Feast for the Mind and Palate: MAFBEX 2025 Unveils a Power-Packed Culinary Showcase at the World Trade Center

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) 2025 has returned in full flavor, igniting the halls of the World Trade Center with the aroma of innovation, the sizzle of competition, and the passion of culinary excellence. Running from June 11 to 15, 2025, this year’s theme, “Nutrition Facts,” isn’t just a nod to dietary labels—it’s a bold declaration of MAFBEX’s commitment to truth, transparency, and taste in the ever-evolving food and beverage industry.

From the moment the doors opened on June 11, the Main Hall and East Wing B have been abuzz with energy. The festivities kicked off with a ceremonial spectacle and a dynamic barista showdown by the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc., immediately followed by the launch of the YHE (Young Hoteliers’ Exposition) and the much-anticipated MAFBEX Travel Bites Food Tour Guiding Competition.

A Daily Digest of Excellence

Each day of MAFBEX 2025 unfolds like a gourmet tasting menu—carefully curated, expertly timed, and deeply satisfying. Visitors are treated not only to food but also to insight, inspiration, and a peek into the future of Filipino gastronomy.

June 11 (Wednesday): The Rise of Culinary Artistry

The debut day didn’t disappoint. With the MAFBEX Mystery Box and Filipino Burger Competitions lighting up the YHE Main Stage, simultaneous live demos from culinary powerhouses like Magueques, Okada Manila, and Hotel Tablescapes captivated the crowd at the Lobby Area.

June 12 (Thursday): Industry Meets Innovation

Day two bridged knowledge and practice. The National Fisheries Seafood Matchmaking and the MAFBEX Great Bartender Competition Finals brought fierce, flavorful face-offs to the forefront. Meanwhile, thought leaders from organizations like DOST and the AMS Essential discussed food security and integrity, challenging guests to think beyond the plate. The highlight? A heartwarming Pansit-Pansitan Cocktail Competition for cancer warriors, proving that food truly heals.

June 13 (Friday): Empowering the Future

With a firm grip on advocacy and education, Friday kicked off with the National Fisheries Investment Forum and was peppered with masterclasses, tasting events, and heated competitions. From Kewpie Philippines’ Healthy Kids segment to a masterclass by culinary legend Mr. Gerry Ebil, this day fused education and entertainment in seamless harmony. The highlight reel also included the Lee Kum Kee Cooking Demo and a grand finale by Chef Reggie Mendoza.

June 14 (Saturday): Fire on the Stage

The weekend crescendoed with thrilling semifinals for the Barista Competition and more vibrant showcases. Chef Bruce Lim turned heads with his Signature Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice demo, while corporate giants like Oleo-Fats Inc. and Friesland Campina brought in their A-game. The evening was capped with Ludys’ flavorful Deli Club, transforming the Lobby Area into a sensory spectacle.

June 15 (Sunday): A Grand Finale for the Ages

The final day carried no signs of slowing down. From the Philippine National Barista Championship finals to an explosion of flavors from international and homegrown brands, Sunday was a celebration of everything MAFBEX stands for. The Filipino Pizza Battle stole the show as culinary warriors, including Chef Chad Joseph Datu and Chef Philip John Gohing, fired up the ovens in a contest of craft and creativity. A YHE closing and awarding ceremony brought the weeklong extravaganza to a moving end.

More Than an Expo—A Cultural and Culinary Renaissance

MAFBEX 2025 isn’t just an industry event—it’s a revolution. A place where food meets sustainability, business meets ethics, and passion meets purpose. It’s where young hoteliers challenge veterans, where science informs artistry, and where every bite tells a story.

The five-day experience proves once again that the Filipino food scene is not only alive—it’s thriving, leading, and redefining itself with every plate, pitch, and performance.

As the curtains fall on MAFBEX 2025, one thing is certain: the future of food has never looked more delicious.

For updates and highlights, follow the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo across social media or visit the World Trade Center in Pasay City before the final whistle blows at 7 PM on June 15, 2025.

Power Crisis in Siquijor Exposes Deep-Rooted Gaps in Energy Planning

Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) Urges Government to Go Beyond Stopgap Measures and Deliver Long-Term Solutions

June 10, 2025 – Consumer advocacy group Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) expressed serious concern over the ongoing energy crisis in Siquijor, following the province’s declaration of a state of calamity due to prolonged and severe power outages.

“For nearly a month, residents of Siquijor have suffered daily blackouts lasting up to five hours per day,” said Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE. “This is not just an isolated issue—it is a reflection of systemic neglect and outdated energy planning in SPUG (Small Power Utilities Group) areas.”

Siquijor currently requires at least 9.4 MW of power during regular months and up to 20 MW during peak tourism season. But government projections and preparations fell short. The recent influx of tourists—an indicator of the island’s economic growth—was met not with upgraded infrastructure, but with rotating brownouts.

“Blackouts of this scale paralyze local economies, livelihood, public health, disrupt education, and violate the basic right of every Filipino to reliable electricity,” Satur said. “While we welcome the deployment of the 2-MW modular generator to help ease the crisis, it is a stopgap—not a solution.”

