Honoring Margarita Fores, her legacy, and her recipe for the future

I miss our strategy sessions, during which you would question every detail and strive for perfection. 

I miss our board meetings, during which I served as a referee between you, Amado, and your siblings, transforming intense debates into productive breakthroughs. 

I miss presenting our restaurant marketing materials, only to hear you say, “Baduy!”—and then showing me how to do it right. 

I miss your calls, criticisms about food quality and service, and your unwavering pursuit of excellence. 

I miss our flights, PAL arroz caldo breakfasts, after-work Tormaresca nights, and food adventures. Every bite was not just an experience but also a lesson. 

I miss when you return from your travels, excited to share your discoveries, handing me samples, flyers, and a flood of ideas on how we could make CIBO even better. 

I miss our differing views. One of our biggest disagreements was when I first attempted to rationalize and streamline our menu in 2016, proposing to remove some dishes. It was a lengthy debate. I presented the numbers and rationale, and we went back and forth until we finally reached a compromise: Instead of completely removing those dishes, we would bring them back as part of quarterly specials. And then, after all that, you let out a smile. 

I miss the times I saw you in action during catering events, how each event was so special to you, and how you owned every moment. The most memorable one was my own. When James and I asked you to be our ninang, you immediately volunteered to cater our wedding. We knew we couldn’t afford it, but that didn’t matter to you. “I’ll talk to Anna and Regel about the price and terms,” you said. And just like that, it was settled. Our guests in Tagaytay were amazed by the presentation, the food, and the entire experience. What moved me the most was seeing you switch from your ninang dress into a chef’s jacket, stepping into the makeshift kitchen, and transforming the other side of the venue into a fully functional catering station. 

You were an amazing ninang, not just in title but in presence. Whenever I brought James to work events, you’d always carve out time to sit, eat, and make chika. That is the Margarita love. 

Joy Gauma (our QA manager) and I remember when you told us that our last trip to Italy with James and the CIBO achievers was one of your best. I didn’t know it would be our last with you. We shared many laughs on the train, teasing you about how quickly you walked at the SIGEP convention in Rimini, calling you our levitating mother goose. I, the rational COO, planned for us to follow group routes to cover everything efficiently. But you said no. “Just follow me.” 

And then we realized why. 

You guided us to the best booths, encouraged us to taste the best samples, and introduced us to the best materials we could bring home for our brands in Manila. Your hands-on approach and generosity in sharing knowledge and wisdom were exceptional. You didn’t just show us what to see. You made sure we understood why it mattered. That was how you led. 

And beyond the work and the food, there were lessons that still guide me today. 

You super hated discounting promos. I still vividly remember you saying, “Edgar, don’t do discounting promos here and there. Let’s strategically do discounting only as a way of saying thank you to our customers during our anniversaries.” That principle continues to shape how we protect CIBO’s integrity today. 

One of my biggest learnings from you is how you channeled yourself into every piece of brand artwork. Every visual, every design, every tiny detail had to go through you first. “The character and personality of the brand must live on,” you always reminded me. And because of you, I carry that responsibility with me every single day. 

Margarita, you intentionally ensured that CIBO could stand strong, even without you at the helm.

You ensured that your siblings, Oye and Bledes, would be there to guide me when you appointed me as your chief of staff three years ago and then as your COO two years ago. You made sure that Amado would continue bringing his big ideas, helping us push the brand forward. You selected chef Jorge Mendez as our Creative and Executive Chef to carry your culinary vision into the future. 

Alongside your trusted team—Marlon (25 years in service) in Operations & Business Development, Michael (20 years in service) in Human Resources, Josefina (28 years in service) in Supply Chain, and Jigi (11 years in service) in Finance—you established an unshakeable foundation. And the missing piece? Our Chief Marketing Officer. It took all of us to finally convince Mercedes Forés to join us last year, completing what you called your dream team. 

Your confidence in us was never just words. It was a roadmap. 

For years, CIBO expanded steadily, opening just one store each year. However, we’ve launched more than 30 restaurants in the past three years. The demand for CIBO continues to rise, with people requesting a location closer to them and mall partners eager to have CIBO in their spaces.

Even in your final days, you were still checking up on new locations—Iloilo, La Union, Baguio—always planning ahead and reviewing all the details. You made sure our path to 50 restaurants was on track. You felt overjoyed when we reached the P1 billion revenue milestone last year and were even more excited about expanding beyond Luzon and the Philippines. Your last Thanksgiving party wasn’t just a celebration; it was your way of endorsing the next generation, giving us your blessing to embrace the future with your legacy. 

We are ready. We will carry your vision forward. 

We will continue your mission of making life and living more beautiful and delicious for others. 

Margarita, your legacy is not just in the food we serve. It is the people you nurtured, the standards you set, and the dreams you made possible. 

And so, we move forward, not without you, but because of you.