Eng Bee Tin, the legendary name synonymous with the Philippines' favorite hopia, celebrated the second National Hopia Day (NHD) recently with festivities held simultaneously in many areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The celebration marked the company’s 113th year.

For the month of July, a variety of delectable hopia flavors were offered to celebrate the sweet pastry which has become a favorite snack and gift item to many Filipinos.

"Hopia is a simple food. It's been around for a long time. The Chinese brought it to the Philippines. It's a Chinese delicacy, but it has been incorporated into our culture because it fits our taste," said Eng Bee Tin Operations Executive Gerald Chua during an interview in Binondo, Manila, recently.

"You can eat it anytime. Breakfast, snack, or even when you're traveling. Just one or two pieces, you don't have to finish the whole pack. Most of all, it's cheap. Hopia is accessible everywhere," he said.

When the first National Hopia Day was held last year, it reintroduced the cake-like pastry to a younger audience, according to Gerald. "Many people from the new generation are unfamiliar with hopia, so they tend to explore various flavors."

Hopia has long been a beloved delicacy among many people. As of July 2025, Eng Bee Tin has delighted taste buds with an impressive array of 23 exquisite flavors. The latest variant is the Philippine Mango Cake, a sumptuous creation that was offered in 2024.

Many hopia flavors were created from local fruits. "We promote Philippine flavors. We have Durian Hopia, and we get the fruit from Davao. We get mangoes from Cebu and Guimaras," Gerald said.

Among the many flavors that he has tasted, Gerald’s favorite is Ube (purple yam). “I grew up with that flavor. When I was young, I would bring it to school. Now there are many other flavors available."

Gerald enumerated the 23 hopia flavors: Monggo, Pandan, Kundol, Ube, Red Monggo, Munggo Supreme, Ube Queso, Ube Langka, Ube Pastillas, Pineapple Cake, Pork Floss, Brownies, Durian, Custard, Buco Custard, Langka, Mochipia Ube Macapuno, Ube Custard, Hopia Hapon, Hopia Dice, Hopia Dice Ube, Sisig, Choco-Nut, and Philippine Mango Cake.

This year, Eng Bee Tin launched Kapeng Barako Hopia, priced at ₱20 per pack. Dubbed "EtNeb," the concept was inspired by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. The unique flavor is based on the mayor's favorite breakfast, which includes coffee.

"We introduced it last year, but we never made it public because we wanted to refine it. But this time, we are ready to produce thousands of Kapeng Barako Hopia. It's a limited edition, and all Manila branches will sell it," he said.

The Chua siblings are all involved in the day-to-day operations of the family food business. Gerald is operations executive, Gerik is COO, Roche is finance manager.

Working closely together, each contributes unique skills and perspectives to form a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality products.

"Even before my siblings and I entered the business, we already had exposure to the store. I was already looking after the store when I was still in grade school, observing operations and marketing. We were all immersed," said Gerald.

He said setting a “National Hopia Day” aims to bring this beloved classic pastry to more customers.

“This isn’t just about hopia,” said Gerik. “It’s about honoring our roots, celebrating our community, and recognizing how food brings us together across generations.”

“Every hopia tells a story,” Roche said. “Through National Hopia Day, we celebrate culture, comfort, and the delicious flavors of home.”