In 1993, Angelita “Angie” dela Cruz, a mother of three from Baguio City, decided to use her free time baking tarts using a borrowed recipe from her best friend. While waiting for her children at school, she offered her creation to her fellow mothers. As she expected, the meticulous tongues of the mothers liked it and that was when she realized that the recipe would sell.
In August of that year, she started making the tarts using egg yolk with a P500 capital. She used to throw away bulks of egg whites a day but she soon discovered an equally-appealing recipe using them. The famous and iconic lengua de gato emerged from her desire not to waste resources and since then, it has become one of the bestsellers, most sought-after pasalubong by the tourists.
In the following year, Angie quit her job and focused on her thriving business. Her tart and lengua de gato did not fail her as they found an upscaling stream of customers at the Baguio public market. Due to the growing demand, she registered the business in January 2004 and named it Tartland Baguio Bakeshop. With this development, she still kept her hand mixer, oven, and a small mixing bowl. The fame of her products spread like wildfire among the residents and tourists. They then penetrated a majority of the city’s gift and pasalubong shops.
Today, Tartland produces at least 1,200 jars of various sweets a day using six heavy-duty electric mixers, 20 gas ranges, kitchen aids, and ovens in her large kitchen at Camp 7 barangay. It also provides employment to 25 locals. She said the success of her business did not happen overnight. She believes that it has been a great success because of her patience and commitment in producing quality products that are now enjoyed by all those who visit Baguio City.
Her success story earned her numerous citations including being named as one of the “most inspiring entrepreneurs” of the Cordillera in 2008 given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo. She has also served as speaker to various business summits and conferences, and has continually inspired countless individuals in venturing into business. Given this feat that she now enjoys, she said her greatest achievement is becoming a cool mother to her children.