Discovering Lobo Batangas through Goldilocks Kabuhayan Bakery

One of the things I love about being a blogger is getting the chance to discover new places. Places that you wouldn’t usually consider as a destination but turn out to be such an awesome surprise.

I was introduced to one such place a couple of weeks ago as I joined a group of media people for the inauguration of Goldilocks Kabuhayan Bakery.

At first I thought it was just going to be one of those ribbon cutting events with a few speeches, but thanks to our host Lydia Vivero of Agents Intl. PR, it turned out to be one of those short but very memorable trips.

The town of Lobo is a Third Class municipality in the Province of Batangas. It  lies at the southwestern coast of the province with Batangas City on the West, the municipalities of Taysan and Rosario on the North, San Juan on the East and the Verde Island Passage on the South.

Lobo is composed of 26 barangays, 9 of which are coastal, ten are hilly and mountainous and the rests are built-up.
The municipality has a total population of 38,908 of which 13,427 belong to urban area and 25,481 belong to rural area.
The economic activities of Lobo include agriculture, trade, manufacturing and mining.

While not as popular as the other towns, Lobo is actually one of the tourist destinations in the province of Batangas. The coast lines of Fabrica, Masaguitsit, Olo-Olo, Malabrigo, Soloc and Sawang become haven for scuba divers, surfers, tourists, foreigners and Filipinos alike who want to unwind and get away from the suffocating heat and dust of Manila.

For this trip, we got to visit the Mangrove Forest Farm which consists of living corals near the shore and has been acknowledged to be a fish sanctuary and The Verde Island Passage (VIP) which we later found out was a very important place for the residents.

We met up one very early Monday morning at the Goldilocks Cake plant located in Shaw Blvd. Our itinerary included a lot of activities so I decided to pack light but readied a couple of swim suits since we were told that we were going snorkeling.

It was a four hour drive from Manila to Lobo and we directly proceeded to our first stop—the Mangrove Forest. We took a boat ride for half an hour and stopped at a nearby shore. Although I was still feeling a bit sleepy, the beauty of the place was like a strong cup of espresso that instantaneously woke me up from my sluggish state.

I never saw so many colorful fishes, corals  and beautiful reefs. The water was shallow at the time we snorkeled so even though Im not much of a swimmer it was easier for me to swim around and explore the place.

We only had a half hour or so as we needed to get back and get ready for lunch.  Having lunch in an open area surrounded by huge trees, fresh air and nature was a welcome change from eating at the indoor restos in the city and made us even hungrier. We had vegetable salad, organic rice, chicken and natural fruit juice  prepared by our host from Mangrove Forest.

After lunch at the Mangrove Forest Farm tour, we went to Masaguitsit-Banalo High School to attend to the unveiling of the bronze marker and launch of Kabuhayan Bakery. 

According to the speaker, the Verde Island Passage or VIP is said to have highest concentration of shorefish species in the world. This area, which is famous worldwide as the “Center of Global Shorefish Biodiversity,” is, unfortunately, in grave danger due to excessive mining.

Most of the residents in the surrounding barangays get their livelihood from small-scale mining and they gravitate towards said trade due to lack of other viable livelihood options.

This is one of the reasons why the Goldilocks Foundation, in partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s (ALKFIs) Bantay Kalikasan and the Nutrition Center of the Philippines, decided to help the residents put up the the first fully-functional Kabuhayan Bakery. It was built so the local populace will have an alternative means of livelihood and reduce their dependence in mining.

The bakery, located in Masaguitsit-Banalo High School, is the first of many planned for other locales around the VIP. It has already hired and trained locals, mostly students, to operate the bakery. Aside from a steady wage, each employee is getting some much needed experience and training so that they may operate and manage their own bakeries someday. They are taught how to bake the bread and how to run the business from a managerial perspective.

Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, intended to make the Kabuhayan Bakeshop an integral part of its Foundation’s advocacy. “Through the Kabuhayan Bakery project, we hope that lesser people around the VIP pursue other livelihood options,” Goldilocks Marketing Director Cherry Caluya said. “Keeping the populace from mining will definitely help in the conservation of the area,” she concluded.


