Filipino bartender is one of just two Southeast Asia finalists in a cocktail competition

Everybody, meet Edu Cardenio Zamora. He is the Filipino bar bartender who happens to be one of just two Southeast Asia finalists in the Bacardi Legacy Competition.

Edu, who works as a bar supervisor at Mo Bar in Mandarin Oriental Singapore, is among the 40 individuals who entered the competition in Singapore.

After being selected as one of top three competitors, Edu competed against 15 bartenders — essentially the top 3 of other competing cities from Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

His concoction? A refreshing libation called “Mantener Lafe” — Spanish for "keeping the faith."

According to Drinks.World, Mantener Lafe “features a roasted coconut cordial from coconut juice, lime, citric acid, sugar, and reused coconut husks. He then combined it with Bacardi Carta Blanca, lime bitters, Angostura bitters, and kaffir lime leaves served over ice in a coupe glass.”

The idea struck him while working in a pool bar in the Philippines. He noticed guests would discard the coconut after drinking off them.

Tagay! — LA, GMA News