By Robert R. Requintina
Believe it or not, television personality Cory Quirino made Eng Bee Tin's hopia one of the country's most popular pastries.
At a recent brunch with the entertainment press at The Great Buddha Cafe in Binondo, Manila, Eng Bee Tin executive Gerik Chua thanked Cory for her support in making hopia a popular brand.
"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. And the rest is history," said Gerik.
Due to this exposure, the business experienced unprecedented growth. Gerry Chua, Gerik's father, 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 bread and cakes – all bearing the Eng Bee Tin label," said Gerik, former president of the Filipino Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI).
Gerik mentioned that Eng Bee Tin is still in contact with Cory, the current president of the Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant, one of the longest-running beauty contests in the country.
"Until now, we have been 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 has remained in the exact location 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.
He also said the company is one of the biggest international exporters of Hopia, delivering to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA.
Eng Bee Tin, which means "forever, excellent, treasure," has genuinely mastered 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 found itself surrounded by similar businesses, which decreased its popularity and made its products more challenging to sell in a competitive market.
It had been over a decade, and there seemed to be no end to the downward trend. The stall's hopia was not well-received because of its lack of consistency. Creditors, suppliers, and friends avoided the business, reluctant to engage with what seemed like a failing enterprise. It would take a miracle for the business 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 in 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 some ice cream. He went to the supermarket, where he conversed with the saleslady, asking what ice cream flavor sold the most. ‘Ube’ was the reply.
Gerry then blended six jars of ube into a batch of hops. 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. The response was lukewarm at first, but the business eventually gathered steam as more orders poured in from abroad. For the first time in a long while, business was good and about to improve. Thanks to Cory.
National Hopia Day
For the first time, Eng Bee Tin will host the National Hopia Day in cooperation with SM Mall of Asia from July 19-21.
"This event brings together hopia lovers from all over to enjoy a variety of hopia flavors, exciting games, and fun activities. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to hopia, there’s something for everyone!" said Gerik.
Gerald, younger brother of Gerik, said that on National Hopia Day, they will honor the stories woven into each bite. "We pay tribute to the enduring family bonds, the tapestry of our shared culture, and the comforting familiarity of familiar flavors."
"We celebrate family, culture, and food. In the same way, Eng Bee Tin is more than a business. We are a proudly local, family-owned brand that champions our cultural identity through our products. Just as hopia represents the convergence of Filipino and Chinese influences, Eng Bee Tin stands as a testament to the richness of our diverse heritage, inviting us to savor the flavors of our collective story," said Geraldyn, sister of Gerik and Gerald.