PARE is appealing to the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), National Electrification Administration (NEA), the Regional Development Council, and the local government of Siquijor to disclose long-term solutions and planning for energy security on the island.

“We respectfully ask: What are the post-crisis plans? Is there a roadmap that addresses both peak demand and future growth?” Satur said. “The public deserves clarity—not just a 2 MW generator.”

Specifically, PARE is seeking answers and action on the following:

• A comprehensive and transparent review of Siquijor’s energy demand and supply forecasts, especially during high-tourism months
  
  

• Acceleration of plans to connect the island to the main grid for long-term energy resilience
  
  

• Public disclosure and accountability from Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR), DOE, ERC, NEA, NPC, and TransCo
  
  

• Clear enforcement of penalties for SIPCOR as it failed to comply with reliability standards under the EPIRA Law

Satur added: “We have seen what’s possible. Boracay Island faced similar problems in the past. But after the installation of a submarine cable, the island experienced a surge in investment and a leap in economic development—benefits that residents enjoy to this day. Why should Siquijor be any different?”

Power Is a Right, Not a Privilege

Satur emphasized that reliable electricity is a right protected under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), and not a luxury for urban areas alone.

“No island should be left behind,” he said. “If we are serious about inclusive development, SPUG areas like Siquijor must be empowered—not patched up. It’s time to stop applying band-aid solutions and start powering the future.”

Redemption in the Senate: Koko Pimentel's Stand Rekindles the Soul of PDP-Laban

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the solemn chambers of the Philippine Senate—where political theater often blurs the lines between conviction and convenience—one man has stood out with a quiet, unyielding fire. Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, once a subdued figure in the background of Philippine politics, has taken center stage. And this time, he isn’t just playing a role—he’s rewriting the script.

With surgical precision and a commanding grasp of the Senate Rules, Pimentel orchestrated the rare and controversial move to nudge the Senate into convening as an impeachment court. It was a moment of reckoning that sent tremors through the political establishment. This wasn’t a loud display of power—it was a masterclass in institutional knowledge, deft persuasion, and principled resolve.

His colleagues, even those who may not share his fervor, yielded not out of pressure, but deference. For Pimentel, the rules weren’t just tools—they were instruments of democracy, honed through generations, now wielded with clarity of purpose. In the face of a system teetering on the edge of convenience and compromise, Pimentel offered a different path: fidelity to the Constitution, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.

The confrontation between Pimentel and Senator Bong Go captured the mood of a country torn between survival and principle. Go, known for his loyalty to former President Rodrigo Duterte, dismissed the impeachment as a distraction—"It won’t put food on the table," he said. But Pimentel’s retort was swift, pointed, and profound: “There are many things necessary in life that are not tangible—like justice.”

It was a line that echoed far beyond the Senate walls. For many Filipinos disillusioned by transactional politics, Pimentel's words rang like a call to conscience.

A Son Returns to His Father’s Battle

Political pundits and observers have begun to frame this moment as Senator Pimentel’s redemption arc—a long-awaited return to the legacy of his father, the late Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., a towering figure who helped found PDP-Laban during the darkest days of the Marcos dictatorship. The elder Pimentel stood for truth, civil liberties, and the rule of law at great personal cost.

Now, his son stands at a similar crossroads. In a Senate where many choose silence over principle, Koko Pimentel has chosen to speak up—even if it means standing alone. And in doing so, he has awakened something long buried beneath party realignments and political compromises: the soul of PDP-Laban.

Hijacked in recent years by the Duterte faction and repurposed as a tool of populism, PDP-Laban seemed destined to fade into ideological irrelevance. But in just a few days, Koko Pimentel reminded the nation of its origins—a party born from resistance to tyranny, grounded in constitutionalism, and driven by the pursuit of justice.

“It’s about time he used his kokote,” some critics and commentators say, noting how this new, reinvigorated Pimentel seems more aligned with the visionary grit of his father. But it’s more than just intellect. It’s about moral clarity in a time of moral fatigue.

A Lone Voice—Or the Beginning of a Chorus?

As Senate deliberations grow more fraught and impeachment looms ever closer, Pimentel’s stand might yet inspire others to follow suit. While many in the chamber remain hesitant, the clarity of his voice cuts through the fog of political evasion.

In an era dominated by spectacle and short-term gains, Senator Koko Pimentel has chosen the harder path—principled dissent. It may not win him popularity, nor guarantees of re-election, but it has placed him on the right side of history.

He is not just honoring his father’s legacy—he is living it. In the face of power, when most choose silence, Pimentel has chosen to speak. And in doing so, he has reminded the nation that justice, though intangible, is worth every fight.

In these uncertain times, it is perhaps in the lone, steady voice of Koko Pimentel that we rediscover what it means to believe again.

Bravo, Sen. Koko: Isang Gabi ng Tapang, Paninindigan, at Kasaysayan sa Senado

Sa panahong inuugoy ng katahimikan ang mga bulwagan ng kapangyarihan, isang boses ang umalingawngaw. Hindi ito bulong ng takot o ingay ng kaplastikan. Isa itong sigaw ng prinsipyo. At ang pinagmulan nito: si Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Gabi ng Tapang: Nang Gumising ang Senado

Hindi ito ordinaryong sesyon. Hindi ito scripted na drama. Ito ang gabi kung kailan muli nating nasilayan ang Senado sa tunay nitong anyo — isang institusyong may puso, may silbi, at may tapang.

