Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs

An Overseas Filipino is a person of Filipino origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies to Filipinos who are both abroad indefinitely as citizens or permanent residents of a different country, and to those Filipino citizens abroad for a limited, definite period, such as on a work contract or a student. It can also include seamen and others who work outside the Philippines but are not residents, either permanent or temporary, of another country.

They are known by a variety of terms with slightly different and sometimes overlapping meanings. Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs are Filipinos working abroad that are expected to return permanently either upon the expiration of a work contract or upon retirement. Balikbayans are Filipinos who have become citizens of another country and have returned to the Philippines for a temporary though extended visit. Global Filipino is a term of more recent vintage that less widely used.

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo applied the term Overseas Filipino Investor or OFI for Filipino expatriates who contribute to the economy through remittances, buying properties and creating businesses.

As a result of this migration, many countries have substantial Filipino communities.

Countries with over 100,000 overseas Filipinos (2010)

  United States  3,166,529

   Saudi Arabia  1,512,539

         Canada  667,674

            UAE  636,154

      Australia  345,592

       Malaysia  316,273

          Qatar  305,331

          Japan  290,358

 United Kingdom  196,740

          Italy  123,379

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino : Kris Aquino

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (born February 14, 1971), commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipina television and movie personality who gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. She is popularly referred to by the media with titles such as the Queen of All Media, Queen of Philippine Talk, Queen of Philippine Game Shows, and since 2010, the Presidential Sister ; both of her parents are natives from Tarlac. She is the youngest daughter of former Philippine senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, and sister of Benigno S. Aquino, III, the current President of the Philippines.

Her first movie was Pido Dida, Sabay Tayo, which earned her the Box-office Queen title and her 2004 films Feng Shui and So... Happy Together also gave her the same commendation. In 2006, she regained the same Box Office title for her movie Sukob, which is the highest-grossing Filipino film of 2006. She is also the Executive Editor of her own bi-monthly magazine called K! The Kris Aquino Magazine. In December 2009, Aquino showcased her own Home Collection called K Everyday. In partnership with ABS-CBN Licensing, K Everyday features cooking collection, kitchen collection, plastic collection, and stationery collection.

Currently, she is part of ABS-CBN, and is also residing in Makati. She is also a Tarlaqueña Kapampangan, as her parents are both residents of Tarlac province, with her father being a Kapampangan.

In April 2013, she was tagged by Archbishop Oscar Cruz as a possible Vice Presidential candidate in the 2016 elections based on a rumor he heard.

ANGEL LOCSIN : Filipina television and film actress

ANGEL LOCSIN is Angelica Colmenares in real life. She was born on April 23, 1985 in Santa Maria, Bulacan. Angel spent her elementary education in Bulacan and graduated high school in University of Santo Tomas High School. In August 2007, she attended a short-course for fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Despite being of Christian faith, she is a part of a Muslim Royal Family in Marawi City in the province of Lanao del Sur through her mother. Reports said that Locsin's maternal grandfather is one of the 15 sultanates in Lanao del Sur.

Angel Locsin's entry to showbiz was unplanned. She was discovered by a talent scout while she was shopping at SM City North EDSA. Some sources said she was spotted by a talent scout while she was shopping with friends after they skipped classes.

Angel first auditioned in ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 9 but she was not signed due to some disagreements in her contract. She was then drafted by GMA Artist Center after a year and she started to appear in GMA's teen oriented show "Click". She was also included in the cast of "Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin" and "All Together Now".

ACTING AWARDS 

Angel won her first acting award for Best Single Performance By An Actress in the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV for her role in the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode "Pilat".

In 2009, Angel is nominated in the International Emmy Awards as Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the TV series, "Lobo".

In March 2012, Angel won as Movie Actress of the Year in the 28th PMPC STAR Awards for Movies for her role as Mercedes Fernandez in the movie "In the Name of Love". In April 2012, Angel is recognized as the PASADO Best Actress for her performance in the same movie. This time, the organization which will give Angel the recognition is the Pasado or Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro. 

Angel won as Best Actress in the 2013 PMPC Star Awards for Movies, Guillermo Mendoza Awards and FAMAS.

karinderia opens in UK-Nottingham : First Pinoy store

The city of Nottingham - UK now has its own Filipino store and carinderia (KARINDERIA).

