A veritable institution, Virgie’s has been the go-to place to buy pasalubong and local delicacies for almost 50 years. Like many of Virgie’s contemporaries that are still in business, the company started small. Virgie’s was founded by Virgie Chua as a hobby. Virgie loved to cook and bake, she started with making cakes and pastries for friends and from there she started taking orders.
She remembers what really made her change from enthusiastic hobbyist to an entrepreneur. Virgie’s most popular pastry is the mango tart, and this is true even back then. One of her customers suggested that she pre-make the tarts instead of taking orders. From then on, Virgie Chua became Virgie’s Homemade Products, and she never looked back.
Negros is known for pastries and pretty soon, anyone leaving Bacolod made a short stop at Virgie’s to stock up on mango tarts, barquillos, dulce gatas, galletas, and many other delicacies that could not yet be found anywhere else. They bought them either to share or to keep, like hidden treasures to be rationed until they could come back and refill their stock.
Virgie’s reputation made it the pasalubong center in the 70’s and 80’s. It was one of a few pasalubong centers until others realized something Virgie had known for a long time: that there is a demand for Negrense products. Yet, after almost five decades, Virgie’s stands out as the favorite shop, especially among those who really want the authentic Negros flavors. Aside from Virgie’s strict quality control of her own products, she was also kind enough to allow others to sell their products in her shop. She did not limit herself to selling what she produced, she had the modesty, and keen business sense to give space to other budding enterprises so they can have access to her customer base. Virgie knew that in the long run, this will spread awareness of the capabilities of Negros bakers and cooks.
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Virgie Chua is proud that Virgie’s has helped her raise the quality of life of her family and brought so much joy to her customers. She has continued to succeed because she celebrates and shares the past but is willing to embrace the future.
Get your mango tarts and other delicacies shipped to your doorstep. Visit www.shopnegrostradefair.com
Text by Jubal Gallaga