On May 25, Mastah’s corporate charter has been approved by President Johnson Toribiong, giving the group a go signal to start organizing their activities.
Mastah Palau is an organization of more than 30 bartenders of different bars, resorts and hotels in Palau. Aside from promoting responsible drinking, it also aims to promote networking, conduct charity works and bartending trainings and help enhance the tourism hospitality activities in Palau.
“One purpose of this association is to promote social responsibility and bar safety when it comes to alcohol,” said Quincy Kuniyoshi, Chairman of Board of Directors.
With drunk driving a major issue in Palau, Mastah hopes to do their civic duty by promoting responsible drinking.
“When people hear about bartending, they automatically assume it’s all about alcohol,” said Erwin Muyot, President of Mastah Palau. “So we are also promoting different concoctions of non-alcoholic beverages.”
Although at present most of the members of Mastah are Filipinos, they plan to open their membership to local bartenders. “We want to discover local talents,” stressed Muyot.
Now that they have their charter finally approved, they plan to coordinate with Palau Community College Tourism & Hospitality School of Excellence to conduct short courses on bartending and flairtending.
First on the line-up of their activities, however, will be a Flairtending competition which will be held on July 11 at Sea Passion Hotel.
“But this will be open only to members,” said Muyot. There will be two categories, added Muyot, the Working Flair or classic flairtending for beginners and Extreme Flair for experts and professionals.
Mastah’s Board of Directors include Kuniyoshi, Lucy Sugiyama, Janice Aguon, Leilani Reklai and Victor Kumangai, Jr. Its active members are Muyot, Hernando Feliciano, Marife Claus, Oscar Fortus, Roy Pascual, Wilfredo Medalla, Harold Villanueva, Arnel Saplot, Frank Jerusalem, Marvin Viray, Ricardo Stohner, Noel Babiera, Kenny Tungpalan, Rene Clores, Irene Emano, Leornardo Auditor, and Randy Molinos.