Sa gitna ng naglalagablab na isyu ng confidential funds na tila mas confidential pa sa katotohanan, tumindig si Sen. Koko Pimentel sa plenaryo upang magsulong ng makasaysayang mosyon. Hindi ito basta privilege speech. Hindi ito eksenang pang-PR. Ito ang unang pormal na pagkilos ng Senado na naglalayong ihanda ang institusyon para sa posibleng impeachment trial laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Bilang mga tagapagbantay ng Saligang Batas, tungkulin natin na maging handa. Hindi tayo pwedeng manahimik sa harap ng malinaw na pag-abuso sa pondo ng bayan,” – Sen. Koko Pimentel

Ang P500 Milyong Tanong: Nasaan ang Pondo, at Para Saan?

Sa ilalim ng masinsinang pagsusuri, inilantad ni Sen. Koko ang sentro ng kontrobersiya: P500 milyong confidential fund na inilaan sa Office of the Vice President noong 2022 — isang pondo na dumaan sa Office of the President, walang sapat na audit, at nababalot sa nebulosong tabing ng “national security.”

Sa kanyang mosyon, nabuo ang isang Select Committee sa Senado na tututok sa constitutional obligations nito — paghahanda sa oras na ihain ng Kamara ang Articles of Impeachment.

Risa Hontiveros: Moral na Kaagapay

Habang si Koko ang arkitekto ng legal na hakbang, si Sen. Risa Hontiveros naman ang nagsilbing moral na tanglaw. Buong tapang siyang nanawagan para sa pananagutan:

“Hindi tayo dapat natatakot magtanong. Panahon na para igiit ang pananagutan.”

Magkaiba man ang estilo, iisa ang diwa: ang Senado ay dapat manindigan sa gitna ng mga isyung humahamon sa integridad ng pamahalaan.

Ang Publiko: Nagising, Nagbunyi, Sumigaw

Hindi na ito simpleng parliamentary move. Isa itong tagpo na bumuhay sa pananampalataya ng taumbayan sa Senado.

Mula sa mga paaralan hanggang simbahan, komunidad hanggang social media — nag-alab ang damdamin ng publiko. Trending buong gabi ang mga hashtag:

#ImpeachSaraNow

#SaludoKoko

#SalamatKoko

#SenadoParaSaBayan

“Si Koko ang lider na hindi natin inaakalang kailangan natin, hanggang sa tumindig siya,” ani ng isang youth leader.

Maging ang mga retiradong opisyal, civic groups, at kabataan ay nagpaabot ng suporta. Ang dating tahimik at mistulang inutil na Senado, biglang naging sentro ng pambansang diskurso.

Hindi Lang Kritiko, Kundi Tunay na Lider

Hindi ito unang beses na ipinakita ni Pimentel ang kanyang tapang. Bilang dating Senate President, batikan siyang abogado at constitutionalist. Ngunit ang kanyang pinakamahalagang sandata ay hindi ang posisyon, kundi ang walang kinikilingang prinsipyo.

Hindi siya nagpapadala sa alon ng popularidad. Hindi siya sunod sa uso. Siya ay boses ng batas sa panahong binubulag ng takot ang marami.

“Ang Senado ay hindi para sa mga makapangyarihan. Ang Senado ay para sa batas at sa taumbayan.” – Sen. Koko Pimentel

Ang Simula ng Pananagutan

Ito ay hindi personal na laban. Hindi ito pulitika ng paghihiganti. Ito ay laban ng batas laban sa abuso. Laban ng katotohanan laban sa pagtatakip. Laban ng bayan laban sa kawalang pananagutan.

At sa hakbang nina Koko at Risa, muli nating nasilayan ang sinumpaang tungkulin ng Senado — ang maging bantay, tagapagtanggol, at tunay na kinatawan ng sambayanan.

Abangan: Si Koko sa Kongreso

Sa inaasahang paglipat ni Pimentel sa Mababang Kapulungan matapos ang 2025 halalan, ang Kongreso ay posibleng makakita ng bagong anyo ng pamumuno: matalino, matapang, at makabayan.

Kung gaano siya naging mahalagang tinig sa Senado, ganoon din ang inaasahang magiging epekto niya sa House of Representatives — kung saan higit pa ang puwedeng gawin, at mas marami ang kailangang panagutin.

Sa Gabi ng Tapang, Isinilang Muli ang Pag-asa

Ang gabi ng Hunyo ay maaaring isa lamang sa marami, ngunit sa gabing iyon, muling nagsindi ng liwanag si Sen. Koko Pimentel sa madilim na sulok ng ating politika.

At sa liwanag na iyon, nakita natin ang pag-asa. Ang posibilidad. Ang kinabukasan.

At sa bawat laban para sa katotohanan, integridad,

 at katarungan — kailangan natin ng mas maraming Koko.