Eng Bee Tin's Gerik Chua looks back at Chinese Deli's showbiz connection

Eng Bee Tin executive Gerik Chua has revealed that television host Cory Quirino played a big part in making the delicious Chinese Deli one of the most popular brands in the country.

"Sometime in the 1990s, TV host Cory Quirino wanted to do a feature on Ongpin for her new show, CityLine. My father Gerry Chua played the gracious host and paved the way for her staff to interview and film around the Ongpin district. Ms. Quirino’s gratitude for this unconditional assistance was expressed by featuring our family's innovation, hopia ube, on CityLine," said Gerik during a brunch with the entertainment press at The Great Buddha Cafe in Binondo, Manila recently.

Due to this exposure, the business soared to previously unheard of heights. Gerry Chua, Gerik's father, then renamed Eng Bee Tin Hopia Factory to Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli.

"Our product line has expanded beyond Chinese Delicacies. One can purchase quality frozen products, Filipino treats, processed seafood, and even breads and cakes – all bearing the Eng Bee Tin label," said Gerik, also president of the Filipino Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI).

These days, Gerik said that Eng Bee Tin is still in contact with Cory, now president of Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant, one of the most enduring beauty contests in the country.

"Until now we are so grateful to her. She never asked for monetary consideration despite making our products popular. But we would help her in some of her worthwhile activities by donating our delicacies," Gerik added.

Eng Bee Tin remains in the same spot it has occupied for over 90 years.

"It is a visible landmark in Ongpin, cheerily lit as a testament to its booming business. It strives to be a visible part of the community, evidenced by the purple fire engines it has donated to the local volunteer fire brigade," Gerik also said.

The company is also one of the biggest international exporters of Hopia, delivering to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA, he also said.

Eng Bee Tin, which actually mean "forever, excellent, treasure," has truly mastered the art of producing world-class Oriental delicacies.

In 1912, Mr. Chua Chiu Hong established Eng Bee Tin in a simple stall in the heart of Ongpin, Manila. The stall became well known for its traditional Chinese delicacies, such as hopia, tikoy and glutinous balls.

During the 1970s, Eng Bee Tin stood cloistered in a sea of similar businesses. Its popularity began to wane and its products were getting harder to sell in a competitive environment.

More than a decade passed, and there appeared to be no end to the downtrend. The stall’s hopia proved unpopular due to its consistency. Creditors, suppliers and friends were turning a cold shoulder, wary of doing business with a seemingly doomed enterprise. The business needed a miracle to survive the 1980s.

It came in the form of Mr. Gerry Chua.

As the eldest among the current generation of Chua siblings at the time, it fell upon Gerry to take the reins of the business at the young age of 21. He was armed only with a sincere wish to help his father by affecting a turnaround on the family business.

On what would otherwise be an uneventful day, Gerry felt the need to cool off after a slow day of business with a bit of ice cream. He made his way to the supermarket, where he engaged the saleslady in conversation, asking what ice cream flavor sold the most. ‘Ube’ was the reply.

Gerry then took six jars worth of ube, and blended it into a batch of hopia. After tasting it, he knew he was on to something. He traveled to the province of Pampanga to master the art of ube making under the tutelage of the best halayang ube makers.

Once the first batches of the soon-to-be famous ube hopia started rolling out, Gerry attempted to export them. Response was lukewarm at first, but business eventually began to gather steam as more and more orders poured in from abroad. For the first time in a long while, business was good, and it was about to get better. Thanks to Cory Quirino.

• Bakery Fair 2023

Gerik also announced that FCBAI's much-awaited "Bakery Fair 2023" will be held from March 2, 3 and 4, 2023 at the World Trade Center in World Trade Center at Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. cor. Diosdado Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City. All baking, pastries and food enthusiasts and the public are invited.

The "Bakery Fair" is the biennial (once every two years) civic project of the FCBAI to promote and uplift the Philippines bakery industry and support socio-economic development. FCBAI is also part of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

Gerik is Vice-President for Operations of Eng Bee Tin bakery business, which includes The Great Buddha Cafe on Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila; Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli; Cafe Mezzanine; and Mr Ube Rice and Noodle House.

A graduate of BS Business Administration Major in Marketing Management of University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 2012, trained in Baking Science and Technology at the American Institute of Baking in 2012, Gerik is also Executive Director of the Filipino Chinese fire volunteer brigade called "TXTFIRE Philippines".

Gerik is also past President of Philippine Society of Baking (PSB).

To pre-register to enter the Bakery Fair 2023, follow the online link https://www.bakeryfair.ph