TGIFriday’s bartender Roniel Lopez to compete in world championship

MANILA — TGIFriday’s Philippines bartender Roniel Lopez will represent the country at the World Bartending Championship in Orlando, Florida, after winning the company’s Philippine bartending championship in 2025.

Lopez developed his flair bartending skills from an early age, practicing bottle flips, spins and throws with improvised equipment before eventually competing in bartending competitions.

Without a complete bartender’s toolkit at home, Lopez practiced with empty bottles, wrapping them in tape and improvising with whatever materials he could find.

“I improvised, used empty bottles, wrapped them in tape and made do with whatever materials I could find,” Lopez said.

The early practice came with plenty of mistakes, including dropped bottles, but Lopez said he treated them as part of the learning process. He later completed a three-month bartending course through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, where he learned traditional bartending and drink-mixing techniques.

His experience eventually expanded beyond preparing drinks to performing in front of an audience. Through TGIFriday’s Bar Tour, which brings bartenders to different branches to conduct demonstrations and share bartending techniques, Lopez developed his skills in engaging with crowds.

He has been part of the Bar Tour since 2023, sharing his skills with fellow bartenders and enthusiasts.

Lopez also gained experience through competitions. His first TGIFriday’s BCBIT, or Best Corner Bar in Town, competition in 2023 ended with a low score. Instead of giving up, he studied the areas he needed to improve and returned the following year to win the competition.

In August 2025, he competed in the TGIFriday’s Philippines Bartending Championship and won the grand prize, earning the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the global competition.

“My goal is to bring something different to the world bartending stage, creating new tricks instead of simply copying existing routines,” Lopez said. “My performance is designed to be the whole package, flair, personality, energy, confidence and showmanship.”