Make way for the #TeamSawi #TeamAmpalaya and #TeamHopia, cry and ‘walling’ no more for the first Hugot Cafe in Pampanga is here to cheer and mend your weary heart.
Hugot Cafe, ninth among its branches nationwide apart from Batangas, Lipa, Alabang, Paranaque, Malabon, Fairview and Manila, is a coinage of an entrep named Amfi Joaquin, 29, who had opened its main branch in Hermosa, Tondo last April 2016.
The term “hugot” is a Filipino word which means to draw or to pull out but later on given a figurative meaning of being deeply emotional. Hugot, as one of the most used words in 2016 was nominated by a certain Junilo Espiritu as Salita ng Taon during the Sawikaan 2016 spearheaded by the Filipinas Institute of Translation and Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino which aims to promote that Filipino is a language that has the capacity to accept new words.
Making its way to the culinary capital of the Philippines, Hugot Cafe Pampanga Owner Christian Rolm Pamintuan, 26, said he got enticed with the “KORNY” features of the Hugot and closed a deal with his friend Joaquin after working in Dubai for a year as an Ambassador of a mobile phone.
Pamintuan, who is currently taking Master of Business Administration at Angeles University Foundation, had opened the month-old cozy hugot pa more-themed HCP catering mostly students, young professionals and young-at-heart adults who wish to treat themselves with their hugot-inspired menu.
With Pamintuan are his good-looking and full of good vibes staff namely Heidi Miranda, Rendel Velarde, Kenz Myrel Hernandez, Jerry John Ducha and Bhenz Salcedo.
“Most of the time natutuwa at bumabalik ang mga customers not only because of our food but the thought na magbabasa muna ng hugot ang mga barista namin before they serve your order. And minsan kapag wala silang mapili, I just encourage them to pick based on their ‘pinagdadaanan’,” Pamintuan said.
Inside this 7-square meter #sawi hub is the inverted Eiffel tower on the ceiling. Why?
“We know Eiffel Tower in Paris, the City of Love and since this is meant for the brokenhearted, they have inverted the tower which is now the symbol for #sawi,” the owner emphasized.
Another thing to enjoy at the HCP is their interactive Hugot Wall where everyone is encouraged to shout out their #whogoats through written words.
And despite the fact that every inch of HCP is instagrammable, wifi is not available in the said place.
“If you will notice wala kaming wifi and sockets all over the place, just like with the other branches of Hugot Cafe because we want to discourage students to refrain from using their mobile phones or laptops and just regale stories with their colleagues,” Pamintuan added.
Not into written poetry? You might consider the open-mic poetry, anytime you wish to let your thoughts flow out from your heart.
John Nucup, founder of LiterArtura, is their house poet. LiterArtura is an organization of artists and poets with some 122 members nationwide hosting and organizing Spoken Poetry Events on selected cafes here and outside Pampanga.
Pamintuan said they are welcoming other poetry groups to have their events at HCP for free.
See it for yourself. Hugot Cafe Pampanga is located at Harrison Building, Arayat and S.R Lim Sts, (infront of Wishing Well) Diamond Subdivision, Balibago Angeles City.
For more information you may contact Pamintuan at 0917 956 1955. –Text & Photos by Larrica Angela Cunanan