Young Filipino culinary professionals are stepping up to lead their family-run food enterprises, learning how to balance legacy, growth, and values. They are being groomed not just to inherit businesses, but to actively shape their future.
Among them is 19-year-old Jamile Carl Fernandez, whose family runs Tamilawan, a South Cotabato-based restaurant that began as a small bakery in 2008.
“This journey taught me that succession is about protecting the integrity of the company,” he said. “It’s about ensuring what was built survives, with honor, into the next generation.”
For Ma. Colleen Lopez, also 19, the experience highlighted the value of early conversations.
“I never really participated in family business decisions before. Now I see how much smoother transitions can be when families openly discuss succession.” Rob Serrano described his shift as moving from “a mere observer and heir” to “an engaged future leader.”
The next-generation leaders deepened their understanding at a two-day “Family Business Succession” seminar organized by CCA Manila and UA&P, guided by Dr. Robert Miguel Roque and Dr. Winston Conrad B. Padojinog, which provided practical frameworks for governance, succession planning, and navigating the complex dynamics of family-run businesses.
“UA&P seeks to partner with institutions like CCA Manila that value preparing next-generation leaders. Together, we equip family businesses in the hospitality and food industry with the tools and perspectives to navigate succession successfully,” said Roque and Padojinog.
The seminar underscored a key principle: strategy must follow values. Families need to define what they stand for before making decisions on roles, growth, or expansion.
According to CCA Manila, the initiative is part of its mission to develop leaders who can run sustainable food businesses.
Building on this, the school is launching a Center for Food Entrepreneurship, offering mentorship, structured learning, and industry collaboration to ensure Filipino family-run food enterprises remain both commercially strong and family-focused.