The store, which has already been open for eight months, sells a range of popular Asian and Pinoy cooking products, snacks and condiments.

The two businesses the A&J Philippines Asian Products and A&J Karinderia are owned by Ofelia Hutchinson, who named the ventures after her daughters Alejandra and Juliana. It is  sit next to each other in the Victoria Market within shopping mall, the Victoria Centre.

It attracts a variety of customers including Cameroonian Alan Job, who runs a store in the market that serves African cuisine.

The karinderia serves dishes like afritada, dinuguan, kilawin, kare-kare, and even breakfast, such as tapsilog and longsilog.

Before A&J opened, Filipinos in the area could only purchase Pinoy products locally from Chinese grocery stores, or from kababayans that were selling them secretly from their own homes.

The store also gained recognition when it was featured by BBC1 Radio and local newspaper, the Nottingham Post.

It was also visited a few months ago by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, who was reportedly amazed to see banana catsup for sale.

PH rules Singapore math contest, ends China reign

After making their marks at the recently concluded International Math Olympiad in Colombia and at the China Math Olympiad, Filipino students ended China’s dominance in an international math competition in Singapore, bagging 161 medals to rule the competition.

The Filipino math wizards won 23 gold, 45 silver, and 93 bronze medals to finish first in the 9th International Mathematics Contest (IMC), which drew about 1,300 participants from 10 countries.

China, which has lorded over the IMC for several years, settled for second place this year with 153 medals consisting of 22 gold, 44 silver, and 87 bronze medals.

Besides the 161 medals won by the Philippines, Jan Kendrick Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College was adjudged as the top scorer in the Grade 8 division, said Dr. Simon Chua, head of the Philippine delegation and president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines (MTG).

“This year is emerging as very fruitful for our young math wizards. The medals won in Singapore are in addition to the medals and awards we won in math contests in Bulgaria, Turkey, China and Hong Kong,” Chua said.

After the Philippines and China, Singapore placed third in the IMC with 124 medals followed by Taiwan with 117, Indonesia with 93, South Korea with 78, Thailand with 51, Hong Kong with 6, Iran with 5 and India with 3.

The awarding ceremony was held at the D’ Marquee at Downtown East in Singapore on Aug. 4.

Complete list of Filipino medalists in the IMC:

Gold Medalists

• Bryce Ainsley Sanchez – Grace Christian College

• Ryan Jericho Sy – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Naomi Anne King – St. Jude Catholic School

• Robert Gerard Uy – St. John’s Institute

• Kyle Patrick Dulay – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Vince Jan Torres – Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School

• Justine John Serdoncillo – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Raphael Villaluz – Philippine Science High School- Main

• Terence Brian Tsai – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Albert John Patupat – Holy Rosary College

• Miko Johnson Ong Co – St. Stephen’s High School

• Guevara, Alyssa – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Rafael Jose Santiago – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Hans Markson Tan – St. Stephen’s High School

• Lou Irish Gonzales – Pasig Catholic College

• Angelika Joie Tagupa – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Lorenz Matthew Tech – Pasig Catholic College

• Ann Kaila Recio – Philippine Institute of Quezon City

• Jan Kendrick Ong – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Mark Uy – Xavier School

• Min Chan Jeong – Grace Christian College

• Almira Beatrice Uy -Pace Academy

• Mark Davidson Cua – Pangasinan Universal Institute

Silver Medalists

• Ashley Simone Teves – Silliman University – SBE

• Dominic Lawrence Bermudez – Notre Dame of Greater Manila

• Lance Heinrich Lim – St. Jude Catholic School

• Jose Oliver Narvasa – Notre Dame of Greater Manila

• Sted Micah Cheng – Hope Christian High School

• Vanessa Ryanne Julio – St. Jude Catholic School

• Jan Cedrick Quintin – Mother Goose Special School System – Urdaneta

• Rikka Grace Sombiro – Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo

• Jodi Marcia Arcadio- Notre Dame of Greater Manila

• Francis Matthew Pascua – KAJ Play and Learn Center of Bolinao Inc.

