What Makes Aggy’s Cakes a Filipino Favorite | Agnes Cayetano-Villabona | The Daily Dish

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]Welcome back to the D to Dish, today we are going to talk about everything sweet. Perfect for all occasions.

[00:00:07]Joining us now in the studio is Aggie's Cakes and Sweets owner Agnes Cayetano Villabona, but we're changing it to Villabongga [applause] because her cakes here are all so beautiful and bongga.

[00:00:19]Thank you. We're calling her Tita Agnes also. So, you know, we were just talking to two two holistic doctors and they did not complain. No, they actually said you guys are really good. Because I think we're from the south. Yes.

[00:00:32]>> [laughter] >> It's a south thing. So, Tita Agnes, tell us about what we have in front of us.

[00:00:38]When did you start this? Well, um, that's why you call me Tita, right? We started 1989.

[00:00:47]>> [music] >> Yes, actually I started it 1986 with Jollibee.

[00:00:55]That's the start of the Jollibee parties. [music] So, they got us and they accredited us. So, that's how I started.

[00:01:03]So, we did Jollibee for 17 years and unfortunately, but fortunate for them, they bought >> [music] >> Red Ribbon. So, we went on our own.

[00:01:15]But, we continued [music] to be suppliers for bake shops, cafes. I can tell I just want to dive into all your cakes.

[00:01:23]>> [laughter] >> You can do. I can I can smell it from up here because there's a beautiful bouquet here.

[00:01:29]But, you know, for Mother's Day, I love it. Tita Aggie, there's a lot [music] of bakeries now, a lot of mom and pops like randomly selling cakes, cupcakes, etc. What's your secret to being unique in the industry [music] and your staying power? Well, I think it's because one, we've been there for such a long time, right? [music] That's red velvet.

[00:01:50]>> [laughter] >> We've been there for such a long time.

[00:01:53]We started way way back when there were so very little bake shops.

[00:01:58]And so, that's one staying power and the other one is we never stop improving, learning, and just making [music] experiments, doing what is, you know, for me, my taste and the taste [music] of our family and for our community. What they needed, so that's what we gave [music] them. Yeah, Tita Agnes, you know, I'm I'm sorry, I had to grab one of your cookies because when I when I had a taste of it, [music] you feel like it's homemade. Correct.

[00:02:28]That's what we are going This is what you're going for. And when did you start like your love affair [music] with baking? How old were you?

[00:02:39]>> [laughter] [laughter] >> So, I learned from my aunts. You know, the aunts The cooking aunts that love to cook. Yes. If I think a Pampangan, you know the food's going to be bomb. So, every weekend she would ask me instead of playing, she would ask me to accompany her to cook, to bake. So, that's how I really learned. I love it.

[00:03:13]And are do you feel threatened though, Tita, now that there's a lot of bake [music] shops now? Do you always have to reinvent your pastries? You know what? I teach culinary at the Heny Sison [music] Culinary School.

[00:03:27]So, I teach baking and cake decorating.

[00:03:30][music] So, I interact with other bake shop owners, too. I keep telling them, you know, we are there's so many bake shops right now, but to be able to stand and survive, you have to have your own. Yes. You have to have your signature dessert, otherwise you'll be dead by So, talking about signature dessert, which among the cakes in front of us would be your signature [music] dessert? Well, this two won best chocolate cakes in the south.

[00:04:03]This is Chocolava. Oh my gosh. And this is chocolate moist caramel. Are we allowed to Can I open it, Tita? Open everything. You can. I can open it. I just want to open the chocolate cake so like our viewers can see why [music] it's called the best chocolate cake.

[00:04:18]And this one, too.

[00:04:20]>> [laughter] >> No, no, no, I'm opening it to see for the viewers.

[00:04:24]This is my favorite. Oh, yes, Monique.

[00:04:28]Yes, [music] Monique. We're going to We're going to show this cuz we want to eat it. Oh my gosh. All right.

[00:04:34]Look at that.

[00:04:35]This one's good, too, because of the caramel sauce. Yes, and these are your two favorites. Yeah, for chocolate lovers. For chocolate lovers. Am I allowed, Tita? Can I just Yes, I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to feed you.

[00:04:48]Yum, Monique.

[00:04:52]Yes. And it's not sweet. Like you think and it's so moist. Wow. I love you. Can I live with you?

[00:04:59]>> [laughter] >> Oh my gosh, Tita, I want to keep you with me every day. We're from the south.

[00:05:02]But, you only have one branch? Well, before before the pandemic, like we [music] had three, but we had to close it due to the pandemic. of course, of course. But, moving forward, Tita Agnes, like where can people find you? I mean, Well, >> to show Oh my gosh, yeah, I got distracted. It's [laughter] really good.

[00:05:19]Taste that.

[00:05:21]It tastes You know, we can have a shop at the in [music] BF Homes, Paranaque. And then they can get in touch with us through Instagram, [music] >> Yes.

[00:05:33]Facebook, and you know, they can just contact us. They can >> [music] >> order online. And you can do customized cakes, obviously.

[00:05:42]>> That's actually our forte.

[00:05:45]Yeah, because I'm an artist. Oh, wow. My husband's an artist and my daughters are all artists. So, we also do a lot of those. I can't wait. She needs to come back for the artisanal cakes. I know, right? No, we have to come to her. We got to bake with her and learn.

[00:06:00]I got chocolate all over me.

[00:06:02]>> [laughter] >> Oh my gosh.

[00:06:05]Tita Aggie, this is such a treat and I Yes, thank you, Tita, so much. That was delicious. And I'm going to Okay, we're just going to go work our way from from from left >> [music] >> to right. But, guys, I got to say that chocolate cake is amazing. I haven't tried that one, but the red velvet, wow. Okay.

[00:06:23]>> What is the flavor of this, real quick?

[00:06:24]This is vanilla pound cake. You should also try our crinkles because they're our best sellers. Say less. I I I need to have uh Chai over here. Chai, come here.

[00:06:35]Because uh you need Come here. Come right in. Come into the frame, Chai, because It's so chocolatey.

[00:06:42]>> you're not going to be able to Chai.

[00:06:44]Ready to taste. [laughter] Ready to taste. All right. Thank you again, Tita Agnes. This is such a treat for us.

[00:06:50]Today is Monique's birthday and Aggie brought something for you that's special for your special day. You know, Thank you. Yeah, and it's super Wow, look at that.

[00:07:04]Tita Agnes, she requested for cupcakes, so you actually How should we say? Granted your wish.

[00:07:11]And it's a bouquet cupcake. You guys are so sweet.

[00:07:14]Thank you so much while I'm eating, but you know, [music] we'll take a quick pause cuz we're going to eat real quick.

[00:07:18]So, stay right there. Don't go away.

[00:07:20]We'll be right back. [music] Thanks, Tita. Thank you, too. It's so beautiful.