Mrs. Mary Grace Sanarez went to China in 2000 as a dependent of her husband. During her stay abroad, her family frequently hosted feasts and served tapa to visitors. Not only did her family crave the tapa recipe, but so did her friends and acquaintances. Tapa became a beloved comfort food for them, inspiring her to open a tapsihan business upon returning home for vacation.

In November 2019, as COVID-19 continued to spread, she was unable to return to China. With a capital of Php 150,000.00, she decided to establish a food business, which she named Gracia’s Tapsihan. As a one-woman entrepreneur, she fearlessly managed production, client service, and overall operations on her own.

Gracia’s Tapsihan officially opened in January 2020, offering meals priced between P50.00 and P150.00. The business serves a variety of affordable, ready-to-eat rice meals, which include rice, egg, and a viand, along with unlimited complimentary soup. In addition to its budget-friendly silog meals, Gracia’s Tapsihan also offers delectable condiments and side dishes such as homemade spiced vinegar, patis, chili garlic sauce, bagoong, and atchara, all of which pair perfectly with their rice meals. During the pandemic, their packed meals became a huge hit through delivery services, catering to residents in Naic, Maragondon, Ternate, Magallanes, and Batangas.

Gracia’s Tapsihan is a sole proprietorship food and restaurant business that provides silog meals to the people of Naic and neighboring cities and municipalities. Its mission is to serve delicious, high-quality, and budget-friendly meals while ensuring the best for its employees, community, and environment. The business envisions becoming one of the top five quality and budget-friendly tapsilog establishments in Naic.

In 2023, Mrs. Sanarez was introduced to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and was selected as a mentee in the Kapatid Mentor ME – Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) online training program under DTI Cavite. The KMME-MME online program is one of DTI’s initiatives aimed at helping micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) survive and grow despite challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the KMME-MME program, she gained valuable knowledge on properly running a business and establishing a strong foundation for long-term success and sustainability. She also learned the importance of good product presentation in capturing customers’ attention, effectively conveying the product’s value, and ultimately driving sales.

Aside from their signature condiments and silog meals, Gracia’s Tapsihan has expanded its offerings to include a healthy calamansi and malunggay juice drink. This beverage combines the zesty tang of calamansi with the earthy goodness of malunggay, creating a refreshing and nutritious drink rich in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and essential nutrients. It has become a popular choice among health-conscious individuals seeking a natural energy boost. As an advocate for healthier alternatives, Mrs. Sanarez specifically promotes this drink for children as a nutritious replacement for soda.

Furthermore, Mrs. Mary Grace Sanarez remains committed to providing high-quality service and healthy products to her customers. She is actively seeking resellers for her condiments and is working towards expanding her business into a larger space. ♦

Date of release: 27 February 2025

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