• Jhervey Edric Cheng – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Cyd Nicolas Santos – San Beda College Alabang

• Gregory Charles Tiong – St. Jude Catholic School

• Francis Roy Albina – Silliman University – SBE

• Genrish Wendell Ng – St. Jude Catholic School

• Audrey Gabrielle Tan – St. Peter the Apostle School

• Jose Lorenzo Abad – Colegio San Agustin – Makati

• Patricia Faith Capito – UP Integrated School

• Al Patrick Castro – Pasig Catholic College

• Raoul Arnaldo Nalupta – Immaculate Concepcion Academy

• Marian Nicole Nogoy – St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City

• Brylle Jaden Louise Ordoño – BHC Educational Institute, Inc.

• Raul Joshua Limbaga – Butuan City SPED Center

• Dion Stephan Ong – Ateneo de Manila Grade School

• Luis Enrique Reyes – Silliman University – SBE

• Daniel Paul Li – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Nathan Arthur Banatao – UP Integrated School

• David Alexander Amante – Canossa Academy of Lipa

• Justin Matthew Lapastora – St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur

• Fedrick Lance Lim – Zamboanga Chong Hua High School

• Hanzel Marquez, – Itaas Elementary School

• Vincent Angelo Suarez – De la Salle – Lipa

• Christopher Joseph Magno – Ateneo de Manila University

• Luis Salvador Diy – Xavier School

• Daniella Kristin Marie Evan – De La Salle Santiago Zobel

• Alfonso Miguel Abella – Grace Christian College

• Matthew Uy – Xavier School

• Andrew Lee – Xavier School

• Lesley Clarice Balete – Grace Christian College

• Patrick Allen Tañada – Makati Science High School

• Brandon Andrew Ong – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Highryll Cj Tan – Statefields School, Inc.

• James Atilano – Zamboanga Chong Hua High School

• Harvey Uy – British School Manila

• Arianna Natasha Chua – The Masters Academy

Bronze Medalists

• Gabriel Alteza – Meridian International Learning Experience

• Hance Louie Uy – Philippine Cultural College

• Janelle Claire Lam – UNO High School

• Leandro Martin Acla – Georgia International Academy

• Allyana Coleen Reyes – Falcon School

• Immanuel Josiah Balete – St. Stephen’s High School

• Raya Colleen Chan – St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur

• Isabella Marie Escano – Mother Goose Special School System

• Hiraya Sy Marcos – Philippine Cultural College

• Gyla Jane Nismal – Sto. Domingo Elementary School

• Trisha Danielle Sia – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Rexza Mae Panaliga – Sta. Barbara Central Elementary School

• Jethro Asahel Roxas – Ann Arbor Montessori School

• Robert Frederik Uy – St. John’s Institute

• John Paul Noel Beltran – Butuan City SPED Center

• Clarissa Lois Dalian – Precious International School of Davao

• Daryll Carlsten Ko – St. Stephen’s High School

• Andre Giancarlo Lu – Pace Academy

• Maria Monica Manlises – St. Stephen’s High School

• Anne Margaret Festejo – Philippine Cultural College

• Stephen James Ty – Zamboanga Chong Hua High School

• Aljean Lester Bernardo – Philippine Yuh Chiau School

• Matthew Shawn Tansiongkun – Xavier School

• Albriz Moore Bagsic – Lilyrose School

• Oniluv Troy Tabujara – Falcon School

• Vincent Paul Fadri – San Beda College Alabang

• Edrian Paul Liao – Centro De Cultura School

• Angelo Vince Perez – De la Salle – Lipa

• Sherwin Adrien Tiu – St. Stephen’s High School

• Alessandro Gabriel Eduarte – St. Simon Montessori School

• Maxinne Louise Dominique Co – Ateneo de Iloilo – SMCS

• Ronn Derick Simbol – BHC Educational Institute, Inc.

• Kristin Angel Narag – Colegio San Agustin – Biñan

• Zeidrich Monares – UP Integrated School

• Neil Joshua Patiag – Special Education Center for the Gifted

• Jeshih Myr Paule – Hope Christian High School

• Karl Raymond Roque – Notre Dame of Greater Manila

• Jelly Hope Daguro – Santiago Cultural Institute

• Andrea Sze Robang – PAREF Woodrose School

• Jan Paul Aplacador – Hen Pio del Pilar Elementary School Main

• Jacob Lim – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Derick Pan – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Regine Beatrice Bonifacio – Mother Goose Special School System – Urdaneta

• Marjana Ysabelle Montañez – Hen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School Main

