2016 Philippine National Culinary Team — J Gamboa, Rudolph Cabuay, Buddy Trinidad, Kenneth Cacho, James Antolin, Norbert Gandler, Gerd Gendrano, Francis Olivares, Josh Boutwood, Fernando Aracama , Gyle Gacina, Carlo Miguel, Mia Yan, Philip Ching, Sonny Mariano, Dan Basilio, Penk Ching, Agie Segubiense, Tim Faller, Jackie Ang Po, Jonathan Miranda, Holly Anne Manuel, Jireh Rodriguez, Julius Conde.

The Philippine team at Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) 2016 held in Singapore last week bested 20 other teams to bring home the top prize: Best Culinary Team.

The last time the country won the top prize was in 2007.

Team manager James Antolin told Inquirer Lifestyle that they had all but given up hope despite receiving medals in 16 of 17 individual categories they participated in.

“We bagged four golds and an assortment of silvers and bronzes but based on our calculations, we needed five golds to even be considered in the running for best team,” Antolin said.

The four golds were won by Kenneth Cacho for Neptune’s Catch (seafood), Sonny Mariano for Tapas (appetizers), Jireh Rodriguez for the wedding cake category and Josh Boutwood for main dish.

Pastry team leader Buddy Trinidad said he was already playing Candy Crush on his phone when the judges announced that the Philippine culinary team had won the top prize.

“The others were just waiting for the bus that would take us back to our serviced apartment. It was totally unexpected,” he said.

A celebratory dinner and thanksgiving will be held tomorrow night for the team and their sponsors at Milky Way on Pasay Road.

“There was no cash prize given but we now have bragging rights. It’s an important victory because although it was a regional competition, we were actually competing against ourselves,” Antolin said.

There are no plans yet of participating in Hong Kong’s Hofex next year but he and Trinidad are hopeful they will find and field young and competent chefs in future competitions.

“Gutom pa sila, which is good,” Trinidad said.