthuses Sanchez. “We are now looking forward to have film shown in Metro Manila theaters, curious of the audience reception here.”

Direk Sigfried Barros Sanchez

Another feature film entry, In Banka Ha Ut Sin Duwa Sapah, was co-directed by Sanchez with Fyrsed Alsad Alfad III. Its lead actor, Sue Prado, won as Best Actress.

Rounding-off the roster of winners were: Ramon del Prado and Ayene Pineda, Best Animated Short for Si Pagong at si Matsing; Mc.Robert Nacario, Best Cinematography for Qiyamah; and Cierlito Tabay, Best Documentary for Wala’y Tumoy na Punterya. The Jury prize went to Eduardo Lejano Jr. for Qwerty and Guttierez Mangansakan II for Qiyamah.

The Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival is a joint undertaking of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the city of government of Davao under Mayor Sara Duterte. Sineng Pambansa is the flagship program of the FDCP featuring full-length features, documentaries and animation shorts from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Seventeen film finalists were screened during the festival at the malls in Davao from June 29 to July.

Deserving film projects were given seed money and competed under the full-length feature, documentary, and animated short film categories. Through this film fest, FDCP aims to encourage creativity of filmmakers, showcase the country’s indigenous cultural heritage through film and expose the new generation of Filipino filmmakers to a wider audience. The festival entries are unique with use of the local languages in their dialogue or narration.
The jury was composed of international film authorities: Paolo Bertolin ofVenice Film Festival adviser; Kim Je Seok of the Busan International Film Festival; Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Dean of the UP College of Mass Communication; and Sabrina Baracetti of Udine Asian Film Festival. For the documentary section, the jury was composed of Christian Merer of the French Embassy in Manila and documentary filmmaker Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala.

The film festival’s Ikalawang Yugto (Second Chapter) will be held this November in Davao City. The Manila premiere of Ang Mga Kidnapper in Ronnie Lazaro is scheduled on July 26 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In Bangka Ha Ut Sin Diwa Supah and Ang Mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro will be screened on August 4 at the UP Film Center in Diliman.

alimbayáw | balaybay

alimbayáw | balaybay.

HCL Technologies starts operation, introduces Employees First, Customers Second

Last June 14, I witnessed the formal opening of HCL Technologies Ltd., the leading provider of global IT services, as it unveiled its Global Delivery Center for business process outsourcing services in the country.

Initially, employing 400 professionals in their offices in Quezon Ave., Quezon City, HCL technologies will deliver high value added transactions services such F&A, SCM and domain oriented industry specific processes.

According to HCL Technologies Global Operations head Raghavan Rangarajan, the company chose the country because of its time zone advantage, the pool of talent available and the growing prominence as a strong BPO services hub.

Vice President and Human Resource head Subrat Chakravarty said that HCL Technologies is committed to hiring and developing local talent following the management approach as espoused in Vineet Nayar’s Employees First, Customers Second (EFCS) book. He subscribed to Nayar’s teachings that value creation happens when employees interface with clients and this value, when is delivered to clients, brings profit to the business.

I was personally intrigued by Nayar’s pronouncements because this is the first time I heard of a company the puts first its employees before client satisfaction. During the interviewed, Chakravarty introduced Nayar’s book that has been around since 2005. Chakravarty largely attributes HCL Technologies’ success – business growth from 600 million to 4 billion and taunted as the fastest business growth in India – to EFCS.

Results of my initial on-line research showed that EFCS is a book based on “a first person CEO’s account” of Nayar that details the transformation of HCL Technologies. He described his leadership theories as “turn(ing) conventional management on its head”. Admittedly, he said that “placing customer satisfaction second may be an alarming thought for some” but he is also confident enough to say that “once you’ve read this book you may have a very different view.”

I, for one, am very curious and interested to delve more to what Nayar have to say. I would really like to get hold of his book, prove the worth of this management strategy and learn a thing or two.

So, what do you think?
Reader, please share if you know more about “Employees First, Customers Second”.

Big Job Fair this June!

For the newly-graduates, in-between jobs and career advancements seekers, brave the weather and head out to the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia this June 22 to 23. Following their successful feat last year, JobStreet.com is once again staging its biggest career fair via the Jobgantic Career Fair 2012.

