SEAC 2004 – 4th Was A Charm!

When an event's advanced billing is showered with too much expectation of success, many times it falls short of its potential. But that was the exact opposite of what transpired with the amazing SEAC 2004, which roundly exceeded all the hoopla and hype accorded it even before it took place.

Held last January 11-13, 2004 , the 4 th South East Asian Chefs Golf Tournament presented a brilliant smorgasbord of activities amid two rounds of healthy, competitive and positively invigorating golf. They were played respectively at the Makiling of Sta. Elena, and, the Fred Couples at the Riviera . There were winners in the Culinary and Sponsor team categories, each sporting a Champion, 1st and 2nd runner as follows:

In the individuals category, a champion, 1st and 2nd runner up also figured in 3 Men's classes (A, B & C) as well as in a single Ladies' Division:

All in all, it worked out to a total of 20 teams, 9 and 11 correspondingly for the culinary and sponsor squads. The Philippines and Thailand had 7 and 6 teams respectively, with golfers coming from Asia and around the world – Australia, the US, Liechtenstein, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bintan Indonesia and even as far away (halfway around the globe, literally) as Trinidad and Tobago.

Special prizes abounded, from each golf course, for instance, as well as a Rookie of the Year Trophy, and both an LGT Bank of Liechtenstein and a Champagne Taittinger plaque. Of course, absolutely none of this could have taken place without the gauntlet of ALL sponsors who came through once again in a growing and well-entrenched tradition of bigheartedness. The list was impressive indeed…

“ Diamond” Sponsor LGT Bank of Liechtenstein , “Gold” Sponsors SNORRE Food From Singapore, EMMI traditional cheese from Switzerland , Group Albert Spiess and MacDonald Meat Company from Seattle , Washington USA , and Werdenberg Corp. Philippines spearheaded the list of leading benefactors. And there were also “Special” (Felchlin Switzerland and Säntis Delicatessen), as well as “Silver, Bronze and Other” sponsors who were tremendously supportive, such as Euro Swiss Philippines, Berger Gewuerz Liectenstein, Gourmet Rommel Germany, Nestle Philippines, Barilla Pasta Italy, Dorzar Corp USA, Tyrrells Winery Australia, Rogié Sarlat, United Wineries Spain, Swiss International Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

In between the two rounds of golf there was a delicious dinner and complete entertainment at Le Souffle at The Fort. On the final evening, the regalia and glittering Awards Ceremony held in the Grand Ball Room of the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Manila in Makati was emceed by the famous comedian Willie Nepumoceno. It was absolutely an evening to remember, as was the entire 3-night, 2-day spectacle of unabashed solidarity between culinary colleagues and golfing buffs. Commented Fabrice Paturle, Export Manager for Asia , the Middle East and Africa of Rougié Sarlat (distributors of the world's best Foies Gras)… “I attended the 1 st SEAC back in 1998, but this edition is a spectacle of magnificent proportions. It's that Werdenberg special touch… just to give you a small but excellent idea: every single participant (apart from those who won on the golf courses) flew home with a prize picked from a bowl after dinner on the final night. This is what you call a good idea of thoughtfulness, attention to detail and impeccable organization.” Incidentally, Werdenberg Corporation is the exclusive distributor in the Philippines of Rougié's top-of-the-line products. So, what more to expect?

Already, the queue is forming for the 2006 edition, which, if history can be relied on, promises to be a repeat performance of the implausible combination of pageantry and informality – punctuated at every turn, and table, with the laughter, fun, “fores” and “fantabulous” fare anyone can possibly imagine.