The Kabuhayan Bakery will cater to the various bread and pastry needs of the private and public schools within Lobo, Batangas as well as the residents in nearby areas. This will also eventually offer cakes and other bakery items through the assistance and training that will be provided by Goldilocks Foundation.

Honda Philippines, one of the program’s major partners, also helped in delivering the baked goods to its customers. Honda donated a motorcycle so the bakery’s products may be transported around the city.

At the launch, attendees and participants were given the opportunity to see and experience what the program aims to preserve. The guests were toured through the VIP where they went snorkeling, they also visited the areas mangroves, planted seedlings at an organic farm, and marvelled at the beauty of Lobo through the lighthouse. We spent the night at Punta Verde Resort.

Goldilocks Foundation partners with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s (ALKFIs) for "Kabuhayan Bakery"

While Lobo, Batangas has earned a reputation as a hotbed for mining, the municipality is likewise home to a rich marine sanctuary. Unfortunately, excessive mining has threatened this ecology, and efforts have been made to reduce Lobo’s dependence on the income from mines.

Goldilocks Foundation, in partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s (ALKFIs) Bantay Kalikasan and Nutrition Center of the Philippines, took part in this endeavor by donating a fully-functional “Kabuhayan Bakery” located in Masaguitsit-Banalo National High School.

In order to create a ripple effect of livelihood opportunities, the bakery will be managed by the locals, who were given the appropriate training to make a variety of breads and simple pastries. These products can then be sold either on a retail or wholesale basis.

“My dream is to eradicate poverty in Lobo, while keeping the environment and Lobo’s natural resources as healthy as possible,” noted ALKFI Managing Director Gina Lopez. “I hope that the teachers will teach their students how to love one another and also Mother Nature. Let us be responsible and commit to being earth warriors,” she added.

On the part of Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop intends to make the Kabuhayan Bakeshop an integral part of its Foundation’s advocacy. “This is the first Kabuhayan Bakery that we launched, but it certainly won’t be the last. We hope to replicate this model in a number of key locations, and expand this program in the coming years,” said Cherry Caluya, Marketing Director of Goldilocks.

Other sponsors include Honda Motors Philippines, who donated a motorcycle to help the community in delivering bread all around the city, San Miguel Mills, and the Local Government Unit led by Lobo Municipal Mayor, Atty. Gaudioso Manalo.

For more information about the initiatives of Goldilocks Foundation, follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph.

Its a Goldi-Good Time at Kidzania

Goldilocks is no stranger when it comes to bringing magic, joy, and wonder to people’s hearts. Indeed, after 50 Golden Years of being the country’s number one bakeshop, it has become almost second nature to associate this well-loved brand with special occasions, celebrations, and fond memories.

Needless to say, sweet and delightful moments become more meaningful when they are shared. Accordingly, Goldilocks (through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm Goldilocks Foundation) organized a spectacular and fun-filled event for approximately 100 children from Baseco, Tondo, and allowed them to enjoy a day like no other.

In collaboration with Caritas Manila, the Goldilocks Foundation recently took over Kidzania Manila in Fort Bonifacio, for kids aged 5-6 and their guardians. “It’s always a bit challenging when you mobilize this many children and you bring them to a different location,” explained Goldilocks Marketing Director Cherry Caluya. “but seeing the pure joy and excitement of the kids – not to mention the beaming smiles on their faces – made it a thousand times worth the effort. This is what Goldilocks is about,” she added. 

It was truly a fun and educational experience for all the participants. Once inside Kidzania Manila, everyone was welcomed with a dance number performed by the Kidzania mascot, joined by a few Goldilocks pastry chefs. After a short message delivered by Caluya, the kids had a once in a lifetime experience to explore and try out different professions at the different “learning stations” at Kidzania. The children had a blast pretending to be farmers, ice cream makers, doctors, cake decorators, and many more.

Thanks to Goldilocks, everyone had a wonderful and unforgettable experience. To learn more about Goldilocks and the Goldilocks Foundation,

Visit www.Goldilocks.com.ph or like their Facebook or Twitter page @GoldilocksPH