Life was bittersweet but her penchant for baking made her enjoy the sweetness of it more often. Out of a hobby, coupled with enthusiasm and perseverance, Grace Javelosa made a big switch - from being an employee to managing Iloilo’s Pride, RGies Delicacies.
In a small rented abode tucked away in a maze of streets in Alta Tierra Village in Jaro, she and her husband Ramon raised the family. “As a wife, a mother of three and career oriented (both working as an insurance agents), juggling my time between them took dedication and hard work but I see to it that I still hone my skills in the kitchen” she reminisced.
Cooking is in her blood. “But I never thought of it as a business for I know the hard work it entails”. Throughout the years of perfecting her craft, she finally found that “one little spark” that started it all. “It was one of those family gatherings that I first tasted butterscotch and instantly loved it” she says. “One of my sisters-in-law made it for the occasion and since then I loved baking it. But it didn’t stop there - me & Ramon experimented on it until we got the perfect recipe… ”
Rich, moist and chewy – that’s how everybody describes Javelosa’s butterscotch. A concoction of flour, sugar and butter, she then introduced her creation to friends and relatives as samples, gifts and pasalubong (her husband used to be assigned in various provinces).
As an insurance agent, selling wasn’t new to her and, positive feedbacks about her butterscotch inspired her to go into business. Just like any starting home-based venture, she took it slowly but surely - relied on words of mouth, her kitchen became the “factory” and her sala became her first ever store. “Customers would often get lost in the village locating our house.” she recalls with smile.
“When the insurance company I was with offered ERP (early retirement plan) years later, I grabbed the opportunity.” she said with a knowing smile. “It gave me the capital and more time to concentrate on a newfound passion”.
She then started displaying her butterscotch - in signature colored cellophanes, in stores in the city like Balbi’s and Variation. It gave her gastronomic creations a big boost in terms of exposure not to mention, convenience for customers.
Thus, the cottage industry for butterscotch was initiated with the support of her husband. Eventually, it led to the establishment of her own label and products. The solid and quality foundation that has supported its products and withstood the time has led them to register their business on March 2003 with the Department of Trade & Industry and their logo on 2007 with Intellectual Property Office. It was then the “RGies Delicacies” (that’s for Ramon and Grace) brand was born.
From the original product – Butterscotch with cashew, Javelosa then introduced Yema, a savory, sweet, and chewy candy coated in crystallized sugar. She also led the way in making “gourmet butterscotch” with the infusion of mango chips, choco oats, walnuts and dates into her recipe.
In the years that followed she introduced Butterscotti - the biscuit version of butterscotch. Named after the combination of butterscotch and biscotti, this Rgies novelty was discovered by accident. This was originally remnants of butterscotch that has hardened on the sides of the baking pans. “And my husband suggested that we make it intentionally and as the cliché goes – the rest is history” she said. Her newest creation is the Walnut Flakes Cookie.
Not only acknowledged for the unique taste and quality of its products, Rgies Delicacies has also broken out of the norm - the usual colored cellophane packaging for butterscotch. Through the assistance of SET-UP (a flagship program of DOST), it now uses richly-hued metallized foil packaging which not only sets it apart from other brands but also lengthens the shelf life of the product. “We pioneered modern packaging (for pasalubong) in Iloilo City that others are now trying to emulate.” she says with pride.
With its distinctive and innovative packaging, RGies Delicacies has been nominated for the Trendy Award in the 2006 International Food Expo (IFEX) held at the World Trade Center in Manila. And in 2008, Grace Javelosa was awarded by GoNegosyo as one of the Most Inspiring Ilonggos Micro-Entrepreneurs in Iloilo City. Last year, they participated in the Outbound Mission to Taiwan/Taipei International Food Show sponsored by DTI-Bureau of Export Trade Promotions, as well as in the 2010 International Food Expo (IFEX) at World Trade Center, Manila as one of the exhibitors.
