MANILA, Philippines — There was perhaps no one prouder and happier than the senior Gerry Chua, when the first National Hopia Day was marked this weekend (July 19 to 21) by the popular Eng Bee Tin store.
The third generation business owner was joined by his three children — Gerik, Royce Gerald and Roche Geraldyn — the fourth generation owners who are now managing Eng Bee Tin.
The family welcomed TV host Cory Quirino, actor-politician Isko Moreno and Diana Zubiri with her family.
“Today, the whole world knows about the ube hopia,” beamed Cory. “That was after I featured Eng Bee Tin on ‘Citiline’ on ABS-CBN. They said, it is love that makes the world go round. Starting today, because of the National Hopia Day and Eng Bee Tin, hopia is making love all around the world.”
Binondo has become a food street always teeming with people. “Yorme plans to do the National Hopia Day in Manila,” Gerry disclosed.
“Gerry, we are very proud of you being Batang Maynila,” said Yorme. “We are very proud of you and your fellow neighbors in downtown Manila. They lived in Manila, they saw how to grow up in Manila and have their own family there.
“Gerry is the third generation of Filipino-Chinese who became successful in the country’s capital in the city of Manila. No parent will wish something bad for his children. It’s not bad to help your parents in any way,” added the former Manila City mayor.
In an effort to rebrand Eng Bee Tin and make the product marketable, the senior Gerry frequented the Ongpin Supermarket every afternoon without buying anything, to the point where he was suspected as a shoplifter then.
A day came when Gerry asked the guy selling ice cream what was the most popular flavor and he was told it was ube. It was as if someone whispered to him, “Try making hopiang ube.” He bought six jars of ube, made hopia and the rest was history.
That is the reason Eng Bee Tin decided to retrace and showcase the history of hopia by holding the first National Hopia Day, from July 19 to 21 at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.
“Thank you for coming to the first National Hopia Day,” said Eng Bee Tin chairman and president Gerry Chua.
Forty years ago, Gerry was called “sira ulo” and “magnanakaw” in Binondo. Every time there was a fire in Binondo, he would go to the intersection of Ongpin and Nueva and reroute traffic in the area.
“At that time, we had financial problems. Every day, our checks would bounce and in times of crisis, you would really know who your true friends are.
“All our relatives were avoiding us, most of our friends were afraid I would borrow money from them. That was the truth, but that was but natural.
The Eng Bee Tin chairman Gerry Chua (leftmost) with National Hopia Day guests Isko Moreno, Cory Quirino and Diana Zubiri.
“Others were calling me ‘magnanakaw.’ I was always a suspect for shoplifting. We didn’t have air-conditioning unit and our store was only small.
“So I would spend time every day inside the supermarket where it was cold. It was just at the corner of the street near our house.”
“No one was buying our hopia,” the dad recalled. “I asked the guy in the supermarket what’s the most saleable ice cream flavor and I was told, it was ube.
“I got money from the house and bought ube halea which they also used to make ice cream.”
So with the two flavors of monggo and macao, Gerry added hopia ube. “I had no friends at that time, but I had fire volunteers who helped me. I made them taste the hopia ube which they liked because it was free.
“I asked them if the new hopia flavor would click and they didn’t agree. One day, TV host Cory Quirino wanted to feature Chinatown. I was featured as a volunteer fireman and I accompanied her to interview the Chinese doctor, drugstore and the temple.”
“When Cory asked where I stayed, I told her Eng Bee Tin, the markers of hoping ube. She promised to help me. After two weeks, I received a call from the staff of Ma’am Cory, who said she would visit me one Saturday.
“Cory asked about the machines to make hopia. I told her, we didn’t have machines yet at that time. The workers merely used their hands and feet. She featured me as a hopia-maker.”
The feature came out on “Citiline,” a weekly program on ABS-CBN, but Gerry failed to watch the late-night feature. However, when the feature came out, people suddenly became interested about hopia at 628 Ongpin St., near Binondo Church.
“After I was featured, hoping ube took off the next day,” Gerry shared. Cory subsequently became the “fairy god mother” of Gerry. He was featured on other networks and the hoping ube became popular.
“While we are still alive, do good deeds to your fellowmen,” Gerry said. At that time, he was a volunteer fireman, if he didn’t extend a helping arm to Cory, he wouldn’t be featured on her program and his hopia still wouldn’t be known.
Eng Bee Tin, which means “forever, excellent, treasure,” started in 1912, more than a century ago, in the market.
To date, Eng Bee Tin has 50 branches all over Luzon, all family owned with no franchises. “Mostly are kiosks,” Gerik offered. “We have yet to branch out in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“The farthest in Luzon is Batangas, while in the north, it’s Pampanga (San Fernando). Soon, hopefully, we plan to bring Eng Bee Tin to Baguio.”
The Chua family also exports Eng Bee Tin to 18 countries worldwide.
“Today, there are 25 flavors of hopia,” beamed Gerik. “We have hopia pandan, durian, langka, quezo and kundol, plus sugar-free hopia. Same taste, guilt-free. Very Filipino flavors and proudly Pinoy.”
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