Valenzuela Bahay Pawid

Article by Jamaica

Valenzuela Bahay Pawid is an eatery in Malolos, Bulacan where they serve a lugaw with different varieties of side dish. Their lugaw is not ordinary to others since they are most known for it's flavorful flavor and addicting aroma of it. Rather than serving a crispy fried garlic on top their lugaw is unique for serving fried onions in it.

History

Valenzuela Bahay Pawid, was established in March 1981. The recipe first originated from the heritage of Valenzuela by the couple Mr. and Mrs Paloma. The recipe was later entrusted to Mr. Panfilo and Mrs. Divinia Iso, who was first suggested to run a small business, a lugawan. The couple took the advice of Mr. & Mrs. Paloma inherited their recipe and transported it from Valenzuela to Bulacan.

The journey of Bahay Pawid began with the house of the couple in Sumapa, Malolos. It was the first location of their business where they're cooking the lugaw in their home and transporting it to their place while still keeping it served hot. They believe that serving a hot lugaw adds flavor to it. This set up lasted at least three months.

The couple decided to move to another place where there are more customers. Their place moved to Crossing, Malolos near BPI. This location became one of the foundations of their success as they get known for their lugaw of people who are living in different places. Many of their customers that time are most likely commuters and workers. And their place became one of the comfort foods of people.

They stayed like that for a long time when they decided to move to another place, but are still considering the right location where there are a lot of consumers. 2006 when they decided to move to Bulihan. They take a place and change it into a house, like a bahay pawid one since they first saw it as a house not made up of pawid. They started a new journey of their business and even though they move to another place people still come and visit them often.

In 2010, Mrs. Divinia decided to pass the legacy of Bahay Pawid to her daughter, Ms. Miko Iso. She entrusted her with the business because she can no longer work for it, as she had reached 60 years old while taking care of the business that her late husband pass to her.

In 2020, during the pandemic, they decided to operate a food truck with the motivation that they would be the ones reaching out to people, as opposed to people coming to them. They consider the challenges faced by those who couldn't afford to visit their place due to the protocols of pandemic and for individuals nurturing their love for lugaw.

Year 2020, during the pandemic, they decided to operate a food truck with the motivation to serve the people their classic lugaw. Since there are a lot of people who couldn't afford to visit their place due to the protocols of pandemic, they think of an idea that indicates “this time we will be the ones reaching out to people for our lugaw”

Valenzuela Bahay Pawid is still continuing their business and as Mrs. Divinia said, as much as possible, they would like to pass it generation by generation without changing the menu and recipe itself. Valenzuela Bahay Pawid is strictly sticking to their menu and does not have any intention to change what they're serving.

Address and Operations

It's current address is VR24+428, Blas Ople Diversion Rd, Malolos, Bulacan

It operates 24/7

In their food truck, they're located at Malolos City Hall Grounds

It operates in morning hours until 9:00am

References

Iso, D. (2023 November). Personal Communication [personal interview]