ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES — Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Flour has expanded its regional MSME empowerment initiative to Western Mindanao, bringing its acclaimed Sugod Bakery Caravan to Zamboanga City today, October 11 and 12, right alongside the city’s grand annual celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
This milestone activation represents a major stop on URC Flour’s nationwide tour for 2026, building on the strong momentum of earlier legs across Luzon and Mindanao—including stops in Lucban and Sariaya in Quezon Province (Pahiyas and Agawan Festivals), Davao City (Kadayawan Festival), Cagayan de Oro City (Higalaay Festival), and Naga City (Peñafrancia Festival). To make the occasion even more impactful for the local community, the Sugod Bakery Caravan has been integrated into the festivities surrounding Fiesta Pilar, providing an accessible, high-energy educational hub for bakeshop owners, neighborhood bakers, and aspiring food entrepreneurs from Zamboanga City and nearby provinces in the region.
At the center of the event is URC Flour’s state-of-the-art Mobile Bakery Van, serving as an interactive classroom on wheels. Over the course of the two-day activation, local participants are receiving hands-on technical training, observing live baking demonstrations focused on commercial efficiency and yield optimization, and learning modern bakeshop management techniques directly from industry master bakers and technical experts.
“Our presence here in Zamboanga City during the historic Zamboanga Hermosa Festival reflects a deep commitment that goes far beyond a standard event sponsorship. We are coming to Zamboanga as a long-term partner dedicated to uplifting local bakeshop owners and culinary craftspeople,” said URC Flour Management. “By bringing our mobile bakery classroom directly to neighborhood bakers, we are delivering practical upskilling, cost-optimization strategies, and modern baking technology. Empowering local bakers to refine their craft and run more efficient, profitable operations is how we help build countryside enterprises that endure.”
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Zamboanga City, led by Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso, welcomed the initiative, recognizing the caravan’s vital role in driving grassroots economic growth, elevating local skill sets, and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during one of Western Mindanao’s most celebrated cultural and religious festivities.
This leg reaffirms URC Flour’s ongoing commitment to providing a platform for members of the local baking industry to sharpen their skills, improve product quality, and boost production yield. As an added highlight of the Zamboanga activation, local bakers are competing for top honors in a regional baking showcase. The baker who creates the winning original bread entry will earn the honor of serving as Western Mindanao’s official representative at the activity’s nationwide grand finale, BIDA SA MASA 2026, scheduled for this coming November at the Baker John Academy in Pasig City.
Local bakeshop owners, commercial operators, neighborhood bakers, and baking enthusiasts throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula are invited to join the free interactive sessions taking place today and tomorrow to gain practical insights, experience modern baking equipment, and help take their bakeshop businesses to new heights.
