From June to July 2025, alumni of the University of Baguio’s School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM) returned as mentors during the operations of The Champion’s Nook at the Centennial Café.
Working alongside students from the Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts and Catering Operations (AACACO) program, the alumni provided hands-on guidance in both kitchen production and food and beverage service. Their mentorship provided students with practical skills, industry insights, and real-world advice, bringing classroom lessons to life.
The alumni mentors included Rutherford Kenth Mangangey, Lexi Mae Eleponga, Fritz Bryan Gatchalian, Charles Lennon Cucal, Ezra Sagaoc, and Arleigh Soliman—graduates who have trained in internationally recognized establishments in the United States of America and Thailand, thereby bringing world-class hospitality standards back to UB.
Mr. Mangangey, one of the pioneering AACACO students who underwent U.S. International On-the-Job Training (IOJT), drew from his culinary experience at the prestigious Yellowstone Club in Montana, USA—a private residential ski and golf resort known for its exclusivity. He mentored students in kitchen operations, focusing on precision, quality, and efficiency in culinary production.
Joining him was Ms. Soliman, also an AACACO IOJT alumna, who trained at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. She likewise mentored students in kitchen operations, sharing best practices and professional standards gained from her international experience.
Ms. Eleponga, who completed her internship at the renowned Centara Grand Beach Resort in Phuket, Thailand, shared her expertise in front-of-the-house service. She trained students in delivering world-class hospitality, emphasizing professionalism, attentiveness, and customer care.
Mr. Gatchalian, recognized as a 5-star employee during his training at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida, USA, guided students in restaurant management. His leadership reflected the Ritz-Carlton’s gold standard of service. Alongside him, Ms. Sagaoc, mentored students in food and beverage service, embodying the Ritz-Carlton philosophy: “We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.”
Mr. Cucal and Ms. Soliman, both alumni of the Sea Island Resort in Georgia, USA—a Forbes Five-Star resort—further enriched the students’ experience by mentoring them in beverage service and dining operations, ensuring exposure to a high level of hospitality excellence.
continuous growth and lifelong learning among UB students. Beyond equipping them with skills, it provided meaningful global exposure and highlighted the value of alumni mentorship, ensuring that education at UB extends beyond the classroom into real-world, transformative experiences.
The mentorship program gave UB students more than just skills—it gave them a glimpse of hospitality at the global level. Rooted in the principle of paying it forward, the initiative celebrated alumni who continue to carry the UB brand of excellence wherever they go, further exemplifying continuous growth and lifelong learning.
