31/10/2024
Ho Eng Suy is one of the longest running bakeries in the province. It was founded during the early 1950s in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental by a Chinese businessman Engsuy Ho. This hardworking baker came all the way from mainland China to the Philippines along with his other siblings to start a business venture. That is when this bakery started operating in Manjuyod.
It is the home to the original recipe of Biscocho which Engsuy himself, made for a competition he joined in Manila. He won the competition in 1952. Thereafter, he started distributing commercially his famous recipe which he named after his mom and one of his daughters Cana Ho who is currently the owner of the Cana Retreat in Tandayag, Amlan, Negros Oriental. Hence, the famous Biscocho de Cana is born.
Engsuy passed on his successful business to his daughter Linda Ho who helped him run his business during her prime years. Linda Ho then married Carlito Garces, a native of Jimalalud Negros Oriental and they are blessed with three children. They had initially named the bakery PMC and acquired BFAD approval in the early 2000s. It is in the bakery business that they were able to send their children to school until all of them reached noble professions. Their eldest daughter Pinky Ho Garcess-Itaas is now a lawyer, Melanie Rose Ho Garces-Chua became a doctor and Carlo Ho Garces is already an engineer.
When Linda Garces retired, she passed on the business to her daughter Melanie who juggled managing the business with her medical practice at the same time. People always see her as someone with a passion for business, which runs from the family’s Chinese heritage. From then on, Ho Eng Suy was able to adapt to the changing times as it caters to the needs of the younger generations.
From social media presence to direct selling and consignment basis in the leading supermarkets and convenience stores in the neighboring towns and cities, one can say that it has been successfully handed down from generation to generation. When Melanie took over the business, the famous original recipes started to make a huge comeback and have now become a hit in social media and other markets in the food industry such as the famous food delivery service Foodpanda.
What makes Ho Eng Suy different from the other bakeries is that it produces freshly baked goodies with the use of brick oven or what is commonly known as pugon in the native tongue. It has become its signature style of baking bakery specialties such as Biscocho de Cana, Special Patatas and all other famous recipes.
For 68 years, the business clings to its strong foundation and loyal bakers who have been very hardworking and conscientious to their craft. However, the business has gone through some challenges such as the increasing demands yet less manpower. Fortunately, Ho Eng Suy was able to work with DOST for full support in meeting the needs of its most valued customers and continuously produce good quality baked products for everyone.
With the expanding market and the bakery now based in Mabinay, Ho Eng Suy aims to stretch its reach and coverage to the entire province, as well as the neighboring islands of Bohol, Siquijor, Cebu and Dapitan.
