Local Produce and Coffee Industry Take Center Stage at CEFBEX 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Now on its 10th year, the Cebu Food and Beverage Expo is back to deliver another memorable gastronomic experience for the Visayan community. Determined to nurture among Cebuanos their naturally adventurous outlook when it comes to food, CEFBEX 2018 invites everyone to go on the “Ultimate Foodventure” across the dynamic and vibrant gastronomic landscape of the Visayan food and beverage industry.

Turning the spotlight on all the tasty goodness that the region has to offer, this year’s CEFBEX is expected to showcase no less than the widest array of the latest F&B trends as the well as the freshest and tastiest goods from countless F&B exhibitors. Yet apart from the staple spread of unique and innovative F&B products, this year’s also show affirms its commitment in being a platform that empowers the region’s farmers and local food producers.

Coinciding with the advocacy of the government to improve the income opportunities of farmers and expand the availability of affordable food supplies for Filipinos, this year’s CEFBEX is more than thrilled to return with two signature event highlights that will help realize these noble aspirations.

Cebu Farmers Market

Organized in partnership with the Cebu Farmers Market, CEFBEX 2018 will once again host the Cebu Farmers Market. Conceived as a project that aims to help farmers by providing them with a regular opportunity to sell directly to consumers, the Cebu Farmers Market is a great venue to shop for locally and organically-grown produce. In bringing the Cebu Farmers Market to CEFBEX, the show organizers aspire to promote the world-class quality of the region’s local and organic produce to a wider audience.

At this year’s CEFBEX Cebu Farmers Market, find an array of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables such as papayas and dragonfruit from 4C’s Flock Farms in Balamban; calamansi, santol, and cherry tomatoes from Lopez Farm in Mabini; French beans, string beans, okra, and alugbati from Nat-Nat’s Vegetable and Herb Garden in Babag II; eggplant, sigarillas, and ampalaya from Cebu Organic Natural Farmers Federation in Cebu Province; Kale-Licious products from Seed and Soil Farm in Tabunan; Nature’s Bounty products from Carcar Natural Farmers in Calidnan, Carcar; and leafy green vegetables and tomatoes from La Estancia Farms in Danao City.

If you’re a fan of eating healthy or trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, the Cebu Farmers Market at CEFBEX 2018 is a must-visit event highlight with its wide-ranging and affordably priced selection of organic vegetables and fruits! At the same time, shopping at the Cebu Farmers Market means taking part in a meaningful cause to empower the organic farming industry of the region.

Coffee Fest

Coffee is a vital part of everyone’s daily routine. More than just a necessary component of most people’s diet, coffee has come to be a beverage that we enjoy for pleasure and relaxation. Recognizing the ever-growing love of Cebuanos for good coffee and likewise the fast-emerging local coffee industry in the region, this year’s CEFBEX returns with the highly-anticipated Coffee Fest.

Presented in partnership with Linear Coffee Roaster and the Cebu Bartenders Barista Association (CBBA), the Coffee Fest aims to showcase Cebu’s specialty coffee and cocktails as well as the talented brewers and baristas serving topnotch coffee and beverages from across the region. This year’s Coffee Fest also marks the fourth year that the CBBA has participated at CEFBEX.

Apart from the unique opportunity to sample a great variety of coffee products, Linear Coffee Roaster and CBBA will also be hosting a series of competitions such as the Cebu mixology, the Bartending face-off, the Brewers Cup, the Taster Cup, and the Latte Art Competition which will be held at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall Activities Center.

The major sponsors for this year’s Coffee Fest are Decouverte corporation, BIG Hotel, Barista Depot, Conlins, TSM, Edsa Beverage Group, El Kapitan while the supporting cafés and establishments include Lé Gab Café, Coffee notes, Fudge, Bird seeds, 32 umber, 22 tatcher, Purge coffee roaster, #ykw roaster, Coffee madness, Clean beach, El Union coffee, Fujinoya, Guion by Linear, and Urban Brew.

Each year, CEFBEX strives to offer food lovers, beverage enthusiasts, and industry players with a food show that constantly champions the growth of the Visayan F&B scene. By continuously mounting events such as the Cebu Farmers Market and the Coffee Fest in partnership with local farmers and coffee producers, CEBFEX hopes to nurture among the Visayan people a deep appreciate for exploring and supporting local F&B products.

Organized by Worldbex Services International, the 10th Cebu Food and Beverages Expo is happening on October 11 to 14 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. Admission is free and open for all foodies and food enthusiasts! For more information, follow Cebu Food and Beverages Expo on Facebook and @cefbex on Instagram. You may also call (02) 656-9239 or email info.worldbex@gmail.com.

DOE to Roll Out More EVs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, will officially turn over four electric vehicles (EVs) to the Office of the President (OP) and the Department of Science Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) tomorrow (2 October) at the motor pool of the agency’s headquarters in Taguig City.

