Feature: Taste and Tell: UPIS entrepreneurs' delicacies

12/11/2020 12:40:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Has your Facebook notifications become flooded with requests to like pages of certain small businesses? Mine certainly has. 

Small businesses usually rely on social media to serve as a bridge between them and their customers. Many of the Facebook invites I received have come from fellow UPIS students who recently started businesses with the help and support of their family.

If you’ve never heard of their businesses before, you may find them in this article. If you’ve heard about them but are hesitant to buy, let me shed a little light on what you’re missing out on. Not only will we learn about their products, but also the stories behind how they came to be. Maybe their stories and wise words of advice will even inspire you to start your own business.

COOKIES & MILK. Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies’ Blanca de Leche is served on an elegant plate along with a glass of milk. Source: Rain Tiangco

After a week of hard work, treat yourself with Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies. I guarantee that you won’t regret it!

Chelo’s Blanca de Leche cookies are chunky dense thick palm-sized golden indulgences sent from the heavens. Upon opening the box, the faint sweet scent of caramel immediately excited me. As a cookie lover (or should I say “cookie monster”), I’ve always been a fan of soft and chewy but not rubbery textured cookies. Chelo’s cookies are exactly that—the type of cookies that makes you want to keep on biting and pinching into. The batter itself was very buttery, and along with the caramel fillings and white chocolate chips, created a wonderful sweet and salty mix. The white choco chips also had their own soft texture in contrast to the rougher cookie base which made each bite more exciting. What I also found worth noting was that the mix-ins were not concentrated in particular areas but evenly spread throughout the cookie. 

The butter plays a big role in the cookies success but it is also its downfall. Though I love Chelo’s Blanca de Leche cookies, my older family relatives found the savory taste to be a little too savory, and joked about feeling their arteries clogging. The rich taste of the cookie is five-star for me, but to others, it may be a little overwhelming. If you're not much for savory tastes or if you’re a bit health-conscious, you might want to find a friend or relative to split it with (but if you're a cookie monster like I am, you would definitely enjoy keeping the whole cookie to yourself). Washing the sweetness down with milk is also something that can lessen the umay.

Make sure to consume these cookies when they are at room temperature or after microwaving if coming from the fridge so that you get the ultimate cookie heaven sensation with each bite.

Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies’ products are quite expensive but I can say that their quality is at par with similarly priced products from bigger businesses. If you are as much of a cookie enthusiast as I am and don’t mind paying an amount of money as long as it gratifies your need for exquisite food, Chelo’s is definitely for you.

Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies is a small business started by Maria Consuelo “Chelo” Neri of Batch 2023 and her older sister. Baking has been a hobby of Chelo ever since she was young and she took lessons to further enhance her baking skills. With extra free time brought on by the quarantine, she was able to start experimenting on recipes and send the goods to close friends. With encouragement from friends and family members, and the initiative of earning a little more income for the household, she started to make money out of her passion for baking.

Chelo takes care of all aspects of the business—from finances, to social media, to the recipes. With Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies’ steady growth, the number of orders had dramatically increased and couldn’t be handled by Chelo and her sister alone. Her supportive parents and other older siblings started to help with the mixing processes and packaging. As Chelo is a student-athlete who has early morning trainings which she balances alongside school requirements, baking from noon ‘til evening and the next day had started to wear her out. The willingness to help and the support of her family members always uplifted her and made her efforts worth it.

Chelo shares that having your own small business is actually quite fun, “especially if you enjoy what you’re doing.”

“It’s super fulfilling when they (customers) send you their kind yet honest reviews because you always want your business to grow.”

Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies sells Blanca De Leche cookies, Classic Chocolate Chip cookies, and Chocolate crinkles, with prices ranging from P220 to P475.

Facebook: Chelo’s Homebaked Cookies

Instagram: @chelosph

GOLDEN DESSERT. Cream n’ Crumble’s Sans Rival Cake sits upon a golden platter. Source: Cream n’ Crumble’s Instagram

A birthday, graduation, or even the simplest celebration of life calls for good cake and therefore calls for Cream n’ Crumble’s Sans Rival!

Majestic, elegant, simple. These are the three adjectives that come to mind when staring at Cream n’ Crumble’s Sans Rival Cake. Sitting upon a gold cake platter, the 6-inch cake is neatly topped and lined at the bottom with cashew bits, perfect for a small semi-formal or casual gathering.

