A dish of warmth and tradition

In Iloilo City, a Creative City of Gastronomy, a woman has built a life rooted in tradition and purpose. Through cooking and preserving the city’s heritage dishes, she sustains both culture and her family. She is Juvy B. Jayme, 51, a devoted mother and proud culture keeper from La Paz.

Together with her 71-year-old sister, Jean, she runs an eatery known for its specialty dishes, Pancit Molo and Kadyos Baboy Langka (KBL), two well-loved signature dishes of Iloilo. Every day, customers compliment the taste of their dishes, the cleanliness of their place, and the warmth of Juvy’s service. But all of this doesn’t sprout up like sudden magic.

A tasteful start

Ever since she was a teenager, Juvy discovered her love for cooking by watching her parents in the kitchen and tasting their dishes. From them, she learned the family recipes for Pancit Molo and KBL, the very dishes that became her personal favorites.

Years later, in 1999, Juvy tried working abroad. But being away from her children proved too difficult, and she returned home after three years. By then, she had saved enough to start a small café with her sister, Jean, in 2002.

At first, the cafe only focused on drinks, but their loyal customers began asking for meals. Seeing an opportunity, they started serving food together with their coffee. In 2004, they officially introduced KBL using their parents’ recipe, and it quickly became a hit.

Soon after, Pancit Molo joined the menu. Juvy taught Jean the recipe so they could cook together, while she focused on perfecting KBL. Over time, their café grew into an eatery known for classic, home-made versions of these cherished dishes.

Food and Life Struggles

When Juvy’s second child began college, financial pressures weighed heavily.

At the suggestion of her eatery staff, Juvy was introduced to CARD Bank, Inc., a microfinance-oriented rural bank, and eventually decided to open an account. She gave it a try and became a client. Despite the challenges, she began saving and regularly attended their weekly center meetings.

Through small loans, Juvy was able to support her children’s growing educational expenses while continuing to invest in their eatery. She also used the loans to renovate their house and expand the business, which allows them to gradually serve more customers.

Although at times, she finds running the eatery exhausting. “Business is not always successful,” she admits, “there are times when capital falls short and expenses increase.” Recently, the rising cost of ingredients has posed another challenge. She once sourced vegetables wholesale directly from farmers, but when they stopped selling in the city, she had to buy smaller quantities from public markets at higher prices.

To manage costs, Juvy began planting her own crops such as kamote, jackfruit, peas, and other fruit-bearing plants. After all, she prefers fresh vegetables as her ingredients.

Juvy shares that her courage to persevere springs from her commitment to support her family’s livelihood and from the steady patronage of customers who keep coming back for their meals.

Continuing the handed-down recipes

Juvy remains deeply committed to their eatery. She personally buys the ingredients, cooks and serves the dishes with the help of her staff, co-manages the store with Jean, and oversees marketing. Today, their eatery offers more than 15 dishes on the menu.

Through their eatery business, Juvy feels quietly grateful for the life she has built. Her first child has graduated, and her second is now in college, both supported by the livelihood she continues to nurture.

Yet despite their growth, the taste of their KBL and Pancit Molo remains unchanged. Positive recommendations continue to help the business grow, and eventually draw city officials and local leaders to dine at their eatery. Tourism students often recommend her cooking, while media and influencers have also paid visits.

She has also supplied meals for CARD MRI Hijos Tours Inc., a community-based tour company under the CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutes, during city tours and events, allowing her to contribute to local tourism and community initiatives.

Juvy considers herself already “rich” in purpose. Simple words of appreciation from her customers bring her genuine happiness and a deep sense of fulfillment.

She believed cooking with passion directly affects the food. “Kung love mo ang niluluto mo, kung love mo ang ginagawa mo, ang epekto niyan sa pagkain, namit gid man — masarap,” she said. This is reflected in every warm bowl of KBL and Pancit Molo, and in every dish she serves, each carrying a taste of care and tradition.

Through her cooking, she has shown that there is nothing more rewarding than doing what you love, doing it well, and letting it support both your life and your family. All of this gives her the strength to continue, even when challenges try to wear her out.