Who will be the next 'flair idol?'

G.S.M. Blue ambassador Anne Curtis

    By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

Once again, everyone will witness great skills in drink mixing and throwing bar glasses and bottles up in the air as the G.S.M. Blue Flair Idol 2013 Grand Finals takes off today, March 23, 5 p.m. at the Rajah Sulayman Open Park in Malate, Manila, wherein a new idol of flairtending will be crowned.
 Flairtending, which is sometimes referred to as "extreme bartending," is said to be the practice of bartenders in entertaining their guests or audiences with the manipulation of bar tools such as cocktail shakers or liquor bottles in tricky and dazzling ways.

Now on its seventh year, G.S.M. Blue Flair Idol will gather 17 Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students from different schools across the country, and will be competed against each other. Of the 17 finalists, 11 participants will come from Luzon areas, while the Visayas and Mindanao areas will have three contestants each.

The 17 finalists of the "G.S.M. Blue Flair Idol 2013"

Joining this flairtending competition are Arvin Philip Rallos (Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City), Frederick Shane Rubias (Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila), Joe Mari Castillo (Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Bulacan), Joe Mari Santos (Bulacan State University, Malolos, Bulacan), Darwin de Guzman (Immaculate Conception International College, Sta. Maria, Bulacan), Katrina Jane Ramos (Wesleyan Philippines University, Cabanatuan), Raymark Linatok (System Plus Computer College, Balibago, Pampanga), Marlon Aseoche (Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Calamba, Laguna), Javy Pelegrina (Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Calamba, Laguna), Kingsley Joseph Ramos (De La Salle University, Dasmariñas, Cavite City) and Ana Luna Encailado (Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City) from Luzon; Francis Angelo Nolasco (Southwestern University, Cebu City), Ma. Fatima Villarino (University of Cebu, Cebu City) and Jonathan Villarama Jr. (VMA College, Bacolod City) from the Visayas, and; Jason Balansag (Davao Central College, Davao City), Jed Raphaiel Carpitanos (Immaculate Concepcion Archdiocesan School, Zamboanga City) and Jan Francel Chua (Holy Cross of Davao College, Davao City) from Mindanao. The "battle of the flairtenders" grand champion will take home P50,000 cash plus a mobile cart, while his school will get a bar showcase worth P30,000 that can be used by his fellow HRM students. He will also serve as an ambassador of the sport with a mission of promoting a responsible drinking.

The media participants, including the author (fourth from left),  in the cocktail-making contest

The author with his winning entry "Orange Obsession"

And for the first and second runners-up will receive P25,000 and P10,000, respectively, gimmick package plus computer showcase for each school. Third runner-up will get P10,000 gimmick pack and one-year supply of the GSM Blue line. All partici
Apart from the battle of skills in flairtending, the event will also banner performances by noted local bands such as Itchyworms, Rocksteddy and Callalily. On top of this, GSM Blue brand ambassador TV host/actress Anne Curtis will also grace this annual competition.                                                                                                                                             For the finalists, an inspirational message and some tips the last year grand winner, Gino Carlo Simbillo from Wesleyan University-Philippines in Cabanatuan City, is would like to share.
He says that like any subject in school, flairtending also entails a lot of reviewing, studying and constant practice, but, Simbillo advises, don't ever stop practicing as it keeps your skills sharp. "Becoming a good flairtender takes patience. Focus on being a good bartenter first and let the flair part progress at a natural pace," stresses the 2012 flair idol. He adds that as an entertainer, it is always good to have a friendly and positive attitude. "Build a rapport with your audience. Keep eye contact and perform with a smile. Flaring should be fun and should captivate your audience," notes Simbillo, who now works as professional bartender at TGIFriday's.

The 17 finalists with the media winners

To give the public a preview of the Saturday event, a competition for media attendees was held at the Pearl Manila hotel last Tuesday, wherein their skills were challenged in making their own tasty and unique cocktails. Fortunately, this writer, along with my partner Jerome Amoroso of Pilipino Mirror, won first place with our very own cocktail named "Orange Obsession."

For more information, check out GSM Blue's Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/bluegin.