The inaugural National Hopia Day, set to take place from July 19 to 21 at the Mall of Asia Music Hall, celebrates a beloved pastry and introduces it to a new generation of Pinoys.
This event is spearheaded by the siblings Gerik, Roche, and Gerald Chua, COO, finance manager and CEO, respectively, of the 112-year-old Eng Bee Tin brand.
Over delicious bowls of beef tendon, pork and shrimp siomai, Yang Chow fried rice, and Hainanese chicken at their Great Buddha Cafe in Binondo, the Chua siblings shared the inspiration for holding a National Hopia Day for the humble pastry that has Chinese roots but Pinoy taste.
“May doughnut day, pero wala tayong Filipino culture product na sine-celebrate,” said Gerald, “At the same time, andyan na siya [hopia], hindi lang sya masyadong napo-promote. [Kaya naisip namin] bakit hindi siya ma-introduce sa younger generation para ma re-kindle ‘yung interest ‘yung hopia? Para hindi lang ‘yun ‘yung negative na connotation, ay na-hopia!
“Tsaka hopia symbolizes family togetherness. ‘Di ba ‘yung mga OFWs abroad pupunta sa Philippine store, walang masyadong mabiling hopia doon e gusto nila ng flavor ng Pilipinas.
‘Yun ang isa sa naging motivations natin. And Eng Bee Tin, bilang one of the innovators of hopia sa Pilipinas, naisip namin, we should create a National Hopia Day.”
The Chuas envision a fiesta atmosphere for National Hopia Day with sack races, games, and surprise celebrity guests. Cory Quirino, instrumental in making Eng Bee Tin’s ube hopia famous, and Diana Zubiri, who will bring her family, will be part of the celebration.
Will Eng Bee Tin get a celebrity endorser?
“We want our product to speak for itself,” said Roche.
There will also be a free hopia tasting booth and a poll for the best new hopia flavor, which customers might soon see in over 50 Eng Bee Tin stores in the country.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng mga very special flavors, Filipino special flavors, like kape. ‘Yung gagawin natin na [maiisip nyo], ‘uy pwede pala yan? I-sho-showcase pa natin ang pwedeng gawin natin sa hopia,” related Gerik.
July is a logical choice to hold the event, they said, because it does not clash with any other celebration.
“Sa September kasi, traditionally may mooncake festival, pag February, Chinese new year.
Pag December lechon. Etong time, walang kaagaw sa scene,” said Gerald.
The event is envisioned as more than just a celebration of hopia but a tribute to family togetherness. The Chua siblings hope National Hopia Day will become an annual tradition that inspires future generations to cherish and celebrate their local heritage. They want to set the stage for a celebration where the flavors of the past are preserved and appreciated by future Filipinos.
“I-sho-showcase kasi natin dun kung ano ‘yung past, ‘yung history ng hopia sa Pilipinas at ano ‘yung future, ano ‘yung mga pwede mong abangan,” said Gerik.
“Syempre sabi nga namin, lahat ito will center and revolve around the family, kung bakit ginawa namin ‘yung theme natin family fun day at bakit parang fiesta, kasi ang ang gusto namin, sumentro ang hopia across generations, across the family, across the lives of all the Filipinos.”
