If you're ever been to Liloan, Cebu, chances are you've heard about Titay's. But if you haven't, well, let me tell you about it. It is not just some random bakery, it is a place with over a century of history.
Titay's is located in Liloan, Cebu, Philippines. It is famous for its rosquillos cookies, otap, and other Cebuano treats. It has been known as a go-to spot for delicious pasalubong or souvenirs and has become a beloved part of Cebu's culinary heritage.
Throwing it back to where it all began.
It all began in 1907 when Margarita "Titay" Frasco, with her passion for baking, created a classic biscuit that would eventually become one of the most iconic delicacies in Cebu.
At the start, Mama Titay gave away a couple of biscuits for every bottle of soda sold in her store. It took people just one bite to know that the biscuits were special—a perfect combination of flour, eggs, and milk, along with a highly-ground secret formula.
Mama Titay's creation became a hit in Liloan, and soon enough, people from nearby towns started to drop by her store to experience their delightful treat. When asked about the name of her beautiful creation, Titay could only offer a humble shrug. It was the governor, Sergio Osmeña, upon gazing upon the ring-shaped wonders, christened them "rosquillos", it is a term inspired by their resemblance to ringlets adorned with a unique central hole. Titay's started as a humble home bakery but slowly grew bigger. For more than 117 years, the bakery has been the birthplace of the original rosquillos delicacy. The town has even celebrated a Rosquillos Festival since 2008 to honor the biscuit and the heritage brand that brought it to life.
The sweet and tasty Rosquillos.
Rosquillos has become the common name for the cookie favorite for pasalubong ( gift or souvenir) and anytime treat. It tastes sweet and special. I can still remember how I ate rosquillos when I was a kid. I'd play the ring-shaped biscuit first before eating by putting one on each finger. But we don't know adults do it, too.
Inside the bakery, you'll see a lot of boxes of rosquillos; for its affordable price, you will catch yourself getting so many packs of rosquillos. You can already enjoy a slice of Cebu's history for only 69 php per box.
There's also a recent innovation which is the Rosquillos Corazon ("heart"). The center is cut out in the shape of a heart! It adds a creative and meaningful twist to the traditional Rosquillos cookies.
Other Pasalubong (Souvenir) Goodies
In Titay's, their rosquillos are the star, but they've got a whole lineup of pasalubong-worthy goodies like otap, galletas, hojaldres to name a few. Titay's have really grown a lot over the years, yet still haven't lost that old-school charm!
So if you're ever near Liloan, do yourself a favor and drop by Titay's. Grab a few packs of rosquillos (trust me, one won't be enough), and enjoy a little slice of Cebu's history. It's the place that makes you appreciate the simple things done right.