Moro chieftains compete for ‘Pakaradjaan Master Chef-tain 2018’

Cotabato City (September 5, 2018) – Chieftains of the five mock Moro villages inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here competed on Wednesday, September 5, in a cooking showdown dubbed as the ‘Pakaradjaan Master Chef-tain’. The event is part of the year-long celebration of ARMM’s 29th anniversary.

With an hour to prepare a full-course meal for the judges and another hour to prepare a dish using a special item from a ‘mystery box’ as main ingredient, the chieftains brought out the best dishes their respective provinces could offer.

For ARMM Executive Secretary and Basilan Village Chieftain Laisa Masuhud-Alamia, the competition goes beyond the question of who cooks better. It is also about mainstreaming the Bangsamoro cuisine, she said.

“Ang competition na ito ay hindi lang kung sino ang pinakamasarap magluto dahil dito sa competition na ito, shino-showcase namin ang kanya-kanyang cuisine ng bawat probinsya dahil karamihan sa mga niluto namin dito ay hindi lang sine-serve sa pang-araw araw kung hindi para din sa mga special occasions,” she said.

Hadji Kahal Kedtag, ARMM Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Maguindao Village Chieftain, said what they have prepared for the judges “are usually served on the tables of royalties.“

The competition's judges are:

·        Congresswoman Amihilda Sangcopan of Anak Mindanao Party-list;

·        Professor Teresita Sanchez, former dean of the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management of Mindanao State University-Marawi;

·        Professor Cecile Mambuay, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Hospitality Management in Singapore;

·        Chef Datu Shariff Pendatun, corporate chef for Unilever Philippines;

·        Chef Jose Sarasola, celebrity chef and actor from ABS-CBN; and

·        Chef Boy Logro, celebrity chef in a highly rated cooking show at GMA television.

Having the experience to travel around the world as a chef, tasting the local Bangsamoro delicacies impressed Chef Logro. “Sa tagal ko nang umikot sa buong daigdig, ngayon lang ako nakatikim nito. Sana ma-introduce at mai-market ang mga ito sa buong Pilipinas,” he said,

Chef Sarasola, a ‘big fan’ of turmeric as food ingredient, found the dishes served ‘amazing’. “When I heard that almost everything is turmeric-based, I knew that I would like it. True enough, sobrang win for me,” he said. Bangsamoro food is known for its exotic spices, especially the use of turmeric in major dishes.

Being one of the Moro judges, Congresswoman Amihilda Sangcopan was impressed with how the chieftains prepared their food. “Bilang isang Moro, alam ko ang pagkain ng Moro. Sigurado akong ang pagkain dito ay unique at kaya nating ipagmalaki sa buong mundo,”she said.

The criteria for judging are: taste/palatability (50%), creativity and technique (25%), and presentation (25%). Winners will be announced during the culmination program of the ARMM’s 29th anniversary in November. (By JONG CADION wirth PR from Bureau of Public Information)