Chef Maidah Kherina Arugay, a BA Psychology Batch 2011 alumna, has found a recipe for success in being an award-winning chef and culinary expert based in Wellington, New Zealand.
After finishing her degree in Miriam College, Chef Maidah worked as a human resource specialist prior to moving to New Zealand to study cookery while juggling part-time hustles as a kitchenhand. Later on,
she would earn a diploma in Applied Management and dive head-first in the culinary industry ready to work full-time. Seven years of experience with different cuisines sprung her to a quicker career path of being a head chef in just 5 years, compared to the usual time it takes to get promoted into one.
Chef Maidah has also participated in Wellington’s biggest culinary festival that allowed her to innovate dishes promoting a fusion of Filipino and Latin-American cuisine, a step forward to her dream of bringing the Philippines’ proudest flavors to this area. She was then named Best Chef of the Year in 2023 by another hospitality festival, Wellington Hospitality Eat, Drink And Play.
Culinary is her greatest passion and her Psychology degree equipped her with management and relation skills, helpful in her pursuit of excellence in the industry. Her favorite college memories were hanging out with friends from the Entrepreneuship department at the Cafe Entrep and singing in school events.
Aside from the sister-like bond found in her friends, she also had an enriched experience as her sisters were also Knollers
(Marianne Arugay-McArdell, BA Communication Arts major in Digital Media Batch 2015; Maryjo Arugay-Cinco, BA Communication Arts Cum Laude Graduate Batch 2010; and Maraiza Arend Arugay, High School ABM Batch 2018).
From a colorful college life to a flavorful career journey, Chef Maidah’s master tip is to never give up. Her advice for aspiring chefs: grab opportunities and charge these to experience. Additionally, remaining determined to achieve one’s goals doesn’t have to be in the name of adversity– even before dominating the kitchen, she already reinforced the dream of being in one by having a toque and knives tattooed on her arm.
Womanpower is what comes to Chef Maidah’s mind when capturing her experience as a Miriam graduate. Her successful role as a woman leader committed to culinary excellence involved being true to herself and to the Miriam values to this day.
