Botanically, strawberry is an aggregate accessory fruit that develops from a flower with more than one ovary. In the fruit’s outer surface are the yellow seeds called the achene. This makes strawberry different from true berries.

True berries develop from a flower with one ovary. These simple fruits usually have more than one seed. Examples of true berries are grapes, blueberries, and bananas. Yes, bananas are berries.

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MJ Olvina- Balaguer of DZMJ Online, Makabuluhang Jornalismo your hapiness channel

TIMPLADO makes stronger ‘barako’ coffee with DOST training on food safety
By: John Maico H. Hernandez, DOST-PSTC Batangas

LIPA CITY, Batangas – Ala eh! Timpladong tamang tama!, In fact, TIMPLADO, an offshoot company of Circa 1740, underwent a two-day training on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to further strengthen, not only their barako (Liberica) coffee blends, but more so their food safety measures in preparation for the opening of its additional markets this year.

There were 13 employees, mostly newly hired, who attended the training on food safety standards in different production processes conducted on 25-26 January at the TIMPLADO Coffee Shop located in Barangay Mataas na Lupa, Lipa, Batangas.

The Department of Science and Technology Region IV-A (CLABARZON) provided the DOST Unified Food Safety Training Modules for MSMEs. The training was facilitated by DOST-CALABARZON Food Safety Team members composed of Mhark Ellgine Libao, John Michael Florendo, and John Maico Hernandez, who are all from the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Batangas.

The training exercise covered topics on basic food hygiene, food hazards (i.e., biological, chemical, physical and allergens), cross-contamination, personnel hygiene, food contact surfaces, pest control, cleaning and sanitation, and documentation. Activities on hand washing, food hazards, and cross-contamination were also conducted to simulate situations during food preparation that affect food safety.

Although food safety practices are already in place, TIMPLADO’s Chief Executive Officer, Kathleen Manto, fully recognized the impact that the training provided in improving the knowledge and practices of their employees. For Manto, the training was a boost to the standard procedures they have been following to further improve the quality of their products and ensure their customers’ safety. The training ame at an opportune time since the company plans to open additional markets.

On the other hand, Ariestelo Asilo, TIMPLADO’s Chief Operating Officer, shared how the training served as a springboard in their application for a License to Operate with the Food and Drug Administration. He also mentioned his hope for the approval of the DOST’s SETUP project proposal that can further support their GMP implementation aside from upgrading their processes.

TIMPLADO is a food and beverage company focused on creating rich, full-bodied coffee blends. What is unique with TIMPLADO’s products are the interesting variants named after famous Batangueña heroes, namely: Marcela, Gabriela, Teresa, Josefa, Melchora and Gliceria. These names complement the unique flavors of strong barako blends, barako blend with white chocolate and milk, barako blend with coco sugar, barako blend with chili powder and coco sugar.

Furthermore, the branding structure also mirrors how the company empowers and provides livelihood to stay-at-home moms through the packaging of products. Aside from the iconic characterization of their coffee blends, TIMPLADO operates to promote inclusivity by partnering closely with coffee farmers, communities, and markets with the shared commitment in revitalizing the Batangas barako coffee.

A transformational leader, Usec. Brenda believed that in this fast-changing world, growth and change are inevitable… that if we want to catch up with the rest of the world, we have to improve our ways, no matter how drastic the changes may be. It was her transformational leadership that led to the attainment by DOST IX – the organization she handled for more than two (2) decades – of having the distinction as the first DOST Regional Office to have been conferred the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) Level 1: Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management (in 2012) and PQA Level 2 – Recognition for Proficiency in Quality Management (in 2017). She also inspired four (4) other DOST Regional Offices to embark on the quality excellence journey. With her guidance and leadership, there are now five (5) DOST Regional Offices that have been conferred with PQA – three (3) Regional Offices with PQA level 2 (DOST II, DOST IX, and DOST XI) and two (2) Regional Offices with PQA level 1 (DOST CALABARZON and DOST VIII).

As a scholar of the former National Science and Development Board (NSDB), she graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Western Mindanao State University, magna cum laude. She earned her academic units in Master of Science in Management Engineering from Adamson University and academic units in Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Sto. Tomas. She obtained the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand.

DOST has been a home to Usec. Brenda. After graduating from college in 1983, she started working for the National Science and Technology Authority (now DOST) then as a Science Research Specialist 1. She rose from the ranks to become the Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director of DOST-IX in March 1991, when she was just around 29 years old. She then took her oath as the full-fledged DOST-IX Regional Director in January 1992. Twenty-five (25) years after, she became the DOST’s Undersecretary for Regional Operations in January 2017.

A model leader and a recognized public manager that she was, Usec. Brenda received several awards such as the 2012 GAWAD CES Presidential Award, the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award conferred by the AIT Alumni Association’s Mother and Philippine Chapters, the Regional Outstanding Lady Executive, and the Golden Heart Medallion Award for Excellence in Science Promotion, Research and Development, and Technology Transfer, among many others. She is also a Career Executive Service Officer I.

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