Amid the busy and bustling city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte lies a haven for creativity and innovation: Ava’s Cakes and Events.

The story begins in 2006, not with grand ambitions to set up a business, but with the arrival of Architect Ace and food technologist Katrina Mandac’s first child, Ava. 

Filled with the joy of parenthood, they started baking cakes for Ava to celebrate his monthly birthday, each fueled with creativity and love.

Family and friends, delighted by the artistry and flavor of their creations, encouraged them to share their talent to the world.

What started as an expression of love for their son soon ignited a passion. 

Ace and Katrina launched their bakery and events business with dedication and care.

“We started without any business plan. We were just baking and baking, and during Valentine’s or graduation day, we had the idea of going around schools and sell. We would fill the car with a lot of mini cakes. It was like a bakery on wheels. Our main measure of success was when we managed to pay our employees and rent on time as well as to have better equipment,” said Katrina.

Their story is not one of instant success but of continuous effort, shared passion, and commitment to crafting “Nothing but Loveliness, always!” as their tagline.

A humble house garage oven was their starting point, evolving into a buzzing commissary, teeming with activity and innovation. 

They now cater to events across the country, even venturing beyond the Philippines. 

“There’s two of us. More than that, our strong point is that Ace and I are aligned with the aesthetics that we want to offer. We are both competitive, and we tend to push each other when making cakes and events. We do the best that we can. Our success is not only about Ace and me, we have a great team and they know the quality we want to provide as a business,” Katrina highlighted.

Last year, Ace participated in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program.

This mentorship program served as an additional resource for the couples’ flourishing business. Through the program, Ace gained insights and perspective that complemented their existing knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit. 

“KMME inspired me in so many ways, especially that we were trained by excellent mentors. In our batch, we came to know how they started their business and how it eventually boomed,”

said Ace.

He also shared how DTI’s program enhanced their skills in crafting a good business plan and advertising strategies.

“We have done some plans and challenges at KMME. We made business plans. We were trained to do advertising, purchasing system, and designing. There were so many things that I have learned at KMME and the mentors would really take care of you. KMME would give you another perspective for your business,” said Ace.

Ava’s Cakes and Events stands as an example of the power of love, passion, dedication, and commitment to quality.

Complemented by mentorship programs like DTI’s KKME initiative, they continue to thrive.

Their story not only serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs but also to anyone who seeks to turn their dreams into a reality.

It’s a reminder that even the sweetest success begins with humble beginnings, a whole lot of heart, and a helping hand from your team and experienced mentors.

Ace and Katrina shared a key piece of advice for new entrepreneurs:

“Keep on doing something that you want to do. Do not overthink of the monetary rewards since it will follow. We cherish not the monetary but the outcome- the happiness of the person or couple on the cake that we made. That is the most important reward that we always cherish,” they said. 

Ace also challenged business owners to participate in the KMME program to properly empower and coach them on the different aspects of business operations. (JCR/MJTAB/CMA PIA Ilocos Norte)