TORQUE PRODUCTIONS: The Party Authority

TORQUE PRODUCTIONS: The Party Authority

By Taga Ibaan Ako

The world started empty. No music. No lights. Each night, we hear head breaking silence. We thought of going out to ring our ears with music in city bars. But that’s all we got –nights of disturbing music. Parties and events must be reinvented.

Night after night, we run gamut of stories for the magazine then break the dawn with a table full of bottles of beer just to find ourselves unsatisfied with our kind of party. We craved for more company with people flashing luscious smiles and roaring in applause on enchanting music enticing them to get on the dance floor. Those were the days. We began mapping things out. We needed something to fill our hunger for such. Thus, TORQUE PRODUCTIONS and Events Management was born. And its parties and events now rule Batangas City.

Knights Of The Round Table

We’re all knights by our own rights and ways. No one can take away that from us. Every day, we’re being ganged up by horsemen and cavalries trying to make it through the race of life to enjoy a better one. By night fall, shoulders begin to weight us down and get too heavy for us to carry. This is when we need a break. We heard you say that. That’s why we created “Knights of the Round Table”, a series of party for hard working men. But that’s not all. Every knight has a fair lady under his wing. And ladies are also part of the round of table.

The first Knights of the Round Table Party was held at Alexie Bar. It’s actually part of the opening and launching of Rapide, the best car care hub in Batangas City, without reservation. RnB music shook everyone off their seats. Although the event didn’t make so much noise around the city, it’s still a success with personalities grabbing tables full of freebies and one hard-hitting case of Red Horse.

Sponsors, though they felt like we’re pestering them already, willingly came to our rescue and rallied around to give us a push to go on with the event. Things started low. But when the band started playing, rave party immediately consumed everyone.

Knights returned to the table with Melai and Vice Ganda dubbed as “Nakaka-LokaL Sila!” at Bel Piatto Café & Bistro, Pallocan West, Batangas City (in front of SM City – Batangas). Nope, they’re not who they are. They cost a lot. They’re actually Batangas City’s impersonators of Melai and Vice Ganda. It doesn’t matter. Their antics perfectly fit on the shoes of the real ones. Kudos to the two of them. Not anyone in the crowd didn’t have any dull moments. Their jaws dropped into laughter and had a good run of their blood to chill the night out. Of course, the night won’t be complete without great music. An acoustic band serenaded everyone like lovers going out on their first date.

Knights of the Round Table party series took a break for a while. Weeks later, “Major Major” was staged. This was also held at Bel Piatto where guests savored on fine caldereta with two pieces of Italian tempura, buttered corn and carrots, garlic rice, plus Arizona Antioxidant Tea. And yes, Jovit Baldivino performed in here!!

Then last November 26, the Knights were again called out of their castles. We led them this time at Jenina’s Garden Restaurant, Libjo, Batangas City. So far, this was the most loved event that TORQUE PRODUCTIONS has produced. Much more, it was set at in a chic and modish venue at Jenina’s Garden. Forty (40) tables were lined up and the crowd was great –again, Batangas City’s fine personalities were present. And the music? Ah, a classy one. Genesis band played all night long with music from the 60s, 70s, 80s and the 90s. And if you’re going ask us if the crowd got a gust of memories back in time, it’s going to be big screaming “yes!” for that. No doubt about it.

Oh, we almost forgot. The foods were heaven sent down to the guests’ plates. They include steamed fish and butterfly pork with vegetable rice, mixed fresh fruits on the side, with iced tea and kapeng barako! Do you think you can find those entrée anywhere? I doubt. And if you’re going to ask how and what they taste like, we suggest that you unleash your horse, whip it off through Jenina’s place and enjoy those foods like our Knights did. Sure thing you can ask for more. Their menu is loaded with health-friendly entrees.

These are just the beginning. TORQUE PRODCTIONS binds itself to create and manage parties and events worthy to be included in everyone’s memory box. The fun. The party. The life itself. We’ll give you all of that. Batangas City will never sleep. And it’s all because of TORQUE PRODUCTIONS. The Party Authority.