The technologically-advanced vehicles are part of the first lot of equipment donated by the Japanese Government to the Philippines to help in the recovery efforts after typhoon Yolanda.

Initial recipients of the next generation vehicles were Philippine National Police precincts within Region 8 and National Government Agencies (NGAs) with an integral role in emergency response and rehabilitation.

Other NGAs chosen as partners of the DOE also received next generation vehicles for performance testing, research and promotional purposes, which is aligned with the DOE alternative fuels program.

The OP and the DOST-PCIEERD will each receive two vehicles - one plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and one electric-powered vehicle. Both units will be the first of its kind to be used for demonstration and testing by any NGA in the country.

The promotion of EV is aligned with the DOE’s E-Power Mo! Campaign with the thrust E-Safety Mo!, which supports the use of modern and safe vehicles with a smaller carbon footprint envisioned for possible nationwide use.

What to Expect at CEFBEX 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Now on its 10th year, the Cebu Food and Beverages Expo or simply, CEFBEX 2018, is gearing up to host another world-class food show that will turn the spotlight on the unique gastronomic experiences that await in the region. Aptly titled as the “Ultimate Foodventure”, this year’s CEFBEX promises to take foodies and food industry players on an unforgettable journey through the rich and vibrant culinary landscape of Cebu. Likewise, the show is expected to open up new opportunities for local businesses to flourish and reach a wider audience.

To give everyone a better sense of what’s in store at the upcoming CEFBEX 2018, here’s a blow by blow account of what to expect at the biggest food event of the year!

F&B trends, delicacies, and specialties galore
At this year’s CEFBEX, visitors can expect to find no less than an extensive and finely curated selection of the freshest and tastiest F&B goods from Cebu’s best and most daring food innovators, brands, and companies. From well-loved delicacies and regional specialties to the more daring and adventurous food trends that evolve from the culinary heritage of the region, CEFBEX 2018 is the place to be for foodies to sample an unbelievable variety of food and beverage choices!

Homegrown goodness take center stage
Aside from an impressive array of culinary delights, CEFBEX 2018 takes pride in being a platform to showcase the world-class produce and homegrown beverage creations of the region. At this year’s CEFBEX, not to be missed is the Cebu Farmers Market area where one can enjoy shopping for fresh and organically-grown fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, beverage aficionados are sure to enjoy the CEFBEX Coffee Fest. Organized in partnership with Linear Coffee Roaster and the Cebu Bartenders and Baristas Association, the Coffee Fest is a great opportunity to sample the different specialty coffee and cocktails by local bartenders and baristas.

Live-action kitchen battle
Just when you think that the show cannot get any grander that it already is, CEFBEX always takes things up a notch with its exciting range of event highlights. Among these include the highly-awaited CEFBEX Culinary Cup which is divided into two major categories. First up is the CEFBEX Culinary Cup: Home Chef Edition. Open to all residents of Cebu with no prior professional cooking experience for the last five years nor a formal academic background in cooking, the Home Chef cooking competition offers passionate home cooks a chance to showcase their self-honed skills and talent in the kitchen.

Apart from the honor of being hailed as the competition winner, the CEFBEX Culinary Cup also rewards the victor with P30,000 cash prize and opportunities for growth. As shared by Junrey Remiter Leadman, the 2017 Home Chef Grand Winner, “’Home Chef Culinary Cup competition was a big challenge to test my culinary capabilities. Instead of working in Construction Company, now I will be working soon in a hospitality industry!”

Student chef showdowns
Another category of the CEFBEX Culinary Cup is the electrifying Interschool Division. Open to all students from the Visayan region, the Interschool Division is a great way for students to showcase and measure up their development in their respective fields. Among the students to participate at the competition include representatives from the Benedicto College, University of San Carlos, and the University of Visayas. The students will then best it out in categories such as Table Set-Up, Fruit Carving, Cake Decorating, Flairtending, Open Latte Art, Pasta Live Cookery, Brewers Cup, Taster Cup, and Cebu Mixology.

Free for all seminars
Living up to its reputation as the most compelling food show in the region, CEFBEX continues to help the industry realize its fullest potential by hosting another round of CEFBEX Seminars. Offered free of charge, this year’s line-up of seminars will be hosted by top practitioners and industry leaders from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology. Each of the representatives will be sharing their insights about the current state of the F&B industry as well as the fast-growing franchising business.

Over a decade since its first debut, CEFBEX remains committed in fostering a dynamic and inclusive F&B industry that satiates the appetite of consumers and nurtures the businesses of traders. Organized by Worldbex Services International, the 10th Cebu Food and Beverages Expo or simply CEFBEX 2018 is happening on October 11 to 14 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. Admission is free and open for all foodies and F&B professionals. For more information, follow Cebu Food and Beverages Expo on Facebook and @cefbex on Instagram. You may also call (02) 656-9239 or email info.worldbex@gmail.com.