This year, Jobgantic Career Fair is bigger with over 300 employer booths spanning SMX Convention Halls 2, 3 and 4 that offer both local and overseas employment opportunities. Job seekers get to have a knack at job positions in top-notch conglomerates and multi-national companies like San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land, Robinsons, Coca Cola, Toyota, McDonalds, Jollibee, PLDT and SMART, ABS-CBN, Petron Marketing and RCBC to name a few that have signed up for the event. For BPO work, ADP Philippines, Accenture, Convergys, IBM, JP Morgan & Chase Co. and Sykes are but some of the biggest BPO companies that job seekers can apply to on the spot.

According to JobStreet.com, their job listing shows that jobs in engineering (17%), customer care service (14%) sales and marketing specializations (11%) are among the most sought-after job positions. These are followed by those which require skills in general works and maintenance services, manufacturing, computer and information technology, building and construction, administrative and human resources and hotel and restaurant. Thus, job seekers should align their career plans and resumes to grab these opportunities. The company also noted that there is an influx of jobs for the youth segment—almost 80% of the total jobs posted.

“As of press time (June 4), we have hit our record high, if not one of our record highs of over 80,000 jobs available in our website,” exclaims Carolyn Enriquez, senior marketing manager of JobStreet.com, who further explains that companies have started posting jobs heavily this month. “If the numbers continue to increase, our job seekers signed up with JobStreet.com can look forward to bigger and better chances of getting the job of their dreams soon. All they have to do is just log on at JobStreet.com and apply to the thousands of jobs online.”

Aside from the employer-companies, job seekers can also visit job assistance booths set up by concerned government agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)—making the event a one-stop shop for job seeker services.

To avoid long lines, job seekers can pre-register online to receive the Fast Lane Access during the job fair. To assist small and medium-sized enterprises with staffing requirements, Jobstreet.com is also willing to post job offerings for free. For more details, please go to http://www.jobstreet.com, send an e-mail to corpcare-ph@jobstreet.com or call 451-9999.

Business solutions for Pinoy SMEs

On May 29, PLDT SME Nation re-introduced three business solutions designed to liberate entrepreneurs from micro-managing daily operations. “PLDT makes sure that we offer relevant, useful and effective technology solutions to small and medium enterprise market,” said PLDT SME Nation vice president and head Kat Luna-Abelarde. “This way, SMEs can increase the efficiency of their operations and expand their market reach.”

For retail businesses, PLDT offers CheckOut, a web-based point of sale system (POS) that automates every function and process of sale transactions. Since data is stored in an online hosting service, accurate data can accessed from any desktop, laptop or tablet. Record sales, sales analytics, inventory and other important information now comes handy and readily accessible through CheckOut. For the CheckOut Software, the monthly service fee starts at P2,750.

The PLDT Watcher really lives up to its name because this business solution gives the entrepreneur access to watch the comings and goings of daily operations in real time. Designed to help reduce theft and pilferage, whether the treat comes from inside or outside elements, Watcher has a multi-camera system that is backed by a software solution. Unlike the ordinary CCTV system, camera snapshots and video clips can be sent through email and previewed from a computer monitor or mobile phone. Pay P2,000 monthly for the Watcher bundle.

For businesses heavily involved in transport, logistics, courier and delivery operation, the Field Asset System for Tracking (F.A.S.Track) is a web-based monitoring system that locates fleet of vehicles and people while on the road. Easily installed on vehicles or attached on a person’s clothing, the device enables business owners to view their assets in real time from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. With nationwide coverage, F.A.S.Track can be an invaluable tool in fuel cost reduction, better maintenance of vehicles, and effective utilization of manpower. Packages start at P1,100 a month.

To stay ahead of competition, small and medium entrepreneurs can step up their operation through these business suites. By embracing technology and automation, SMEs can easily achieve efficiency. Adopting technology need not be expensive, many business solutions are affordable and offer great returns in terms of higher productivity and eventually, profit as well.

For more information on PLDT SME Nation’s business solutions, visit their website at http://www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.