So you think you’re wild? We’ll tame you. Come to our party. You’re invited.

(TORQUE PRODUCTIONS is owned and managed by Orli Gayeta and Dennis Perez)

Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas: Defiitely on the Lead

LPU – Batangas: Definitely On The Lead
by Taga Ibaan Ako

Year after year, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas never run out of reasons to remain on top in different fields compared with other schools, colleges and universities, not only in the region but also in the country. And this year, they’ve proven this once more for the nth time by topping the recently concluded National Food Showdown. If there’s such a thing as a habit in this level of competition, then this must be the best one.

Living up to the words of LPU-Batangas President Peter Laurel “We’re the most awarded tourism school in the Philippines”, National Food Showdown 2010 held at A. Venue Events Hall in Makati City with the theme “A Quest for Culinary Excellence”, September 10 – 11, was never a strange and uncharted battle field for LPU winning in majority of the competition’s categories and in Overall Awards.

In Overall Awards, LPU-Batangas topped the Golden Plate Trophy for Bar and Dining Challenge, 2nd in both Golden Plate Trophy for Compleat Chefs and Presidential Trophy,
and 3rd overall awardee in Golden Plate Trophy for Sweet Revenge.

These awards were capped by LPU after winning in different categories. Remarkably, they won three (3) Gold (Petits Fours/Pralines, Creative Cake Decoration and Table Setting Categories), one (1) Silver (Chocolate Showpiece Category) and seven (7) Bronze (Gourmet Cold Buffet Challenge, Amuse Bouche, Plated Vegetarian Dish, Fruit Flambe, Bread Showpiece, Baby Cakes, and Wedding Cake Categories). They were also able to receiver Diploma Award in The Apprentice (Coach and Student Tandem) Category.

Since joining the National Food Showdown, highly-regarded by the food and beverage industry as the country’s premier food event which is being judged by an impressive roster of F&B professionals such as executive chefs, hotel & restaurant owners, managers and culinary experts from leading food manufacturers and suppliers, LPU-Batangas never fail to amuse the nation with awe as they refuse to cease from winning over and over again.

From 2001 to 2009, the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management had won a record high 21 national title. These include Philippine National Skills Competition Meat Processing in 2001, Pinoy Bartending Competition in 2003. In 2004, they won in Chefs on Parade, Dream Team Challenge Culinary Grand Prix and again in Philippine National Skills Competition (which they repeated in 2006).

Lyceum-Batangas was the Grand National Champion and recipient of the Presidential Trophy and Golden Plate award at the National Food Showdown in 2009 and the Most Awarded Tourism School in the Philippines by the Philippine Tour Operators Association in the 20th Philippine Travel Mart Tourism Skills Competition 2009.

Lyceum-Batangas is also the recipient of four international awards. It won in both student and professional divisions at the Monin International Flairtending Competition in 2008, and the Diploma of Excellence in the 5th and 6th ASEAN Skills Competition-Restaurant Service held in Hanoi, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam, respectively.

And needless to say, this victorious year will again go down to history. Without brewing any doubts, by far, no other in school in the region has ever come any closer to LPU-Batangas, neither can’t be at par with them in terms of excellence in this area. Not to be stopped, they also won in the National Bartending Warriors in 2008, and the Manila Flair in 2009.

Not to be belittled of course is LPU-Batangas’ continued efforts to improve and develop their craftsmanship with updated education system. LPU-Batangas has an industry-based curriculum which is a very important factor in preparing the students to become professionally fit to meet the demands of different industry. This can be attributed to their ties with Dusit Thani, a member of the Dusit International hotel chain. The agreement allows Dusit Thani College, one of Thailand’s leading hospitality institutions, to share its international curriculum and academic resource materials for its Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Administration specializing in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM), Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, Tourism Management and other intensive courses in hotel management such as its celebrated Professional Chef and Culinary Arts program.

The National Food Showdown 2010 was participated by 50 schools (Student Division) all over the country. There were also 12 and 13 participants for Professional Division and Establishment Division respectively.

For more years to come, expect to hear more of LPU-Batangas besting countless national and international competition. This will go in vain.