A Varron’s Voyage

Chef Ryan

Chef Ryan owns Dream Events by RJ in Irvine, California (visit www.eventsbyrj.com). His company provides all types of catering and party needs services.

Souvenir program cover designed by Kurde de Asis (Honorary Member ’90)

I may now be the captain of my own ship and the master of my destiny, and the world may view my ship as big as it could possibly be, but one thing is certain: I will always be returning to the port where it all started — in UPLB . . . at the UP Varrons Ltd.

After serving as the Senior Executive Chef for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, I travelled back to the Philippines to share my glorious moments with my family, friends and fellow Filipinos. I had a lot of media coverage in print and on television and was given an award in the Philippine Senate. But behind all of these media frenzy is an insatiable desire to return to my humble beginning to my family in Iloilo and to UP Los Baños, my alma matter. It was a long and hard journey, just like an Olympic athlete training his whole life to be part of the biggest sports event in the world.

My journey started out during my days as a student in UPLB. I joined the UP Varrons Ltd during my freshman year. I became very active in the organization and immediately took part in all its social, political and civic projects. In one of those activities, during the February fair brainstorming, I pushed for an idea to build a “bangka” as an entry to the booth contest for the 1984 February Fair. The Varrons stood behind the idea and worked hard to build the “bangka” based on the concept that I had envisioned. Believing in my idea was by itself very encouraging; appointing me as the “booth spokesperson and tour guide” for the judges was even more significant. Needless to say that when our “bangka” entry won the most symbolic and booth of the year, I was proud of our accomplishment as a group. More importantly, I was proud of my contribution.

In so many ways, this one small project , insignificant perhaps to a lot of people, became pivotal to my growth as a person and as a student leader. As my self-confidence developed, I expanded my involvement with student activism and community service. because I knew all along that I got the support of the members of the UP Varrons Ltd.

After I graduated, I sailed on my own journey to “open seas” thousands of miles away from my home port. The voyage was (and, in some ways, still is) tumultuous, dangerous and rough, as an immigrant trying to find my own little spot in the so-called land of plenty. It took me 21 years to find that one bright spot as I became part of the biggest sports event in the world — becoming an Executive Chef in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was happy and excited that the world saw all my culinary capabilities and achievements. I thought that the media frenzy that followed me after that event was overwhelming. Who would have thought that I would be welcomed in the Philippines with cameras flashing from news photographers. I did not expect that I would be spotlighted in TV shows and be given recognition by the Philippine Senate. However, despite all the hullabaloos, there was one significant event that I needed to attend to. I thought I needed to pay homage to the organization that “launched” my journey. This time, with no extravagant fireworks (unlike in the Olympics opening ceremony), no flashing cameras from news photographers, no TV, and no rhetorical speeches (unlike in the Senate). It was during the UP Varrons 46th anniversary celebration on August 30, 2008 that I returned as a humble alumnus acknowledging the organization that believed in my humble “bangka” concept.

In the golden anniversary of the UP Varrons, I am reflecting back how significant an organization can be in molding one’s life and destiny. I will always be thankful to the all vrods and sisses who continue to believe in my capability and I am hoping that the future members will find inspiration in my humble beginning as a Varron.