MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is once again in the global culinary spotlight as the Barilla Pasta Championship – Philippines Finals 2025 unfolds on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the prestigious School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila. Running from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., this live cooking competition will feature six top Filipino chefs battling it out in a pasta cook-off judged by acclaimed culinary leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Showcasing the Best of Filipino Culinary Talent
This year’s national finals feature a formidable lineup of professional chefs, each representing the rich and evolving landscape of Filipino cuisine. The contenders include Chef Manuel Valila of Dough & Grocer, Chef Joshua Alfonso of Tartufo Ristorante, Chef Karl Vincent Manlapaz of Mama Lou’s Group, Chef Aaron Gulinao of The Westin Manila, Chef Jan Hubilla of Marriott Hotel Manila, and Chef Danilyn Dagle of Palms Country Club. Each chef will prepare a signature pasta dish that reflects both technical excellence and a unique Filipino culinary perspective, reimagining Italian tradition through local ingredients and storytelling.
Global Expertise Meets Filipino Flavor
Leading the judging panel is Chef Andrea Tranchero, Executive Chef for Barilla Asia Pacific, who brings over 30 years of experience in top kitchens across Italy, France, the United States, China, Japan, and Australia. Formerly head of the Michelin-starred Armani Ristorante Tokyo, Chef Tranchero now leads Barilla’s professional culinary programs across the region, infusing competitions like this with world-class standards.
Joining him are respected culinary experts from the Philippines. Chef Margarita Marty, Chairperson of the Culinary Arts Program at Benilde SHRIM, brings an educational perspective on developing culinary excellence. Chef Carlo Miguel, Culinary Director of the Wildflour Group and a board member of the LTB Philippines Chefs Association, represents the progressive pulse of the Filipino restaurant industry. Chef Othmar Frei, Chief Operating Officer of Werdenberg International Corporation and a certified international culinary judge, adds a deep understanding of European food standards and their intersection with Asian culinary practices.
The Barilla Pasta Championship: Where Culture Meets Craft
Established in Parma, Italy in 1877, Barilla is recognized globally as the leading pasta brand. The Barilla Pasta Championship is part of the brand’s commitment to honoring Italian culinary tradition while empowering chefs across the world to innovate and localize pasta in fresh, culturally resonant ways.
This high-profile competition is not only a showcase of technical mastery—it’s a culinary celebration that invites chefs to reimagine pasta through the lens of their own food traditions, making it an increasingly relevant platform in today’s globally connected food world. Learn more about the championship and how to get involved at barillaforprofessionals.com.
Pasta as a Culinary Canvas Across Asia
Although pasta’s roots are in Italy, the Barilla Pasta Championship has evolved into a truly international event. In 2024, the Asia Finals were proudly hosted in Manila, with chefs from Japan, India, Vietnam, South Korea, and beyond competing alongside Filipino culinary talents. The competition offered a stunning showcase of how pasta can become a cultural canvas—merging Eastern ingredients, techniques, and stories with the comforting universality of Italian pasta.
As the 2025 Barilla Pasta Championship Asia heats up, chefs from across eight participating countries, including the Philippines, are entering national qualifiers in hopes of making it to the Asia Grand Finale this October. While the final destination remains a closely guarded secret, the journey already highlights the rising status of Asian chefs in the global food scene—and the increasingly dynamic presence of Filipino cuisine on the world stage.
Benilde SHRIM: Nurturing the Future of Filipino Cuisine
Hosting this prestigious culinary competition is Benilde SHRIM, a recognized leader in hospitality and culinary education in the Philippines. The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is known for producing forward-thinking chefs and hospitality professionals who excel both locally and abroad. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and cultural heritage, Benilde SHRIM serves as the perfect venue for a competition that celebrates both skill and identity.
Read more about Barilla: Rediscovering Pasta: The Taste of Italy, Made Simple at Home
