29/11/2025
Hello, I’m Mama Celi, 79 years old, and the heart behind Celis Hopia.
My hopia journey began back in the 90s in Germany, when I first tasted a hopia baked by a dear friend.
It reminded me of home. warm, simple, and full of love.
Inspired, I tried her recipe, added my own twist, and before I knew it, friends started calling it “Celis Hopia.”
What began as a hobby slowly grew into something beautiful.
People started ordering for birthdays, gatherings, and Filipino celebrations all across Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria. Every box I made carried a little piece of my heart, my way of sharing comfort and home with others.
Now, at 79 and happily retired in the Philippines, I’ve found myself returning to hopia once again.
Not for business. Not for pressure.
But because baking brings me joy, the same joy that started it all so many years ago.
Every hopia I make today is made slowly, lovingly, and by hand, just as I’ve always done.
For me, hopia isn’t just food.
It’s memory.
It’s tradition.
It’s love that you can taste.
Thank you for supporting my little passion.
I’m grateful that at 79, my hands are still busy, and my heart is still full.
— Mama Celi
