I recently visited Oliver’s Coffee Bistro in Petron Ortigas Greenhills because my husband, a coffee addict, said they served the best tall Americano, and because the Fried Chicken & Waffles was a standout.

In his words, “The waffles were flaky and croffle-like and the fried chicken was like the chicken of your favorite fast food chain.” Long story short, when I heard the word chicken, I started running there. I had three surprises when I got to the place.

First, for a bistro in a gas station, it was big and ultra classy, like I was in a restaurant in BGC. Second, a Ferrari was on display inside the bistro—it was the bistro’s main showpiece, featuring a 360-degree turntable to showcase its design to its fullest extent. No wonder my husband keeps going there. He was doing his daily manifestations and prayers because he always wanted a Ferrari. But my biggest surprise was the girl in a white chef's suit bringing my favorite matcha drink, along with my Fried Chicken and Waffles, a free Vodka Tomato Lasagna, and a Crème Brûlée Cheesecake – it was Debbie Garcia, one of the five women in the Vivamax movie “5-in-One” and many other Vivamax movies.

As a writer, I requested that she leave the kitchen to the executive chef, Third Vaño, and sit down for a brief interview on why she had shifted careers so quickly, like a Ferrari shifting from zero to 80 kph.

“To be honest, I hit rock bottom. You know Ate Giselle, I have been through a lot – I was orphaned at a young age, then I had a near-death car accident where I was in the hospital for six months, having surgery after surgery. When I thought I was back, I got into a bar brawl with another actress. I had to battle depression, and the online hate made me think thrice about my career path. I forced myself to get out of depression. I felt that things in my life were no longer in the right order. Doing films that I do feels wrong for my soul. I needed to breathe, to take a break from everything. I finally found peace in cooking. Cooking has always been my comfort and haven during my teenage years. I studied at CCA Manila, and I suppose I did well there because another CCA Manila Alumnus, Chef Third Vaño, reached out to me and told me that Jacb Ang, the youngest son of Ramon Ang, was opening a restaurant bistro and was inviting me to join the group. And now I am here as their celebrity chef.”

For context purposes, in October 2022, Debbie hit the headlines after a late-night altercation between fellow actress Barbie Imperial in a Quezon City bar. Allegedly sparked by jealousy– rumored ties between Debbie and Barbie’s ex-boyfriend Diego Loyzaga – the incident led Debbie to file charges for slight physical injuries, oral defamation, and slander. Months later, the case was dismissed.

The CCTV footage was deemed inconclusive. But seeing Debbie bright and bubbly again and tasting her food, I knew she was now in the right place and the right career. The taste of the Fried Chicken and Waffles, Vodka Tomato Lasagna, and Crème Brûlée Cheesecake was proof that she had finally chosen the right job, where she could soar and become world-renowned.

After the interview, I ordered Champagne. She chose red wine, just one sip, because she was working. We had to celebrate her newfound career, where I know she will make headlines, this time in a good way, in this excellent restaurant bistro called Oliver’s Coffee Bistro.