Bakers hand plaque of appreciation to Mayor Parojinog

February 11, 2008


OZAMIZ CITY---Right after the usual singing of the invocation, national anthem and the oath of the government employees in the facade of the city hall, the emcee called out the names of non-governmental associations given certificates of appreciation for their support to the Adopt a School Program and Adopt a Street program of the city government. A dozen names were called and lesser than that came to claim their plaques made of framed printed paper.
But while Mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog gave out certificates, one association stood out because its officers came up to the stage to give out a plaque of appreciation for his support to their sector.
The Ozamiz City Bakers Association did just that.
Its president Steve Villegas and vice-president Mary Eleanor “Norie” Bernad came to hand out a small blue parchment design plastic plaque to mayor for his support to the processed foods sector, the likes of which had never been seen in the city’s history since its founding in 1745 by the Spanish colonialists.
Norie is the wife of Vice Mayor Carlos Bernad, whose foreparents donated the lot on which the City Hall and plaza stand. They own the Bernad Subdivision, among the city’s first and biggest.
With them was Mario L. Cuezon, a specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry-Misamis Occidental working for the processed foods sector.
Villegas read the text of the plaque which detailed Parojinog’s support to the processed foods sector by sponsoring the First Ozamiz Fiesta Baking and Laya Cooking Contests. The contests were the search for the best delicacies produced by its bakeries and home-based food sector and for the best recipes in cooking laya fish, which it is trying to develop for the tourism industry.
The contests held last July 14, 2007 –two days before its fiesta in honor of the Virgin Mary bearing the name Nuestra Senora del Triunfo—was the first held by a city government of the province for professional bakers and cooks. Previous cooking and baking contests held in the city and other towns and cities in Misamis Occidental were usually held during Nutrition Month and had students and or mothers as participants. The baking contest was the second sponsored by an LGU, after that of the town of Jimenez, 24 kilometers to its north.
After reading the text, Villegas handed the plaque to the mayor who is descended from the province’s first governor, congressman and the only senator, Jose Ozamiz, from Jimenez town. Ozamiz City was renamed Ozamiz in honor of this forebear who was martyred by the Japanese during World War II. Ozamiz held a post in the puppet government but secretly supported the guerrilla movement. He was found out and was incarcerated and tortured at Fort Santiago and beheaded at the Paco Cemetery.
Villegas. Bernad and Cuezon then congratulated mayor.
The plaque which was ordered from Crown Paper and Stationers was supposed to be given last December but mistakes in the names of two signatories made the giver withdraw it for correction. Bernad’s surname was misspelled as Bernard while that of Cuezon became Cuizon. The manufacturer owned up its mistake and made another one which was only finished late last month.
Other signatories who failed to come were Jean Y. Te of JYT House of Bread; treasurer Raymund Pintacasi of Bag-ong Ozamiz Bakery, press relations officers (PRO) Evan Batiquin of Red Cherry Bakery, and Dante Lungay of Betty’s Bakery.
Mayor had provided almost P200,000.00 for the baking and cooking contest last year which was attended by 22 participants bringing in 70 food entries.The contest awarded the best patatas, best cookies, best native delicacies, best lean bread, best sweet bread and best filled bread.
Awards consisted of plaques, cash prizes of P3,000.00, P2,000.00 and P1,000.00 for first, second and third prizes respectively, and tarpaulins announcing the victories which were placed in the facades of their establishments. The plaques were ordered through Crown Paper and Stationers branch in this city but were reportedly made in Cagayan de Oro.
Among the bakeries who hauled in prizes in the contests were JYT House of Bread, Bag-ong Ozamiz Bakery, Madelicious Bakery, Offelieth’s Bakery, Sam’s Bakery and Apolinario Superable of Western Mindanao School of Technology.
Villegas is the manager of Mark’s Bakery, which produces bread and other delicacies like cheese bread, krinkles, patatas, and various kinds of cookies. The bakery has a store in the city center and another in the agora.
Bernad, who is the spouse of Vice Mayor Carlos Bernad, manages the food establishment known for its chocolate products, siopao, meat bread and other delicacies.
JYT House of Bread is known for its lean breads and other specialties. It won first prize in the best cookies category in this year’s baking contest and second prize in best lean bread.
Bag-ong Ozamiz Bakery won four prizes in this year’s baking contest for its patatas, cookies, meat roll and ube sweet bread.
Aside from breads, Red Cherry Bakeshop also produces delicacies like torta, cookies and banana chips.
Dante Lungay’s Betty’s Bakeshop at the agora is known for its Pan Ramona.
Cuezon is the first staff to encourage LGUs to stage baking contests as part of product development and marketing strategy for the best products and producers.
The cost of the plaque came from the surplus funds donated by Pilmico Foods Corporation sales manager Gerson Laban for activities to benefit the baking sector.
The plaque was made by Crown Paper and Stationer. It was supposed to be given late last year but because of errors in spelling caused by the manufacturer, it had to be withdrawn and redone.
After the program, Villegas was interviewed by Michael Medina of the Mindanao Herald. He said that while pandesal costs P2 to P3 in Manila, in Ozamiz, there are still some bakeries selling them at the old price –P1 per piece. He said that they are also considerate of their consumer’s hardships.