Seasoned For Success

For Honey Mae Ypil, a love for cooking that began in her childhood has grown into a rewarding career in the hospitality industry. Influenced by her mother and inspired by watching cooking competitions and films, she discovered early on that she felt most alive in the kitchen.

Her journey with Foundation University began long before she became a college student. In Grade 10, she represented Tisa National High School, Cebu City in the Festival of Talents cooking competition spearheaded by the Department of Education. After winning at the school and division levels, her team advanced to the regional level, which was hosted at Foundation University in 2017. She instantly fell in love with the university’s unique atmosphere, especially the Social Garden. When she entered Senior High School, she chose Foundation Preparatory Academy, eventually continuing her studies at the university as a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management student.

Throughout her college years, Honey excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities. She was a consistent Dean’s Lister and an academic scholar. She actively participated in departmental events and school-wide cooking competitions, including her most memorable one, the World Skills Competition in 2023 at Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT). Despite having only three days to prepare and competing against experienced participants, she brought home a silver medal.

Her mentors at Foundation University – Mr. John Rey Alabata, Mr. Antonio Bendal Jr., and Mr. Vicente Credo Jr. – played an important role in her growth. They encouraged her to join competitions, pushed her beyond her comfort zone, and opened opportunities that helped shape her skills and character.

One of the highlights of her academic journey was her internship at Shangri-La Mactan Hotel and Resort. Although her original dream was to work in the kitchen, all slots in that department were full, and she was assigned to the service department instead. At first, she thought it was a setback, but it turned out to be a blessing. There, she learned valuable lessons such as the importance of separating personal matters from work, adapting to different personalities, and handling pressure with grace. Shangri-La later absorbed her as an employee, where she worked for nine months.

Working at Shangri-La gave her a strong foundation in hospitality. Wanting to grow and explore more opportunities, she decided to move forward. In May 2025, she came across a job posting for Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger in Mactan. She applied along with more than 400 candidates. Out of the hundreds of applicants, only 37 were hired, and Honey was one of them.

She underwent intensive training in preparation for the restaurant’s opening. The training was fast-paced as the opening date drew near. Within just four days of operations, her dedication and leadership potential were recognized, and she was promoted to restaurant supervisor.

Now leading her team as a restaurant supervisor at Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger, Honey Mae is responsible for leading her team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, and maintaining service quality. She shares, “I take accountability of everything that happens that is not up to par with the standards of our establishment. I observe the progress and performance of the staff under my lead and do reports regularly about the overall situation within our outlet to the management.” 

To students aspiring to build a career in hospitality, she offers this advice: “Stay curious and keep learning. The industry evolves and innovates over time, and everything you learn in school will help you in the future.”

As she continues her journey, Honey Mae looks back on her time at Foundation University. “I miss you, my alma mater. To my fellow alumni and the FU community, I wish everybody further success and growth. May we meet again as we strive for greatness and success.”