In 2009 they got an unexpected visitor – Miss Japan 2006 and Miss Universe 1st runner –up, Chibana Kurara. “The beauty queen was in town to feature us in her popular TV program back in Japan, “Chibana Kurara’s World Supporter”, being one of the beneficiaries of JICA’s Project with DOST- Packaging Research and Development Center, “Javelosa said with pride.
“I hope to develop our products into those that meet international standards, but still cater to the Filipino taste.” she quick replies. RGies has practically become a byword when it comes to pasalubong. Patronage of its products is not only limited to locals, but has extended as well to customers ordering in bulk for their relatives and friends in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
“Even foreigners, too” she says. Her husband supports this with an interesting story. “A Canadian inquired through email where and can she avail of our butterscotch” he beamed. Out of curiosity the couple asked her how she was able to and she answered “Somebody in the tour group [I was in the US that time] just shared with me on the bus and I’ve craving for it since then.”
RGies Delicacies moved to a new home in 2008 – in Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro. It integrates a pasalubong corner, an office, a factory with the production area and packaging station, alongside the family’s home. A sweet reward for its success that had humble beginnings around 25 years ago.
At present, the Javelosas employ twelve workers, have state-of-the-art kitchen equipment and modern packaging paraphernalia – all greatly increasing their production capacity. Products are displayed in all SM Dept. Store- Snacks Exchange Section (Luzon and Visayas), SM supermarkets and Iloilo Supermart stores [in Iloilo City]. It was a big leap from what it was decades ago. “Before I had to do everything by hand and it was tiresome – especially the manual mixing. Plus I only had one staff then. “she reminisced.
RGies Delicacies has set the standards for quality and constantly strives to surpass them – and that’s simple vision that has been guiding the business ever since. What started as a hobby in a modest kitchen is now a continuing challenge for innovation, creativity and marketing reaching out to anyone, anywhere.
Indeed, from being just a backroom player, Grace Javelosa and RGies Delicacies now stand among those in the forefront of pasalubong industry. Truly, Iloilo’s pride!
In a small rented abode tucked away in a maze of streets in Alta Tierra Village in Jaro, she and her husband Ramon raised the family. “As a wife, a mother of three and career oriented (both working as an insurance agents), juggling my time between them took dedication and hard work but I see to it that I still hone my skills in the kitchen” she reminisced.
Cooking is in her blood. “But I never thought of it as a business for I know the hard work it entails”. Throughout the years of perfecting her craft, she finally found that “one little spark” that started it all. “It was one of those family gatherings that I first tasted butterscotch and instantly loved it” she says. “One of my sisters-in-law made it for the occasion and since then I loved baking it. But it didn’t stop there - me & Ramon experimented on it until we got the perfect recipe… ”
Rich, moist and chewy – that’s how everybody describes Javelosa’s butterscotch. A concoction of flour, sugar and butter, she then introduced her creation to friends and relatives as samples, gifts and pasalubong (her husband used to be assigned in various provinces).
Into the business foray
As an insurance agent, selling wasn’t new to her and, positive feedbacks about her butterscotch inspired her to go into business. Just like any starting home-based venture, she took it slowly but surely - relied on words of mouth, her kitchen became the “factory” and her sala became her first ever store. “Customers would often get lost in the village locating our house.” she recalls with smile.
“When the insurance company I was with offered ERP (early retirement plan) years later, I grabbed the opportunity.” she said with a knowing smile. “It gave me the capital and more time to concentrate on a newfound passion”.
She then started displaying her butterscotch - in signature colored cellophanes, in stores in the city like Balbi’s and Variation. It gave her gastronomic creations a big boost in terms of exposure not to mention, convenience for customers.
Thus, the cottage industry for butterscotch was initiated with the support of her husband. Eventually, it led to the establishment of her own label and products. The solid and quality foundation that has supported its products and withstood the time has led them to register their business on March 2003 with the Department of Trade & Industry and their logo on 2007 with Intellectual Property Office. It was then the “RGies Delicacies” (that’s for Ramon and Grace) brand was born.
