New culinary school to open in Davao
by Prix D Banzon
Davao City (20 October) -- A new culinary school will locate in Davao City to cater to people who have strong interests but could not afford to study in Manila or Cebu.
The MOST Institute will open in Davao next month said owner Dr. Mario Onagan in an interview with Davao business reporters on Friday.
Onagan who is a doctor by profession and works as a UN volunteer that handles HIV/AIDS care in Cambodia and other neighboring countries is also a passionate cook; his passion has inspired him to set up the MOST culinary school.
Its main campus is in Quezon City and a branch in Las Piñas with Davao as its third branch which will be located at the NCCC property in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue this city.
With the increasing cost of schooling in culinary schools that ranges from P200, 000 to P 2 million plus other expenses, he said their offering is at competitive cost.
For a six month basic course on culinary one only shells out P25, 000 for a six months course he said.
He said their other objective is for people to develop the skills because it is a high paying job abroad.
He said entry level for chef is at $700 but could range to $1,500 to $2,000 monthly.
But Onagan said their coming to Davao is to help the community and the people to develop their skills in cooking.
For three years in operations MOST Institute already graduated 1,000 students even as he said that their school is widely known in the Middle East.
He said their students after taking six months courses will move up to the three-month course on Halal cooking then another three months for Truly Asian cooking.
The Halal course he said is a Halal certified program by the Office of Muslim Affairs. Most is also a recognized school of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).
Courses offered are Bases des Artes Culinaires, Halal Culinary Arts, Asian Culinary Arts, Restaurant Skills and Operations, Beverage Skills and Operations.
There will also be courses on Therapeutic Cookery, Baking and Pastry, Cakes and Chocolates, Catering Operation, Restaurant Entrepreneur Program.
But Onagan said that students among others will be taught on Kitchen Accounting, Housekeeping Skills Operation.
Meanwhile Onagan said to go with the school is their restaurant and coffee shop business that they will put up at the NCCC Mall in Matina.
The Mekung Restaurant will serve food from countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thai, Laos, Burma and China while the Café Prum will have pastas prepared and served like hotels by chefs as well as coffees of the six countries. (PIA XI) [top]
