MANILA, Philippines -In the recently held commencement exercises for the Asian School for the Hospitality Arts (ASHA) at the C3 Events Place in Greenhills, the graduates were made to swear a pledge of commitment to service excellence, the first time ever since the school held its first march of graduates in 2010. While it may be seen by many as a mere lip service, the graduates already know by heart this commitment ever since they entered the school’s doors and leave for a promising career in the exciting world of the hospitality and F&B industry.
In fact, some of the graduates expected to march in this occasion were not able to make it -– for the simple reason that some of them were away, having been given opportunities to work or learn further. Some of them are now employed in hotels, cruise lines and resorts overseas. Also, several students still taking their courses in ASHA are taking their OJT in some of the well known hotels, resorts and restaurants in the country and abroad. Some of ASHA’s graduates also get to work for The Cravings Group (TCG), the dynamic and expanding group of restaurants, hotels and educational institutions where ASHA belongs.
Two of the recent graduates, Kevin Perez of Indang, Cavite and Rinelle Magbanlag of Caloocan, have proven that despite the challenges in the earlier stages of their career paths, they were able to prove their skills and personalities after learning about the bright prospects for a career in the hospitality and F&B industry.
Kevin admits to being directionless at the start, as his friends and schoolmates are successfully forging their futures in their very own areas of expertise. Seeing that working in a business like food where the demand is always up, Kevin decided to the one-year Certificate in Hotel and Restaurant Operations (CHRO) course in ASHA’s campus in Tagaytay, specializing in Professional Cooking. In fact, it took an invitation from a former teacher in ASHA for him to finally get the job of his dreams. “I was vacationing in Boracay when I bumped into my teacher, Kiko Ramirez, who was working for Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Resort in the island.
Now, he is part of the team that is reformatting the resort’s La Terraza restaurant with his mentor, who is now its executive chef.
Still, the occasion to celebrate the achievements of its graduates was filled with words of inspiration and advice not only from the ASHA’s key officers like TCG’s founder and chairman, Susana Guerrero, chancellor for Education Dr. Ma. Veritas Luna, and ASHA school director Angie Blanco but also from their guest of honor and speaker, Dusit Thani Hotel’s director for HR, Atty. Juancho Baltazar.
ASHA has schools located in Antipolo, Kamias QC, Tagaytay, Santolan Greenhills, and West Avenue QC. For more information, call 0917-5729790 or visit: www.asha.edu.ph/.