Living up to the business’s name, the cake was indeed “cream” and “crumble”. Let’s talk about the “cream” first. The buttery taste of the Sans Rival’s cream was delightful—not too strong, not too faint. The nutty taste was also prominent as it was evenly distributed throughout the cake. The flavor is suitable for those with more “mature” taste buds, like parents, aunts, and uncles who aren’t too fond of sweets.

Unlike many Sans Rival cakes that scratch your tongue or make your throat itch, this wasn’t too dry. The amount of buttercream was just enough to balance out the dryness of the meringue layers.

Now, here comes the “crumble”. I have to admit, slicing the cake was quite tricky. The cake’s layers quickly dismantled and broke apart. I was not able to enjoy a slice that remained intact and aesthetically pleasing. Nonetheless, this Sans Rival was a treat for my tastebuds.

Like most Sans Rival Cakes, it is best served cold or straight from the fridge, but even if it’s been out on the table for a while, it can still be satisfying.

Cream n’ Crumble is owned by Zemirah Aragones of Batch 2021. With the help of her mother and older sister, Zemirah started this business during quarantine, while there were no classes yet and therefore more time and less stress. Baking became her hobby and coping mechanism which kept her busy during these trying times. Instead of keeping her favorite desserts all to herself, she decided to sell them to others.

Zemirah shares that proper time management is very important in running a business. She found it challenging to get things done when there was more than the usual amount of orders, especially when classes had resumed. Zemirah learned to be more mindful of time and to be more productive.

Zemirah urges aspiring business owners to not be afraid and to not let your doubts and worries keep you from reaching your goal. She says that it is better to make mistakes than to not try at all because these mistakes will help you grow and improve. She stresses that business is not always only about earning a profit, but also about doing the things you love and that make you happy. 

Cream n’ Crumble offers Sans Rival Cake for P250 and P500 (varying sizes), Red Velvet Cake for P400, and Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies for P150.

Facebook: Cream N’ Crumble

Instagram: @creamncrumble.ph

CREAMY GOODNESS. Sweets by PB Bakes’ cup-sized Oreo cheesecake invites you to have a bite. Source: Sweets by PB Bakes’ Facebook page

Satisfy your cheesecake cravings with Sweets by PB Bakes’ Oreo Cheescake Cups!

Served in a box of six, these cheesecake cups are really the cutest, each with its own colored cupcake liner. The tangy and slightly salty taste of the cheesecake balances the sweetness of the Oreo cookie piece at the bottom and the chocolate button on top. Add to that the creaminess of the cheesecake and you end up with a masterpiece. Personally, I would enjoy this delicacy more if extra Oreo cookie pieces were topped on the cheesecake for added texture and greater intensity of the chocolate cookie flavor, but that would probably interfere with the aesthetic of the dessert.

What I find highly commendable is the cheescake’s consistency: not at all lumpy, but smooth and firm. I find that a number of big businesses sell cheesecakes that are too soft—the kind that feels more like pudding instead of cake. Sweets by PB Bakes really knows what they’re doing.

Though they recommend that we consume these Oreo Cheescake Cups cold, I advise you to not consume them right out of the ref. Let them sit in room temperature for a few minutes in order to soften the Oreo cookies at the bottom. If you skip this step, a scoop into the cup won’t go too smoothly. The Oreo will still be too stiff to scoop and you’ll only get a piece of cheesecake without the cookie crust.

Sweets by PB Bakes offers sweets baked by Pamela “Pam” Beatrice Marquez of Batch 2021. Pam had started baking even before entering high school. Despite her early failed attempts when starting out, she kept on learning and practicing because she found herself having a lot of fun.

“It was one of the first times I felt really passionate about the actual act of doing something,” Pam shares.

Her father used to pay her to bake sweets for his business colleagues. The idea of starting a baking business had been with Pam then but she later on found less time to bake and eventually stopped. Now that we have more time and are advised to stay at home 24/7, the idea of making a business out of her passion had seemed to be perfect. It was an opportunity to earn extra income and gain new learning experiences.

At first, Pam had been putting the idea off. Her fears and doubts later on subsided when she found that many others were also taking the risk of setting up their own businesses. Pam had finally started Sweets by PB Bakes with the encouragement and guidance of her business-oriented family. 

