ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES — Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Flour and the City Government of Zamboanga strengthened their partnership on Thursday, October 8, reaffirming their shared commitment to supporting local bakers, bakeshop owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs through practical skills development and baking education.
The meeting brought together representatives of URC Flour and the Zamboanga City Government ahead of the Sugod Bakery Caravan, which will take place on October 11 and 12 as part of the activities surrounding the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
The partnership highlights a shared goal of creating meaningful opportunities for Zamboangueño bakers by providing them with practical knowledge and techniques that can be applied to their everyday baking operations and businesses.
Through the Sugod Bakery Caravan, URC Flour’s technical baking team will conduct hands-on learning sessions and demonstrations covering essential baking techniques, including proper dough preparation and handling, flour application, recipe improvement, production efficiency, product consistency, and other practices aimed at helping bakers improve the quality of their breads and pastries.
The initiative builds on the caravan’s broader mission of providing technical training and mentorship directly to local baking communities while celebrating regional baking traditions and homegrown products.
Strengthening Partnership with Zamboanga City
During the October 8 meeting, URC Flour and the Zamboanga City Government discussed their collaboration for the Zamboanga leg of the Sugod Bakery Caravan and their shared commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the city’s local baking community.
Representing URC Flour during the meeting were Don Mitchie Castino, VisMin Sales Manager; Chinkee Andres, Marketing Manager; Doreen Niog-Esmero, North Mindanao Sales Manager; Kcin Ortega and Anna Marie Colejara, North Mindanao Sales Associates; Christian Nacional and Jaja Estrella, Technical Sales Associates; Marecris Boiser, Trade Marketing Assistant; and Janisa Bernil, Brand Marketing Associate.
The Zamboanga City Government was represented by Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso, together with local government officials supporting the partnership and the upcoming caravan activities.
The meeting reinforced the role of the partnership in making the Hermosa Festival an avenue not only for celebrating Zamboanga’s culture and traditions, but also for supporting livelihood development and strengthening the skills of local entrepreneurs.
Rather than focusing simply on introducing products, URC Flour will use the caravan to share its baking knowledge and technical expertise with local participants. Bakers will have opportunities to learn directly from the company’s technical team through demonstrations, hands-on sessions, and consultations designed around practical applications that they can bring back to their own bakeries.
Participants will also receive guidance on improving production efficiency, minimizing waste, understanding product costing, maintaining food safety and hygiene standards, and achieving more consistent product quality—all of which can contribute to stronger and more sustainable neighborhood baking businesses. These areas are among the core objectives identified for the Zamboanga leg of the caravan.
Bringing Baking Expertise Closer to Zamboangueños
Set for October 11 and 12, 2026, the Zamboanga City leg marks the Sugod Bakery Caravan’s entry into Western Mindanao, following previous stops in Lucban and Sariaya in Quezon Province, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Naga City.
The Zamboanga activation puts local bakers at the heart of the program. Through direct interaction with URC Flour’s technical baking team, participants will be able to sharpen existing skills, learn additional baking techniques, exchange knowledge with fellow bakers, and explore ways of improving the breads and pastries they already produce.
The caravan will likewise celebrate Zamboanga’s local baking culture, recognizing the recipes, flavors, and skills that have been developed and passed on within the community. URC Flour aims to complement these traditions by sharing technical knowledge that can help bakers achieve better consistency, quality, and efficiency without losing the distinct character of their products.
Zamboanga Bakers Take the Road to BIDA SA MASA 2026
Beyond the learning sessions, the Zamboanga leg will provide local bakers with an opportunity to showcase their creativity through original bread creations featuring regional flavors and ideas.
The winning baker from the Zamboanga leg will earn the opportunity to represent Zamboanga City and Western Mindanao at BIDA SA MASA 2026, the nationwide grand finale scheduled this November at the Baker John Academy in Pasig City.
The partnership between URC Flour and the City Government of Zamboanga reflects a common commitment to creating opportunities that can extend beyond the two-day caravan. By combining the LGU’s connection with its local communities and URC Flour’s baking expertise, the initiative seeks to help neighborhood bakers strengthen their craft, improve their products, and develop more sustainable businesses.
As Zamboanga City celebrates the Hermosa Festival in honor of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the Sugod Bakery Caravan brings another meaningful element to the festivities—putting the spotlight on the bakers, entrepreneurs, and local businesses that contribute to the city’s vibrant culinary community.
¡Viva Nuestra Señora del Pilar!
