Get your favorite Filipino-Chinese patris at L Fortuna Bakery!
(Photo courtesy of La Fortuna Bakery Facebook Page)
For 70 years, La Fortuna Bakery has been home to the best Chibuano (Chinese and Cebuano) baked goods in the city. This homegrown pastry shop is also one of the oldest and most reliable pasalubong centers in Cebu.
Their bestsellers include hopia, tikoy, and maci. They have become so popular that you can find a lot of stores and streetside stalls selling these tasty treats. You can also find them in prime locations near heritage landmarks like churches and city centers.
But like many Filipino business success stories, La Fortuna Bakery had a challenging journey.
HOW THE SY FAMILY SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY
The Filipino-Chinese establishment has stood in Cebu for over 70 years.
This iconic bakery in Cebu was founded by Don Ting Sy and his wife Doña Vicenta on September 23rd, 1953. The original branch still stands today, located along Borromeo Street in downtown Cebu.
Before becoming a businessman, Ting Sy was a Chinese immigrant who moved to the Philippines to support his family. He previously worked as an assistant at his uncle’s bakery in Binondo, Manila.
In 1946, he married Vicenta when he was 27 and she was 16. They moved to Cebu, as they struggled to start a family in Manila. It was here that they started selling Chinese desserts.
The business was slow in its first 10 years, with the couple personally trying to get customers to buy their products.
Vicenta would knock on the doors of rich families and sell their desserts personally, or to street vendors at a cheaper price.
On the other hand, Ting would personally deliver their baked goods on his bicycle.
Due to their hard work and dedication, they started to gain more customers, spreading the name of their brand rapidly.
In 1970, their eldest son Lorenzo formed a basketball team bearing the bakery’s name, giving it more exposure to nearby provinces.
The bakery opened several other branches, notably near the Basilica del Sto. Niño in 1998. After almost 20 years, they opened a new branch with a more modern design near the Cebu Cathedral.
Several branches are now serving home-style meals, cakes, and other Filipino-Chinese pastries, turning it into a full-fledged cafe with indoor seating.
The original branch on Borromeo Street doubles as a hotel with affordable rooms for as low as Php 1,200 per night. Its location in downtown Cebu makes it ideal for tourists to visit some of the city’s popular attractions like Magellan’s Cross and Colon Street.
The hotel has a restaurant with a lunch and dinner buffet, and the bakery serves as its pasalubong and souvenir center.
Many consider La Fortuna Bakery the go-to place to get tikoy, a white sticky rice cake known as nian gao in Chinese cuisine. But Filipinos call it a derived version of the Hokkien word “ti kueh,” meaning sweet cake.
Tikoy is commonly served during Chinese New Year, especially as its name is also often translated to “year cake.” It is said to symbolize unity by “sticking to one another.”
Filipino-Chinese families often dip pieces of tikoy in a bowl of beaten eggs before frying them. This adds flavor to the dessert, giving it a crispy finish.
Hopia is another popular Chinese snack that comes in different flavors, such as ube, the classic monggo (mung bean), and pork. These are served in small packs of three or six, either in circular or cube form.
Customers also love their maci, which is another type of sticky rice dessert, but this time shaped like dumplings. It has a chewy exterior and a sweet center because of the sweetened peanut paste.
You may be familiar with this dessert if you’ve ever been to Liloan, where street vendors carry buckets of maci along the streets.
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In an interview with Sunstar Cebu, Michael John Sy mentioned that La Fortuna Bakery will have more branches to maintain its strong connection with its customers, while at the same time welcoming younger demographics. (2019)
The company recently opened a branch near Mandaue City Hall and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Punta, and their goal is to open branches in the city’s shopping malls.
La Fortuna Bakery is also in pursuit of improving their menu. They recently announced a job listing for experienced baristas, so they may be branching out to specialize in coffee drinks in the near future.
The 70-year old establishment has definitely stood the test of time, preserving much of Filipino-Chinese culture in Cebu. Their pastries serve as the perfect introduction to Chibuano flavors.
While it had its humble beginnings, the story of La Fortuna Bakery has inspired many Cebuanos to pursue their dreams and push through despite the struggles. This shows us that success can be earned through confidence, trust, and most importantly, hard work.
If you’re looking for some delicious Chinese-inspired desserts, look no further than La Fortuna Bakery in Cebu!
REFERENCES:
Lorenciana, Carlo. 2019. “La Fortuna taps younger market, eyes to open branches in malls.” Sunstar Cebu.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/la-fortuna-taps-younger-market-eyes-to-open-branches-in-malls.
