Growing up, I was enchanted by the world of cooking and baking. Watching cooking shows mesmerized me, especially the art of crafting the perfect fried rice, my fave. At 10, my mom taught me the secrets of this beloved dish. Holding that spatula and pan, I discovered a new imagination. The sizzle of scrambled eggs hitting the pan, the aroma of soy sauce, and the perfect stir-fry of rice was pure magic – chef's kiss! Serving delicious food to loved ones ignited a passion within me.

As the youngest of seven, with a significant age gap between us, I often felt like an only child. My family immigrated to America from the Philippines when I was just thirteen months old. We settled in Orange Cove, California, living in my grandparents' small three-bedroom house with two other families, totaling twenty-five people under one roof, and only one bathroom (crazy, right!) Later, they built a bathroom in the garage.

Seeking better opportunities, my parents contacted his cousin in San Francisco, who offered us a room and helped my parents find jobs. We packed our bags, leaving the fields behind. My mother worked tirelessly as a laundry attendant at the Marriott Hotel (she worked for 25 years), while my father became a bell-person at Canterbury Hotel in downtown SF.

But our newfound hope was short-lived. Just a few months after our move, tragedy struck. My father suffered a stroke at 3 am, and I was only four years old. The image of his eyes rolling back and my mother's cries still haunt me. Losing my Papa was devastating, and our family's world was shattered.

My mother's grief was overwhelming, but she refused to give up. With the help of our extended family, she gradually rebuilt our lives, taking on two jobs to support us. She sneaked me into her workplace when no one was available to watch me. When I started kindergarten, she was able to work more, vowing to provide me with a better education.

Despite financial struggles, my mother secured financial aid for my private school education. I learned valuable lessons from the school 'Bake Sale' and volunteering in the school kitchen, sparking an entrepreneurial spirit within me.