Setting the trend
From the original product – Butterscotch with cashew, Javelosa then introduced Yema, a savory, sweet, and chewy candy coated in crystallized sugar. She also led the way in making “gourmet butterscotch” with the infusion of mango chips, choco oats, walnuts and dates into her recipe.
In the years that followed she introduced Butterscotti - the biscuit version of butterscotch. Named after the combination of butterscotch and biscotti, this Rgies novelty was discovered by accident. This was originally remnants of butterscotch that has hardened on the sides of the baking pans. “And my husband suggested that we make it intentionally and as the cliché goes – the rest is history” she said. Her newest creation is the Walnut Flakes Cookie.
Not only acknowledged for the unique taste and quality of its products, Rgies Delicacies has also broken out of the norm - the usual colored cellophane packaging for butterscotch. Through the assistance of SET-UP (a flagship program of DOST), it now uses richly-hued metallized foil packaging which not only sets it apart from other brands but also lengthens the shelf life of the product. “We pioneered modern packaging (for pasalubong) in Iloilo City that others are now trying to emulate.” she says with pride.Sweet recognition
With its distinctive and innovative packaging, RGies Delicacies has been nominated for the Trendy Award in the 2006 International Food Expo (IFEX) held at the World Trade Center in Manila. And in 2008, Grace Javelosa was awarded by GoNegosyo as one of the Most Inspiring Ilonggos Micro-Entrepreneurs in Iloilo City. Last year, they participated in the Outbound Mission to Taiwan/Taipei International Food Show sponsored by DTI-Bureau of Export Trade Promotions, as well as in the 2010 International Food Expo (IFEX) at World Trade Center, Manila as one of the exhibitors.
In 2009 they got an unexpected visitor – Miss Japan 2006 and Miss Universe 1st runner –up, Chibana Kurara. “The beauty queen was in town to feature us in her popular TV program back in Japan, “Chibana Kurara’s World Supporter”, being one of the beneficiaries of JICA’s Project with DOST- Packaging Research and Development Center, “Javelosa said with pride.What more could she ask for?
“I hope to develop our products into those that meet international standards, but still cater to the Filipino taste.” she quick replies. RGies has practically become a byword when it comes to pasalubong. Patronage of its products is not only limited to locals, but has extended as well to customers ordering in bulk for their relatives and friends in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
“Even foreigners, too” she says. Her husband supports this with an interesting story. “A Canadian inquired through email where and can she avail of our butterscotch” he beamed. Out of curiosity the couple asked her how she was able to and she answered “Somebody in the tour group [I was in the US that time] just shared with me on the bus and I’ve craving for it since then.”
New directions
RGies Delicacies moved to a new home in 2008 – in Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro. It integrates a pasalubong corner, an office, a factory with the production area and packaging station, alongside the family’s home. A sweet reward for its success that had humble beginnings around 25 years ago.
At present, the Javelosas employ twelve workers, have state-of-the-art kitchen equipment and modern packaging paraphernalia – all greatly increasing their production capacity. Products are displayed in all SM Dept. Store- Snacks Exchange Section (Luzon and Visayas), SM supermarkets and Iloilo Supermart stores [in Iloilo City]. It was a big leap from what it was decades ago. “Before I had to do everything by hand and it was tiresome – especially the manual mixing. Plus I only had one staff then. “she reminisced.
RGies Delicacies has set the standards for quality and constantly strives to surpass them – and that’s simple vision that has been guiding the business ever since. What started as a hobby in a modest kitchen is now a continuing challenge for innovation, creativity and marketing reaching out to anyone, anywhere.
Indeed, from being just a backroom player, Grace Javelosa and RGies Delicacies now stand among those in the forefront of pasalubong industry. Truly, Iloilo’s pride!-----------------------
This feature was published on the March-April 2011 Issue of MEZZO MAGAZINE. Still on-sale in bookstores and newstands PhP130
Video courtesy of GMA TV 6 Iloilo's Arangkada