• Ralph Ernest Argana – BHC Educational Institute

• Katrina Laura Colasito – San Beda College Alabang

• Megan Alexis Harvey – Magsaysay Memorial College

• Vistan, Justin Matthew – UNO High School

• Timothy Bryan Wong – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Anjelo Jorel Chua – Grace Christian College

• Jasmin Faye De Guzman – Pio Valenzuela Elementary School

• Christopher Neil Defensor – Imus Pilot Elementary School

• Ronald Reinier Labuguen – Muntinlupa Elementary School

• Joaquin Luis Mayo – St. Jude Catholic School

• Sunny Sy – Chiang Kai Shek College

• Lawrence Gabriel Dy – Makati Hope Christian School

• Thomas Spencer Balete – PSHS Main

• Joan Lyn Fadri – Makati Science High School

• Sean Christian Lim – Mother Goose Special School System

• John Dominic Ragudo – PSHS Main

• Danielle Mary Audrey Amparado – St. Louise de Marillac of Tabaco

• Benedict Del Rosario – Tambo Central School

• Celestina Dianne Nicole Larona – PSHS Main

• Xuanye Li – Xavier School

• Hans Leighton Liu – St. Jude Catholic School

• Wendell Lenard Ong – PSHS Main

• Raven John Sy – Gen. T de Leon Elementary School

• Dominic Yap – PSHS – WVC

• Guinevere Soria – Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao Campus

• Isabel Jocyn Villanueva – PAREF Woodrose School

• Engelberg Jeremy See – Jubilee Christian Academy

• Genesis Jacinth Tan – Quezon City Science High School

• Junifer Sombilon Jr. – Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao Campus

• Juan Paolo Solmirano – Makati Science High School

• Carlos Benedict Echevarria – De La Salle Santiago Zobel

• Mary Joyce Tan – Philippine Cultural College

• Mark Anthony Quintos – St. Francis of Assisi College – Bayanan

• Selena Marie So – Grace Christian College

• Sephi Marz Liclican – Philippine Science High School – Ilocos Region Campus

• Zofia Rodriguez – Sen. Renato Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School

• John Dave Santos – Valenzuela City Science High School

• Jasper Ryan Bisnar – Integrated Montessori Center

• Thamania Keith Gumilao – Pasig Catholic College

• Albert Jason Olaya – Philippine Science High School – Main

• Ezekiel Young – Jubilee Christian School

• Orex John Ong – Trinity Christian School

• Jasper John Segismundo – Pasig Catholic College

• Dabin (Jessica) Park – De La Salle – Canlubang

• Nathaniel Adriand De Ocampo – Quezon City Science High School

• Jade KatleenYu – Valenzuela City Science High School

• Ramon Galvan III – Hua Siong College of Iloilo

• Adriana Marie Salvador – Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao

• Ian Noel Santos – Colegio San Agustin – Biñan

Lucio Tan : Chinese Filipino business magnate

Lucio Tan (born July 17, 1934) is a prominent Chinese Filipino business magnate. In 1970, Tan brought to the country an advanced hog-raising facility from Taiwan and set up Foremost Farms in Tanay, Rizal. The farm now operates on a 146-hectare facility and has an average daily production of 50 metric tons of hogs for the domestic market making it one of the largest hog farms in Southeast Asia.

In 1977, Tan acquired from the Philippine government the defunct General Bank and Trust Company which he renamed Allied Bank.

In 1978, Tan ventured into building and construction when he bought Riverside Steel Inc. which was renamed Grandspan Development Corporation. To date, Grandspan has been involved in the construction of power plants, high rise buildings, bridges, airport terminal and hangars, and other structures.

In 1982, after then President Ferdinand Marcos lifted the ban on the establishment of new beer companies, Tan established Asia Brewery, a beverage company.

In 1985, Tan bought Century Park Hotel.

Twenty-two years after the establishment of his flagship business venture plus a bank, a hotel, a hog-raising farm, a construction company, and a beverage company, it’s time to pay if forward. Tan established the Tan Yan Kee Foundation in 1986 in honor of the late Tan family patriarch. The Foundation’s principal projects are in support of education, culture and sports, research, health, and social welfare, and manpower development.

In 1988, the Lucio Tan Group of Companies acquired Tanduay Distillery, the oldest maker of rum, from the Elizalde Family. Tan and his group launched a plant modernization and expansion program that increased Tanduay’s production by almost 50 times.

Realizing that education is the only way to escape poverty, Tan also heavily invested in education. He bought the University of the East in 1990 and he considers this his biggest feat in promoting education in the country.

