A mother’s love

The food we put on our table is influenced by a lot of factors, cultural and personal preferences maybe some of it. But in this case, a mother’s love for his son became the stepping stone for making the staple Filipino household’s morning pork, the longganisa.

Mother and entrepreneur, Charlaine Lo-Magallanes balances what time there is in a day to care for his son and make her product.  Cobie’s homemade longganisa was inspired by her son’s (Cobie) love for longganisa. Wanting to give him a healthy meal and at the same time giving his own cravings, She researched and experimented on making a healthier version of his favorite. After 2 years, family and friends encouraged her to share her product with other moms who also want to give a better food option for their kids. And that’s how the “official” birth of Cobie’s Homemade Longganisa happened.

A Unique Take

The longganisa is 100% homemade, and by far the taste sets it apart from other mall products. It has no coloring, no extender, and no artificial preservatives, It is THE ONLY longganisa in the city of Golden Friendship that has health-boosting ingredients. Made with spirulina and flaxseed which is considered as the 2 most beneficial super-food ingredients, partaking in Cobie’s homemade longganisa is a healthier choice compared to the mainstream competition. It took Ms. Charlaine to 1 to 2 years of trial and error, experimentation to finally achieve its unique and distinct taste now. Being surrounded by 2 of her best food critics ( Mr. Magallanes and their son) and friends who are all out in support by purchasing the frequently evolving product, the longganisa has shaped from a simple carbon to diamond.

The Cobie’s Homemade longganisa can be added to a variety of dishes, spaghetti can instead of having meatballs or ground pork/beef  can have it with the longganisa, and a burger patty that will surely be adored by kids can be made from it with a perfect addition of mozzarella cheese, veggies, and whatever choice of dressing. Her end goal is to create a longganisa that becomes every kagayanons everyady staple meal, a product that is healthy, unique, savory and flavorful. Personally, I see the product in hotels, airplanes, and air bnbs where they serve Filipino dishes. It can go very well with vinegar, chili paste, palapa, olive oil, or even salad dressings as a garnish for pizza toppings.

A Mother’s Strength

Testimonies are often associated with tests, and I have seen that the strength of Ms. Charlaine as she juggles the time to look after her son and produce the longganisa late at night to fill orders. It was quite challenging for her in her first bazaar experience, with limited resources ( financial, HR, logistics, etc.) and had to work with a limited budget to cover all expenses, it was a one-woman show.

She admits that she’s still finding her way in this path, a lot of things to learn and discover.  

A night before her first bazaar, her son was hospitalized but still pulled off creating 30 pax worth of packed meals. It was an exhausting experience, but nevertheless, she delivered despite the lack of freezer space to create more than 15kg of the longannisa, running out of stocks, and producing what she can for the last day of the bazaar. She says: “ I can’t imagine how I did it, but I did it! With the help of my family”. I have much respect for Ms. Charlaine and her husband, Mr. Brendan G. Magallanes for giving the people of Cagayan a product to be excited about.

I believe that strength comes from the day to day courage to try, and I can see that in Ms. Charlaine’s product. A different approach to a much-loved staple food of us Filipinos is now a healthier dish to the table. She sets her priorities every day and makes her family come first. She has chosen her battles, failed, but still get up to dance to the music once more. The taste of the Cobie’s homemade longganisa is that of love, strength, and a purpose to create a healthier dish for us all. Catch Cobie’s Homemade longganisa this coming October 4 to 6, December 4 to 11, and 16 – 22 at the activity center of Centrio Mall. You can also reach her through Facebook or mobile (+639176550528) by searching Cobie’s homemade longganisa and giving her a direct message, orders of more than 12 packs can be delivered within the city. So what are you waiting for? Try Cobie’s homemade longganisa! Kids love it, adults too!