We are the Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association

We are a non-stock, non-profit corporation advocating the sustainability of quality, nutritious food products affordable to the people.

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A Brief History

Established in 1966, the Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI) has been in existence for the more than 50 years. The passage of time in the normal development of an enterprise ought to be, as it is, on the part of FCBAI, marked with multifarious achievements.

In light of the various uncertainties experienced by our society and country in the past 35 years, these achievements would appear all the more remarkable. The steadfast determination of the pioneering leaders of the FCBAI had made these commendable progress possible, and had earned recognition not only from the Filipino-Chinese baking industry, but likewise from our industry peers nationwide, as well as from the National Food Authority.

Rooted from our Spanish Colonial Days

The evolution of the baking industry into an essential food industry has its beginnings during our Spanish colonial days. More than 300 years of colonization and religious influence had at the same time brought in the culture of the “pan de sal”, such that even if rice and not flour as our primary grain, the “pan de sal” had become the predominant food on our breakfast table.

The Chinese Community Making In-Roads into the Bakery Business

These Latin-influenced food items were invariably monopolized by Spanish bakers, and the trade, naturally, by Spanish entrepreneurs. It was only in the era of American occupation that the Chinese had made inroads into the bakery business, first, by Cantonese Chinese, and eventually, by Fukienese Chinese.

From a meager foothold, the Chinese had, by dint hard work, slowly and steadily developed and expanded to a point that it had effectively displaced the Spanish domination of the industry in the period immediately prior to the passage of the Retail Nationalization Law.

The Need for an Association

Chinese domination of the bakery business had slowly increased, and the scale of the business magnitude had invariable grown as well. In the beginning, due to the wide geographic dispersion and the difficulty of communication and lack of coordination, Chinese bakery owners operate in a style independent on one another. After gaining political independence and nationhood, a successive string of new laws and regulations, i.e. sanitary, wage, import allocation of flour, etc. had created a great deal of discomfort to Chinese bakery businessmen, since there was no mechanism to react to these inconveniences. An early industry leader, Mr. Liong Ah Wai, had correctly discerned that without grouping together, it would be hard, if not impossible to overcome these conditions, and hence, he had strongly advocated the organization of an association which became the forerunner of the present Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association, Inc.

Forming of the Filipino-Chinese Bakery & Hopia Factory Association, Inc.

The organization of the Filipino-Chinese Bakery & Hopia Factory Association, Inc. (FCBHFA) had effectively championed the legitimate interests of the baker business sector, and its biggest achievement, during the import control years, were its hard-fought victory in securing the import allocation for flour. In the advent of President Macapagal’s ascension to the presidency, the normalization and stabilization program that he had put in place had rendered import controls unnecessary. The successive establishment of local flour mills which had eased the ersthwhile tight sourcing of flour had rendered the continued operation of the FCBHFA unfeasible, resulting to its becoming dormant shortly after.

Need to Organize a Cohesive Business Association

Three years or so into its dormancy, then mayor Antonio Villegas had urged the different business sectors operating in the city of Manila to organize industry associations, so that they can effectively respond to the city’s policies and developmental needs.

As about the same time, a host of problems related to the Rice and Corn Nationalization Law, and the need for unity and effective advocacy to fight for the legitimate business interests of the bakery industry had impelled industry leaders to constitute a panel to study the need to organize a cohesive business association so that these hostile business environment may be overcome.

The Forming of the Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association Inc. (FCBAI)

It dawned on the Filipino-Chinese bakery businessmen that the formal organization of such an association is an imperative concern and priority, and the discussions centered on whether the previous aggrupation which had become dormant is to be revived, or whether an entirely new group is to be organized. It was eventually the consensus to form a new group, and after its by-laws were drafted, funds raised, and members recruited, the Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association Inc. (FCBAI) was finally born in 1966.

Aiming for Advancement and Growth

In 2016, as they aim for the advancement of all baking practitioners, to be able to quickly adapt to more sophisticated consumer tastes, and in order to be sustainable and competitive both in the local and international market, the FCBAI on its 50th year anniversary has decided to put up a Training and Research Institute for the baking industry.

Bakery Members

Always aiming for advancement, growth and sustainability. View the list of FCBAI’s Bakery Members.

Bakery Members

Allied Members

Fellow advocates of quality, nutritious food products. View the list of FCBAI’s Allied Members.

Allied Members

News and Events

Always aiming for advancement and growth. Read more about what's happening at Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association, Inc.