Pam bakes the products herself and manages the business’ social media accounts and finances. Her family is very supportive. Her eldest sister gives feedback on product quality and her other older sister helps with the photography of the products. Her mother also assists her with keeping track of the finances and ordering ingredients. 

Sweets by PB Bakes started off on a rocky path. Pam had gone through many sleepless nights—she wasn’t used to baking in bulk and she was also encountering problems in packaging. She did not give up though. She later on learned to bake more skillfully and quicker, and she found the very supportive community of Facebook baking groups. She posted an inquiry regarding her packaging problem and received very helpful advice. She found many others who were also struggling with their own baking and business problems and was touched by the genuineness of her fellow bakers.

Her advice for those interested in starting their own businesses is to build it around something you honestly enjoy doing so that you will be more motivated to work on it. In relation to this, she highlights the importance of time management: “...even if you do enjoy something, you're gonna start to hate it if you get sleep-deprived over it!” she says.

Pam also advises to be meticulous with managing and recording expenses and sales. Lastly, she mentions the need to ‘take care’ of your customers.

“So many people help you and support you by buying or promoting your products even when they absolutely do not have to; it's so great and heart-warming, and it makes you feel so grateful. You wanna make sure you give that back to them by putting your best efforts into making your product and making it good.”

Sweets by PB Bakes serves desserts that can make your day and that will leave you wanting more (I ordered twice!). A box of their Oreo Cheescake Cups costs P270 and a box of their Salted Caramel Cookie Bars (which I also love) costs P230. 

Facebook: Sweets by PB Bakes

Instagram: @pbbakes_

SUNSET SNACK. Sun shines upon The Pow Bakes’ Oreo Nutella Bars. Source: Rain Tiangco

Had enough of typical brownies and revel bars? The Pow Bakes certainly has a treat for you!

The Pow Bakes’ Oreo Nutella Bars tempt anyone who lays eyes on them. The oozing Nutella is especially an eye-catcher! Surprisingly, the chocolate hazelnut taste isn’t too sweet as it is balanced out by the mellow taste of the bar’s base, making the dessert not at all difficult to eat. Though there are Oreo cookie bits mixed in the bar, I couldn’t really notice their taste because of the distinct and stronger taste of Nutella. Nonetheless, these bars are sweet treats, especially for Nutella-lovers. Also, since these bars aren’t too sweet, they can be served not only as a dessert but also as a snack.

The Oreo Nutella Bars aren’t moist, but they aren’t too dry either. They are firm and do not crumble when bitten into. These bars are most enjoyable when heated up because the Nutella becomes gooier and the bar itself becomes chewier.

The Pow Bakes is a baking business run by Alicia Christine “Tin” Silleza of Batch 2022 and her parents. With not much to do during the first months of quarantine, Tin had started baking. It then became a hobby and a mechanism to cope with the stresses and worries brought on by the pandemic. After experimenting with recipes she found online, Tin developed recipes of her own that were loved by her family members who then encouraged her to sell her baked goods. By selling the products of her baking, Tin could share these delicacies with a larger audience and she could improve her products based on the feedback of the customers—a definite win-win.

Tin shared that on the first day she accepted orders, she accepted too much. She found it hard to manage the time on her hands and was very stressed out. From then on, she learned to divide the workload more properly and to accept only a certain amount of orders per delivery day.

She advises those who want to start their own businesses to “Go out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to take risks but always know your limitations. Always be mindful of your financial management and find people you trust and you know will help you grow. Manage your time properly and be flexible because there will always be hindrances along the way.”

The Pow Bakes sells Oreo Nutella Bars for P220, S’More Cookies for P180, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie Overload (my personal favorite from The Pow Bakes) for P200, prices that are very student-friendly! They’re the perfect snacks to share with your family on game nights and the perfect “pasalubong” for a friend who unexpectedly swings by your home just to say “Hi”.

Facebook: The Pow Bakes

Instagram: @powbakes

RISE & SHINE. The day starts with a good breakfast brought by Daddy Mikks Garlic Crunch topped over garlic butter rice. Source: Rain Tiangco

Getting bored of your everyday plain rice? Spice up your meal with Daddy Mikks Garlic Crunch!

