Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) secured the Overall Champion title at the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines (COHREP) National Skills Competition 2025 – COCOlinarya Turismo, held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City from August 31 to September 1. The event drew the country’s most promising students in hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts, pushing them to apply their knowledge in real-world, competitive settings.
Representing LPU-Batangas in Destination Marketing, Alexandrei Louis Garcia, George Allyson Logo, and Cristanel Irish Hernandez earned the Silver Medal with a presentation that reimagined how destinations can be packaged and promoted. Guided by Dr. Hazel Venus and Mr. Miko del Rosario, with support from Kriztiana Goldeen Cruzat and Lace Ynchine Endaya, the team captured attention for its originality and seamless storytelling.
At the Cocktail Challenge, The Talking Bartender, Kate Louise Martinez delivered a performance that balanced artistry and technical skill. Guided by Dr. Maureen Atienza alongside Angel Mae Hernandez and Jezzykiel Barbosa, her designs earned her a well-deserved 4th Place finish.
RJ Lance Sarabia’s flair-driven routines in the Flairtending Challenge were a highlight of the day. With choreography that combined precision and personality—under the care of Dr. Mary Angelica Marasigan, assisted by Don Ardro Marcus Cleofe and Miggi Lumanglas—they also took 4th Place, leaving an impression with crowd-engaging showmanship.
This year’s competition carried the theme “Exploring Horizons, Empowering Futures,” a fitting banner under which students explored the importance of the coconut as a vessel for innovation, resilience, and opportunity. Organized in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), COHREP National, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau of Market Development, Promotions and OTOP, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, alongside COHREP’s regional chapters, the event was also part of the 39th National Coconut Week. Through this collaboration, organizers elevated education as a platform for economic transformation and sustainable design.
LPU-Batangas’ success at COCOlinarya Turismo was the result of months of preparation and persistence. Each recognition carried with it the discipline of rehearsals, long hours of refinement, and the steady encouragement of mentors. Behind every performance was a story of teamwork, resilience, and growth.
The achievements marked clear victories, but the greater value of the competition was in the experience itself—testing abilities under pressure, applying classroom learning in real settings, and gaining confidence in their craft.
