RHIAN Ramos is overwhelmed and thankful that she has been embraced by the baking community.
The actress was welcomed with open arms at the recent Bakery Fair 2025, where she was invited by Filipino Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI), led by president Chris Ah.
“Thank you for legitimizing me,” she humbly said.
She’s “very, very flattered” when people lined up for her Bas Bake Cookies after her demonstration on the 360 Stage, where she freely shared not only her baking do’s and don’ts but also her cookies to the delight of the bakers and enthusiasts present.
“Ganun talaga pag libre,” she said with a chuckle.
She acknowledged that many attendees were likely better bakers than herself, which made her proud to have her Bas Bake cookies well-received. She enjoyed the opportunity to share her cookies and felt encouraged by the positive feedback, indicating that it was gratifying to see people appreciate her work especially since she considers herself an accidental entrepreneur, gaining a strong following for her Bas Bakes cookies after photos of her baking in a bikini went viral and receiving strong support from friends like Dr. Vicky Belo.
“All the parts of this business are very accidental. As in nangyari lang. Hindi ko naman binalak,” she revealed.
“I’m not prepared for something like this,” she also said, “but nothing will happen to you if you wait for the time when you’re prepared. Dapat kung kailan may opportunity, dun mo gawin.”
Her journey into baking began with extensive research, including learning how to make cookies on a stovetop without an oven. She also mastered baker’s secrets, such as achieving the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy textures, as well as the ideal mix of sweet and salty flavors.
“I think the best compliment that any Asian community will tell you about your dessert is, ‘Wow, masarap. Hindi masyadong matamis’,” she said.
To keep up with growing demand, Rhian has hired a capable team and is exploring new flavors, including a corn-flavored cookie inspired by a treat she enjoyed at Mokko Milk Bar in New York.
Running her small business has been a learning experience for Rhian, who finds fulfillment in seeing her project grow. “Eighty percent of any business is marketing,” she noted, offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. “That’s what I would say to anyone who’s starting their own small business.”
Rhian also credits her boyfriend, Sam Versoza, for his invaluable support. “Napakaswerte ko nga na nandyan lang ‘yung pwedeng magturo sa’kin. Expert na siya in his field,” she said. From sourcing bulk ingredients to pricing strategies, Sam has been a guiding force in her entrepreneurial journey.
She said her entrepreneurial was borne out of practicalitiy. She acknowledges that she won’t be in showbiz forever.
“Well, i’m really not gonna have this forever. You can’t naman dictate for how long people will accept you or want you around. And syempre, I’m going to age. It’s just a fact of life so I wanted to build something that won’t age.”