These garlic bits are very versatile and are recommended to be topped on or mixed in rice, pizza, soup, and vegetables. I was hesitant to buy from Caleb’s Store because the products come in 130gram jars—I couldn’t possibly finish all of that, especially because I am not fond of adding extra herbs or spices into my meals. You can imagine my surprise when I found the jar to be 1/3 empty by the end of the week of my purchase.

From the strong aroma of garlic, salt, pepper, and spices in oil that greets you upon opening the jar, you are sure to make a plain meal quite exciting. The flavor is not too strong and the golden-reddish color of the bits confirm that they were not overcooked nor burnt. If you are fond of garlicky food, you might find this Garlic Crunch to be quite mild. If that’s the case, you can always use a larger serving of these bits to add some more flavor.

My mother made buttered rice in which she mixed in some of Daddy Mikks Garlic Crunch. I topped the garlic buttered rice with more Garlic Crunch bits and ate it with sweet longganisa and egg. I also tried it with a tapsilog meal. The bites were really versatile and I found myself adding them to different meals. Daddy Mikks Garlic Crunch grew on me—they were quite addictive! 

As the garlic bits are cooked in oil, you can expect that they aren’t quite dry, but despite this, they aren’t too wet either. They give just the right amount of crunchiness, the kind that doesn’t scratch your tongue and gums and makes you want to keep chewing. They are also crushed into just the right size that won’t get stuck in between your teeth. Make sure to store these garlic bits at room temperature to maintain this quality and have a satisfying meal.

Though Caleb’s Store is only a distributor of Daddy Mikks’ products, it is owned and all-around managed (including social media and delivery) by Simon Caleb Delfinado of Batch 2021. Caleb’s Store was made possible because of the prompting and support of Simon’s mother who encouraged him to start his own business. She believed that it would be a great learning experience for Simon. His mother had become his mentor and provided him with the required capital for the initial purchase of the products and also assisted in getting Caleb’s Store Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) registered.

Hesitant and with little knowledge about handling a business, Simon was worried that he would not be able to sell the products they bought. To his surprise, their investment returned in no time and he is now selling his second batch of products.

This business has become a great learning experience indeed. Through becoming a business owner, Simon had learned that business is “not just a simple concept of buy and sell,” but very hard work. He mentioned the need to monitor the inventory of products, calculating how much profit you’ve earned (or if you didn’t earn at all), and the delivery which he personally found to be most exhausting. He also learned to “harness technology in e-commerce businesses”.

“I alternately used on-demand logistics providers such as Grab and Lalamove. I also used fintech providers to receive payments thru GCash and BPI,” Simon shares.

Simon encourages aspiring business owners to not be afraid and to do their best. His advice is to “sell products you actually like.” Since Simon is fond of spicy foods, he is more enthusiastic in selling spices because it feels more like sharing what he likes with others rather than selling them.

Caleb’s Store offers Daddy Mikks Garlic Crunch for P180, Chilli Crunch for P220, Chilli Shots for P100, and a box set of these three products for P500.

Facebook: Caleb’s store

Mobile No.: 09369522021

Small businesses, unlike big enterprises, have more limited resources and can only reach a much smaller scope. They mostly rely on their social media pages/accounts as a venue for advertising and communication. Simply liking, following, and sharing their social media pages are great ways to help these businesses because their posts will be able to reach more people. Small businesses rely on the support of the people close to the business owners and are sustained by the kindness of enthusiastic customers who also give constructive feedback and spread word of the businesses.

Hopefully by now, any hesitations you might have had before reading this article have been set aside. By purchasing from our fellow UPIS students, we can support their passions, help them practice business-related skills, and even help them out financially.

A few more food businesses of UPIS high school students are Baked by Achi (Lizzie Dela Rosa, Batch 2023), bakeitbakeit ph (Erielle Arceo, Batch 2023), and Click Bake (Jade Niegas, Batch 2023). There are also dry goods businesses such as Amigas Boutique (Raven Lilo-an, Batch 2023), Rayleigh Cases (Lorraine Beltran, Batch 2023), and verdé (Kelzia Castroverde, Batch 2023). Some UPIS students also do art commissions, so watch out for their social media posts and announcements.

Support small businesses by UPIS students! //by Rain Tiangco