“The greatest accomplishment of a Bartender lies in his ability to exactly suit his customer.” – Harry Gordon Johnson
Bobbyjames Borbo, the Head Bartender of Daloyon Pool Bar in BWP The Ivywall Hotel, has been working behind the bar since 2008. He tarted to learn mixing drinks and spirits when he was with Club Noah Isabelle in Taytay, Palawan. “Nung time na naga-apply ako, I know nothing about the bar. Tagahugas lang ako ng baso,” he recalled.
At first, James said he couldn’t do it, but the Resort Manager at that time encouraged him. “I realized after a few months that I really like it, ‘yung service, yung ma-satisfy ko yung guest. Ang sarap sa feeling,” he said.
He also worked at Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort and went out of the country for six years before working at the Ivywall Hotel. “When I passed by, I saw this hotel [BWP] and then I said [to myself]: I want to work in this place.”
James is all about the excellent service. He may not have a formal training but he acquired all of his skills from his experience. He is passionate about his job, making sure that every single guest leaves the bar with a smile. The secret behind his amazing cocktails? “I’m always trying to think that every cocktail I make is for someone special,” he said.
One of the highlight s of James’s bartending career was when he worked in Dubai. He said he was one of the fastest bartenders there. He also added that based on his experience, having long patience and a wide understanding of his colleague’s and superior’s characters and knowing they do not share the same culture, became one of his assets to survive and to be able to execute his skills professionally.
Often times, James is required to face all kinds of customers as part of his job, including the ones with the worst kind of attitude, but somehow, he managed to shrug it all off. “Along the process, when you are working in this industry, you will have more patience. You’ll get used to it and later on, you’ll be able to handle it,” he said.
James also believes that the greatest teacher is one’s mistake and one’s experience. “Dapat huwag kang ma-pride. You will not grow. If they [your colleagues] are better than you, accept it. Try to learn [from it],” he said.
“Advice ko lang sa mga aspiring bartenders is they have to set their mission and vision and time frame to achieve that mission,” he said. “Do what you love and love what you do. You won’t get easily tired doing the same thing every single day if you love what you are doing.”
James is one of the many examples that it is never too late for anyone to discover what they’re really meant to do in their life.