THE first, ever “National Hopia Day” in the Philippines hosted by the country’s biggest hopia maker, the 112-year-old Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, was concluded after a highly-successful three-day celebration.
The said event held from July 19 to 21, 2024 at the Mall of Asia Music Hall, was aimed at honoring Filipino-Chinese heritage, of which ‘hopia’ is such a large part.
On hand to lead the event were the owners of the Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli led by patriatch Gerry Chua, his wife Rose and children Gerik, Gerald Royce and Geraldyn and manager Jenny Tan.
Thousands joined the event which featured lots of fun and excitement as well as star sightings, along with games and surprises for the whole family and chances to win prizes that included lifetime supply of Eng Bee Tin products.
Gerik shared that the history of hopia in the Philippines dates back to the early 1900s when a wave of Chinese immigrants from Fujian province in China first came to the country.
“Hopia is a staple snack and pastry for the Chinese, it’s their version of puff pastry. They brought this culture with them as they lived in the Philippines. Chinese families would bake this at home or sell it in their small neighborhood bake shops catering to the Chinese community,” he said.
Gerik also said that ‘hopia’ came from the Fookien Word “Ho-Bia” which, when directly translated, means ‘Good Biscuit’.
Traditionally made up of a flaky pastry exterior with a sweet mung bean paste filling, the pastry gained popularity over the years, among mainstream Filipino consumers as a tasty snack and cheap everyday treat. Flavors such as Hopia Mongo, Hopia Baboy and Hopia Hapon were crowd favorites.
Today, she said that Eng Bee Tin boasts a wide selection of hopia flavors, all featuring distinctly Filipino flavors and had become synonymous to the word ‘pasalubong.’
“Extremely grateful and honored to be able to serve the Filipinos for 112 years, and with our commitment to quality and innovation, we are excited to serve you more great flavors for the years to come,” says Gerry, the deli’s president and CEO.
New flavors were also made available for free tasting in the said event, to include Kapeng Barako, Sisig, Sibuyas, Kamote, Philippine Mango Cake, Benguet Strawberry.
