Chef JP Anglo Opens Scholarship with CCA Manila with Chance to Intern at Kooya Dubai

Manila: Aspiring Filipino chefs have a chance to receive full professional culinary training in the Philippines, with qualified scholars also getting the opportunity to intern at Chef JP Anglo’s Kooya Filipino Eatery in Dubai.

The Filipino chef and restaurateur has launched “May Pangarap Ako,” the Chef JP Anglo Scholarship Program, in partnership with the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila.

Three aspiring cooks will receive full scholarships for CCA Manila’s six-month Professional Chef Program. Applications are open until September 30, 2026.

Scholarship Covers Php 300,000 Culinary Program

Each scholarship covers the complete tuition for CCA Manila’s six-month Professional Chef Program, valued at Php 300,000. Scholars will complete all six modules of the course.

They will also receive access to the Rouxbe Online Platform, weekly face-to-face culinary training, and online consultations.

Classes are scheduled every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CCA Manila’s Quezon City or BGC campus.

The opportunity goes beyond classroom training.

Qualified scholars may also take an optional internship after graduation at Sarsa Kitchen + Bar in Makati or Kooya Filipino Eatery in Dubai. Scholars will also receive mentorship sessions with Chef JP and access to CCA Manila’s culinary network.

Chef JP himself studied at CCA Manila before building a career that eventually included Sarsa and Kooya, his Filipino restaurant in Dubai.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, Filipino citizens, and based in Manila or willing to relocate for the full duration of the program. They must also be ready to meet the program’s attendance, internship, and apprenticeship requirements.

To apply, candidates need to create a one- to two-minute introduction video explaining who they are as cooks and why they deserve the scholarship.

The video must be uploaded on Instagram and YouTube using #DreamwithChefJPandCCA and #CCAChefJPScholarship. Applicants must then complete the official online application form and submit their video links.

Around 10 to 15 shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Zoom interview before the final three scholars are chosen.

A Chance for Cooks Willing to Put in the Work

Chef JP said the program is looking for people who are humble, hardworking, willing to learn, and serious about pursuing a culinary career.

His message is simple: where someone starts matters less than whether they are prepared to work for the dream.

For an aspiring Filipino cook waiting for a chance to enter a professional kitchen, “May Pangarap Ako” could be that opening.

Applications close September 30, 2026.

Apply through the official CCA Manila scholarship page here.