July 22, 2011 Manila - M.I.H.C.A. (Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts) hosted their bi-annual open house, July 22 at their Manila Campus at the 3rd Floor of Times Plaza Bldg. UN Ave.
Opened in 2006, this training center is more than what your eyes can see. From the facade of the building, one would think that this place would feel cramped inside but once you see their facility, you would be amazed with the spacious training area, classrooms, computer laboratory, 2 restaurants (The Papel and Illumine) and even a function room which is open to the public.
By far, Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts is the most competitive when it comes to the course fee. Being a frustrated "chef" myself, I am considering to enlist in MIHCA's Certificate in Professional Culinary Arts Studies. Aside from the fact that the program is affordable to people with a passion for cooking, I am very much enamored with the schedule of classes they are holding at their Manila campus, 5 days a week (Mondays thru Fridays, 8am-2pm) for 7 months with the inclusion of 300 hours of externship training. Talk about extensive training! This program includes:
- Kitchen Orientation
- Product Identification
- Starches
- Stocks
- Soups
- Fish
- Butchery
- Cooking Techniques
- Breakfast
- Pantry
- Baking
- Sanitation
- Basic Computer Communication
- Professionalism and Teamwork
Another certificate course that MIHCA offers is the Professional Baking and Pastry Arts Studies. Everything from making different kinds of breads to desserts would be covered in this course in a span of 7 months with also 300 hours of apprenticeship. With this long duration of being in the kitchen, this would surely propel one into being an excellent Pastry Chef.
MIHCA offers other courses (out of the kitchen) such as Housekeeping Services. Their facilities for this course includes a simulation of a hotel room and authentic cabin rooms from cruise ships wherein students do the actual hands-on for bed-making and a considerable spacious area for lectures and hands-on for cleaning procedures. The program duration is 5 weeks with 500 hours of externship training. I was amazed when some students demonstrated to us how to make a bed looking so nice, clean and pristine under 5 minutes. This training center is also responsible for the impeccable cabin room appearance of Aida Cruise Line and Costa Cruise.
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| Actual cabin rooms of AIDA Cruises (above) and Costa Cruises (below). |
The Food and Beverage Services certificate program will equip the student with the skills they would need to efficiently work at a restaurant or a bar. From introduction to food and beverage, sanitation, service skills and to wine appreciation, this course would definitely give the edge needed to stand out amongst the crowd of "mediocre" service staff.
A month-long Bartending Program will provide the necessary know-how in preparing hot or cold beverages, be it alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
Other course offerings includes Barista 101, Flairtending 101, Professional Messman Course, Personality Enhancement Training , Public Health and Sanitation and Lifestyle Courses which varies from month to month. I might enroll in their Advanced Course in Baking this coming September to further enhance my baking skills.
During this open house event, we were given a tour through the training center's very spacious kitchens and visitors were able to partake in food sampling as we go from one kitchen to the other. As we went through the kitchens, we also peeked on some of the food that will be served to us for lunch and had a glimpse on how the food was prepared (or was it just me since I broke away from the rest of the group for a little while trying to move ahead on to the next area to visit?).
A light chat with one of the Sales and Marketing Manager, Dyan Fernandez, we found out that the training center currently has 1,200 enrolled and is still growing. She informed us that during this open house event, most of the attendees are representatives from different schools who has some of the same courses with MIHCA. Why do you ask? There are times when a school are not able to fully conduct their classes/lesson due to the lack of modern facilities such as working kitchen laboratory or baking laboratory, hence, the school partners with MIHCA and the students are sent to MIHCA's training center to use their kitchen and do hands-on activities necessary to pass their particular course.
At least 8 years in the industry is one of the requirements to be part of the faculty and staff at MIHCA so you'd know you're getting the best kind of tutelage from your teacher. The chefs of MIHCA are not only limited in the kitchen teaching students but are constantly participating in different expo or food showdown to be up-to-date with industry standards.
MIHCA's job placing system which endorses promising graduates to hotels and luxury cruise lines is one of the bonus of being enrolled here.
For more information, please refer to their website at www.mihca.com.ph
