Janice de Belen has turned her passion for cooking and baking into a growing business.
Now that her five children are all grown-up, the working mom is tending to her new baby, the Kitchen of Super Janice, which is now around three years old.
"Of course family will always come first, then work," she told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at the recent Globe Business Star Bazaar held at SM Megamall Event Center.
"Much as I would like this to be my first, the business, I have to weigh things, e. So siyempre mauuna yung pag-aartista. Then this one comes next. Anytime I have the time for this, I do this."
Because she still has acting projects, Janice has learned to practice saying no in order to manage her time better.
Even if bazaar opportunities come up, for example, she doesn't accept them if she cannot man her booth in person.
She explained, "Kasi people will go there to look for you. If you post it on Instagram, people will go there to look for you. If they don’t find you, parang madi-disappoint sila."
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We asked if turning her passion into a business has dampened her love for cooking and baking.
She said, "Hindi naman. Pag hindi talaga kaya ng time, kailangan humindi ka. Kailangan mag-sacrifice ka, kasi ganun talaga, e."
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The Kitchen of Super Janice includes polvoron, cheese cupcakes, and cranberry oatmeal cookies (photo below) among its bestsellers.
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The actress-host also takes every opportunity to sharpen her cooking and baking skills.
Janice tries on new recipes, and doesn't stop until she's perfected them.
Janice, who finished culinary arts at Chef Gene Gonzalez's Center for Culinary Arts, still takes classes.
This year, she learned how to make breakfast sausages from Chef Bruce Lim.
Even if she can easily take on catering events, Janice prefers to frequent bazaars for now.
She also welcomes private orders.
What's important, she notes, is not taking on something she cannot deliver.
"Sometimes may nag-o-order sa 'kin online or sometimes my friends, 'O papaluto ako sa 'yo ng ganito.' Mga ganon. Pag kaya, kaya. Pag hindi, I have to say no."