In 1993, the country’s national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines joins the list of companies that Lucio Tan controls and manages.

In 1995, he founded yet another company in the aviation industry. The Macro Asia Corporation was envisioned to be the leading provider of aviation and logistics services. This vision has become a reality as Macro Asia Corporation is now the provider of technical ground handling, engineering and maintenance services, and catering services to majority of the international airlines.

In 2000, Tan has become the majority stockholder of Philippine National Bank. The merger of PNB and Allied Bank is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Other Information

• Real Name: Lucio Tan
• Chinese Name: Tan Eng Tsai
• Birth Place: Amoy, Fujian province, China
• Nickname : El Kapitan
• Born : July 17, 1934
• Wife: Carmen Khao Tan
• Children: 6 children
  • Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr.
  • Vivienne K. Tan
  • Michael G. Tan
• Schools Attended : Far Eastern University
• Chemical Engineering
• Fortune: self made
• Source: Diversified

Business Interests

• 
  Tanduay Holdings Inc. -  (TDY), formerly known as Asian Pacific Equity Corporation (APEC), was incorporated on May 27, 1937 under the name The Manila Wine Merchants, Inc. On November 10, 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the change in the company’s corporate name to Tanduay Holdings,Inc.
• Pal Holdings Inc.
• Eton Properties Philippines Inc.
• Tanduay Distillers Inc.
• Baguio Gold Holdings Corp.
• 
  Philippine Airlines Inc. -  operates as an airline company in the Philippines. It runs flights from the Philippines to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Doha, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, the United States, Bahrain, Macau, and various international destinations. The company provides duty free sales and airport transfer services. The company was incorporated in 1941 and is headquartered in Pasay City, the Philippines. Philippine Airlines, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of PAL Holdings, Inc.
• 
  Asia Brewery Inc. – operates as a brewery. Its products include beer, colt, colt ice, stag, drinking water, iced tea, and soft drinks. The company also provides glass and plastic bottling and packaging products for food and beverage companies. Asia Brewery, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Makati City, the Philippines.
• Basic Holdings Corp.
• Himmel Industries Inc.
• Grandspan Dev’t Corp.
• Lucky Travel Corporation
• Fortune Tobacco Corp.
• Balabac Resources & Holdings Co. Inc.
• Allied Banking Corporation
• Philippine National Bank
• Century Park Hotel
• Air Philippines

Other Interests

• Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc.
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Foundation Inc.
• Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education Inc. (FUSE).

Trivia

• He bought the University of the East in 1990
• In 1977, Tan acquired from the Philippine government the defunct General Bank and Trust Company which he renamed Allied Bank.
• In 1985, Tan bought Century Park Hotel
• 2nd Richest Man in the Philippines – Forbes Magazine –2008
• Lucio Tan’s Group of Companies provides jobs to 50,000 people
• He was a known ally of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

The world’s best wines can be found in a Filipino-owned vineyard

In Southwest France, there’s a Filipino-owned vineyard which carries some of the world’s best wines. With a Philippine banner hoisted outside, this estate has been visited by the likes of former President Gloria Arroyo, former Cabinet member Vince Perez and banker Aurelio Montinola III.

CHATEAU Siran’s front
door welcomes guests.

Located in the wine epicenter of the Bordeaux region, Chateau Siran is run by winemaker and businessman Edouard Miailhe (pronounced mee-EYE). For several generations, the Miailhes ran a trading company in Manila. Today, the younger Miailhe shuttles between the Philippines and France to look after the family business.

“My father traded less in the Philippines but he kept our real estates in Binondo, Escolta and Santa Ana that were left over from the 19th century,” he says.

A fifth-generation vine grower, Miailhe took over Chateau Siran, which was acquired by his family in 1859. Chateau Siran lies in the town of Labarde in the Margaux Appellation. To the wine uninitiated, he explains, “An appellation is a piece of land which answers to certain characteristics in soil, climate and type of grapes,” says Miailhe. In the Margaux Appellation, the soil is embedded with silica and white gravels from the mountains transported from the river. The wines from this region are known for their delicate flavors.

The 88-hectare estate includes 36 hectares of vineyards which are open to the public. Visitors come to sample and buy the Margaux wines.

THE PHILIPPINE flag flutters
outside the gates.

