A Legacy You Can Taste

I’ve been taking time to reflect, digging deeper to understand where my passion for seafood truly comes from. I’ve come to realize that food has always been my comfort zone. Beyond the joy of cooking, it carries memories, values, and lessons quietly passed down to me—most profoundly by my dad.

Some of my clearest memories of him are moments I didn’t fully understand as a child. Whenever someone knocked on our door asking for alms, my dad never turned them away. He always had something to give, and it was almost always food. Looking back now, I see that this was his love language. He believed a warm meal could speak when words fell short.

It’s no wonder, then, that he chose to give up a double engineering degree to pursue a life centered on serving others through good food. His choices taught me that food is more than nourishment—it’s generosity, compassion, and connection. Every dish I create today carries a piece of his legacy.

Another source of inspiration came from his aunt, whom I lovingly treat as my grandmother. She lives in Bohol, and I still treasure our phone conversations—especially when she would ask for her favorites: smoked fish and salted egg, delicacies only available in our area. Visiting her meant stepping into my dad’s role, cooking the dishes he always prepared for her, knowing her helper had limited cooking skills. In those moments, I wasn’t just cooking—I was continuing what he started.

My dad’s family—especially those who have passed—have given me this precious gift of serving others through food. Their values live on in the way I cook, the way I share, and the way I give.

Every seafood product or dish I create carries their stories, their values, and their love. Through food, I honor my dad, my family, and those who came before me—by serving others with intention, compassion, and heart, one plate at a time.