In the bustling province of Batangas, a small town known as Cuenca holds a unique place in the hearts of its residents. In the 1960s and 1970s, Cuenca was celebrated as the home of skilled bakers who crafted the beloved Filipino bread, pandesal. Their delicious creations did not just satisfy local cravings; they found their way into households throughout Metro Manila and its neighboring regions. One of those aspiring bakers was none other than the young Batangueño and Far Eastern University alumnus named Lucito Chavez.
During his time at Far Eastern University (FEU), Lucito vividly recalls indulging in hot pandesal as his go-to snack. Corned beef pandesal became his favorite. Little did he know that these humble bread rolls would be the source of inspiration for his journey into the world of baking. The taste of Cuenca’s pandesal lingered in his memory, igniting a dream that would shape his future.
“I idolized the bakers from Cuenca,” Lucito reminisces. “FEU’s hot pandesal, with outlets near the new technology building and the arts building, was my inspiration. It was right next to the chapel.
In 1977, Lucito’s cousin opened a pandesalan in Lepanto, and his mother encouraged him to explore the baking industry. This marked the beginning of his journey into the world of bread-making, a significant departure from his family’s legacy of running gasoline stations as third-generation Caltex station dealers.
Taking this leap of faith in 2000, Lucito closed the doors of the gasoline station business and fully embraced the bakery world. Over time, he honed his skills as a baker, eventually becoming a leader among bakers and a prominent advocate for the bakery industry. His own bakery, Tinapayan Festival, now has five branches in different malls and major parks in Metro Manila.
When asked what led him to FEU in the first place, Lucito recalls a simple decision that would change his life. In his second year of high school, he asked his grandmother to buy him a green bag with the words “Far Eastern University Quezon Boulevard” on it. It was a choice guided by instinct and a dream he could not fully comprehend then. Little did he know that FEU would play a pivotal role in shaping his character and future.
While at FEU, Lucito learned the value of discipline and was influenced by his professors. Names like Dr. Jaban, Dean Fronda, Limpingco, Mendoza in Social Psychology, Atty. Abad in Parliamentary and Cruz in Logic stand out as mentors who contributed significantly to his development.
“They taught me how to think and become who I am today,” he reflects.
FEU, in Lucito’s eyes, was not just an educational institution; it was a place where discipline thrived. The strict security measures, mandatory ID checks, and punctuality requirements were all part of the culture. He even found himself in the security office once for not wearing his ID, a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to discipline.
Lucito envisions a future where professional baking education is more accessible. He is proud to have initiated the establishment of a Technological University of the Philippines branch in Cuenca, offering a four-year baking program. He believes that professionalizing the industry is crucial for its growth and competitiveness in the global market.
As Lucito concludes his inspiring journey, he emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and having a strong sense of responsibility. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from the past, value culture and tradition, and embrace discipline, dedication, and passion in their pursuit of success. His story is a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and the profound impact of education. From his humble beginnings in Cuenca to his thriving bakery business, his journey inspires all aspiring entrepreneurs.
In the end, Lucito believes that his success as a baker and entrepreneur can be attributed, in large part, to the discipline he imbibed at FEU. His journey from a pandesal enthusiast to a respected figure in the bakery industry serves as an inspiring reminder of the transformative power of dreams and the influence of a nurturing educational environment.
As he continues to make waves in the bakery industry and advocate for its growth, Lucito remains grateful for the foundation he received at FEU, cherishing the lessons learned and the discipline instilled in him during his time there. His story serves as a testament to the enduring power of education, dreams, and the pursuit of passion.