Consumed by a longing for family and excitement for a newfound passion, interior designer Aurora “Abby” Villaflor returned to the Philippines to embark on a sweet new journey.
Leaving behind a successful career overseas, Abby traded blueprints for baking sheets, turning her love for pastries into a thriving business.
“My business is baking. It started as a hobby during the pandemic years, but it quickly turned into a full-fledged passion,” she said.
Her charming pastry shop “Aurora Bakes and Bikes” in Pampanga started barely a year ago to offer a delectable array of cookies, macarons, cakes and occasional bread, each crafted with love and creativity.
Abby’s culinary journey began in Laos, where she honed her baking skills while working as an interior designer, and discovered a surprising clientele among the French community.
“The French macaron is one of my top bakes,” she said. “People were amazed that I could bake them, as the process is quite tedious and difficult. But I love challenges, especially in baking.”
Her macarons, with their delicate shells and luscious fillings, quickly gained a loyal following, particularly among the French Embassy staff.
“Every month, the French Embassy would order from me,” Abby recalled. “I’m not sure how they found out about me, but I think it was through word-of-mouth within the international society.”
The wife of the French Ambassador, in particular, became a devoted fan of Abby’s macarons, often placing special orders for events and gatherings.
Starting as a hobby baker, Abby bakes and gives away her pastries for free to friends and acquaintances. At this point, it was her friends who encouraged her to start a pastry business.
“They even came up with the name for my business, I guess because I bake and I bike when delivering my goods back in Laos. That must have made quite an impression on them,” she said, adding that sharing her bakes gives her fulfillment.
“It was a way to bridge cultures and create connections through the universal language of food,” she said.
Her decision to return to the Philippines was deeply rooted in her desire to be closer to her family, especially her beloved grandmother.
Growing up in a unique family setup, with her parents separated and siblings living overseas, Abby’s Lola had been her constant source of love and support. “For most of my life, I was raised by my grandma. Giving back, I want to spend more time with her,” Abby said.
Sadly, her “Mommy Lola” passed away recently, but the significance of her Lola in Abby’s life could not be overstated. It was her grandmother who instilled in her the values of hard work, perseverance and the importance of family.
These values became the foundation upon which Abby built her baking enterprise. She envisioned her pastry shop not just as a business, but as a place where people derive happiness from food.
“In life, if you really want to do something, there’s no such thing as impossible. The only thing you can do if you really want to do it is to start,” she said, while revealing plans to expand her business soon.
Her journey from interior designer to pastry chef is an inspiration to anyone who dreams of pursuing their passions and creating a life filled with sweetness and fulfillment.