“When you walk around, you see the various grapes; the ages of the vines; the way we plant, grow and prune; the canopy management on how to manage the leaves and the grapes. What you see will depend on the season of your visit. The growing season is from April to October. From November to April, we prune the vines. In April, the buds start to come out,” he says.

The vineyard cultivates the grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Main products

Petit-Verdot, a variety of red wine grapes, adds color and spices up the wines. Its main products are Chateau Siran which is famous for its “perfect balance of tannins, fruit and sharpness”; S de Siran, the second wine, which is noted for its roundness; and the sweet Saint-Jacques de Siran.

CHATEAU reception hall can
be booked for special events.

The chateau’s wines are locally found in Premium Wine Exchange, Wine Story, Terry’s and Santi’s.

As Vice Maître (second master) of La Commanderie de Bordeaux Manila, Miailhe invites Filipino friends over to his chateau and entertains them.

Chateau Siran offers a modern cellar, a tasting room and a large hall, both of which can be rented out for special events. To get a sweeping view of the estate, there is a terrace that overlooks the vineyards. The nuclear bunker is host to the vintages, the oldest of which dates to 1870.

Preselling event

Unique to Bordeaux is the Future Sales which runs from April 15 to June 15, before the Vinexpo or wine exposition. It is the ultimate preselling event for wines before they are bottled. The wines are priced according to what the market is willing to dole out.

THE WINE cellar has been
renovated and is open for tours.

“When you are part of the 150 most famous brands in the world, you sell your wines in the future. You sell even if they are still in the barrels for aging. If the grapes have been harvested in October 2012, they are stored in the barrel in January 2013 for 12 months. By January 2014, I remove them, put the wines in the tank, clarify them and bottle them. The wines are sold through the wine selling system, the Bordeaux Negociants,” explains Miailhe. Negociants is a group of wholesalers who contract to buy an allotment of an estate’s harvest every year.

In April, the world’s most prominent wine writers come to Bordeaux to rate the wines. “Depending on the ratings and the market, you release the wine. You will allocate the wines to the different buyers. We have 45 buyers—some take 800 cases, some 10 or 20 cases.  In two days, you release the wines for the same price and same payment conditions. This is what the buyers have to pay for what will be allocated to them. The buyers confirm and pay in six months. The wine is delivered at the end of the year,” explains Miailhe.

Most visitors stay at the charming hotels in Bordeaux City. Still there’s Chalet Siran, a cottage good for six, in the estate. Guests can dine at Miailhe’s restaurant La Gare Gourmande, a former 50-square-meter train depot in the village. Consisting of seven tables, it serves traditional French fare including poultry, magret confit and pork from the Southwest which complement the red wines.

Best-kept secret

“Many customers are winemakers who bring their own wines,” he says. The Trip Advisor described La Gare Gourmande as the best-kept secret in Bordeaux, and gave the meal of cold pasta with salmon, roast quail with vegetables, and a warm apple strude, a thumbs up.

Then there are the tours of the neighboring subregions of Bordeaux. “If you love architecture and wine, Bordeaux (region) is the place,” says Miailhe.  Médoc is famous for the châteaux, some 1,500 vineyards, the ocean, beaches and pine forests filled with animals. Saint Emilion is a World Heritage Site, famous for its Romanesque cathedrals, limestone houses and a viticulture that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Wine tours

Wine lovers will appreciate the wine tours at Sauternes and Pessac, where travelers can learn more about the nuances of Bordeaux wine in the famous chateaux such as Yquem, Rothschild, Gironde and Sancerre.

“Keep one day for the city of Bordeaux. It’s gorgeous. The new mayor cleaned it up, put in the tramway and overhauled the riverbank. It’s the second most preferred city of France. We are proud of what the mayor has achieved. It looks like Disneyland but more real,” says Miailhe.

Bordeaux underwent a beautification program, starting with the removal of soot from its Medieval churches and old buildings and a reclaimed dockland. It has been modernized with galleries, concept stores, restaurants and wine-bars.

Aside from the châteaux, visiting the markets are enough reason to travel to France. The variety of cheeses, terrines, meats and breads astounds travelers. Miailhe cites coffee, foie gras, fresh produce and the famous classified rosé from Medoc as some of the popular things to shop for. “Food is important for the French and people in the Southwest,” says Miailhe.

For tour and tasting, log on to www.chateausiran.com.