Johnlu Koa: Baking Bread to the Top

Twenty-three years ago, Johnlu Koa as a budding Filipino entrepreneur stepped on uncharted territory when he opened The French Baker, the first French bakery cafe in the country. Complementing the malls experience, The French Baker created its own niche category. Totally unheard then, Koa introduced live baking on each store with fully-equipped kitchens and ovens that caught the attention of customers that kept coming back to take advantage of real fresh-baked products, especially the French croissants and baguettes.

“You cannot find crusty buns and rolls in any other bakeries. We are so dedicated to making them. Our mission is to bake hard-to-bake breads,” shares Koa. And the difference with their baked products is in its taste, flavor and symphony of crackle that comes only from good bread.

Fast forward to present time, The French Baker remains on top of its category after opening 43 stores located mostly at the SM Supermalls. In 1994, The French Baker received the Agora Award for the Company of the Year by the Philippine Marketing Association. For 2003 to 2004, the bakery cafe was included in the Superbrands Philippines’ roster, then in 2010, the Hall of Fame Award by the Philippine Retailers Association.

Koa’s keen sense on market opportunities and formidable drive to product development helped The French Baker to remain relevant in the market to this day. “We would rather understand the market and pursue what we can potentially do for them that others could not,” reveals Koa. “Our success formula is to be focused on mall customers, on what they want that we can offer.”

To keep ahead, Koa observes international trends by having frequent trips abroad as well as taking suggestions from local chefs and foodies. From there, he then takes his cue and foresees the same trend two or three years happening locally. The French Baker achieved a breakthrough when it started carrying 100 percent whole grain, the purest whole wheat bread available in the market today. Lately, he introduced giant-sized “Parisian Macaron” cookies filled with French butter cream in pistachio, mocha, raspberry and chocolate that can be eaten as a snack or dessert. “I believe my macaron comes very close to the ones in Paris,” muses Koa. Every Christmas season, Koa bakes his “pure Danish butter cookies” and packs them in an attractive jar. “Customers look forward to it as I do it only once a year,” he adds.

Soon The French Baker will be coming out with gluten-free pizza, cupcakes, chocolates and birthday cakes even though the market is so small according to Koa. “There is no other baker who is willing to produce gluten-free baked products and we want to be the first. We do not mind having a longer payback period as long as customers’ interest and approval remain high.”

A stickler for quality that, ultimately, begets customer satisfaction, Koa adheres to the highest standards in every part of the baking process which he personally supervises. For example, French Bakers’ carrot cake is made from real carrots and juice just like the fruit cake having real bits of fruits, walnuts and almonds.

Koa’s passion and drive toward excellence has earned him many accolades. In 2006, he was hailed as an emerging entrepreneur by Ernst & Young. Ten years after he was recognized as one of The Outstanding Young Men for Entrepreneurship.

His presence in the market through the French Baker opened local taste buds to sophisticated flavors and pushed baking to the top rung of the culinary arts. “With French Baker, you know, we are a serious baker. Baking involves very punishing work– physically and mentally. To make a piece of bread, you’ll need a minimum of four to 15 hours. To bake a cake, it only takes 40 minutes. Baking bread is definitely ‘not a piece of cake’. A baker needs to know the art and science behind it, understand the process of fermentation and all the aspects of bakery production. Bread is now looked upon not just as another snack but an interesting product worth going back to,” said Koa.

Moving on to new challenges, Koa now repositions The French Baker as a worthy alternative to a popular chain of coffee shops by introducing his “La Brasserie” concept restaurants inside French Baker stores. “We have more food choices, drinks and offer free access to high-speed wi-fi Internet connection to our dining customers that encourages them to stay as long as they want. We provide universal outlets to allow easy recharging of their laptops. We brew Tchibo, Europe’s finest coffee. We are quite focused on their dining experience.”

Koa, a cum laude in Business Administration, is a former faculty member and Secretary of the College of Business Administration in the UP College of Business in Diliman. He taught while earning his Master’s degree. He won the TOYM for Entrepreneurship in 1996 and the “Ernst & Young Emerging Master Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 2006. He currently writes a regular column for the monthly F&B World/ Baking Press Food Magazine. He also shares his experience and knowledge through his involvement in the GoNegosyo movement where he gives free public lectures on entrepreneurship and strategic marketing, and baking demonstrations all over the country.