Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, the celebrity chef and entrepreneur behind My Happy Home, is known for her passion for food, home decor, and creating memorable dining experiences. In a fast-paced Q&A with Simpol.ph, she answered 50 questions about her daily life, career, and the things that make her happiest.
For breakfast, Ongpauco-Tiu enjoys a comforting classic. “My usual go-to,” she said, “so I had burnt queso pandesal with yema inside, which we make in Tsokolateria.”
If she were to win the lottery, she already has a plan in mind. “Part of it, charity,” she said. “And maybe one part, I’ll go shopping.” Her love for home decor is evident in her business. “Here in My Happy Home, I have a lot of really beautiful tablescaping items, home accessories, and imported ingredients that are hard to find. It’s all about having a happy home.”
If given the chance to travel anywhere, Ongpauco-Tiu would go to Europe, she said. But when it comes to relaxing at home, she has a favorite escape. “K-drama,” she admitted with a laugh.
Her favorite way to unwind after a long day is “being with my kids and just spending quality time with them.”
When asked about a favorite vacation destination, she answered immediately: “Tokyo.”
Cooking is her first love, but if she weren’t a chef or a businesswoman, Ongpauco-Tiu believes she would have pursued medicine. “I would be a doctor,” she said. “I want to be a derma because I think the derma business now is just amazing. And it’s going to be ‘tipid’ for me also if I’m a derma, so I could work on myself.”
She is also passionate about curating restaurant concepts. “These plates that I bring in are also meant for restaurant use,” she said. “I don’t only sell home products, but I sell wholesale to restaurateurs and hotels, and I curate their look as well for their concepts. That’s another thing we do here at My Happy Home.”
The Christmas season holds a special place in her heart. “It’s just a time that everybody has that natural happy high,” she said.
One of her fondest childhood memories involves her grandmother. “Every Christmas, my lola would bring my cousins and me — about 20 to 25 of us — on a coaster, and we’d ride to the toy store to pick out our Christmas gifts.”
Family remains at the center of her life. If she could have dinner with any three people, her answer was simple: “My family.”
As a chef, Ongpauco-Tiu has a deep appreciation for food across cultures. “I actually like all kinds of cuisines. I love to eat,” she said. “But Filipino food is really the closest to my heart.”
If she could only eat one cuisine for the rest of her life, her answer was “Filipino (food).”
Even her guilty pleasure food choices reflect her passion for baking. “All kinds of bread,” she admitted. “That’s why now I am so obsessed with my bakeshop, with Tsokolateria’s line of bread.”
One of her latest creations is something she takes great pride in. “The newest dish I created in Tsokolateria is my burnt queso series. It’s inspired by burnt cheesecake but in pan de sal form,” she said. “It comes in burnt queso yema — imagine freshly baked pan de sal with yema inside, covered with crisp burnt queso. I also have it in ube and tablea form. It’s a very happy dish, and I assure you it will make you happy.”
Ongpauco-Tiu, despite her many talents, playfully admitted she doesn’t think she has a hidden talent. “My gosh,” she said. “Wala akong hidden talent.”
But if she could instantly become an expert in something, she said: “A makeup artist.”
Her dream car? “I’m actually simple,” she said. “So I’m okay as long as the aircon works and it’s comfortable.”
Asked what superpower she’d want, she replied, “I wanna be able to read minds.”
Her go-to sport? “Eating is my sport!” she joked.
When it comes to her biggest pet peeve, she values efficiency. “I’m very particular with accomplishments,” she said. “So I always tell my employees, if you can do it today, do it today. What I hate the most are people who procrastinate.”
If she could time travel, she would go back a decade. “I would go 10 years back and open more concepts,” she said.
Her favorite quote has guided her since childhood: “Ever since I was a kid, my favorite quote would always be to put God first in everything that you do because He will lead you and crown you with kindness and success.”
At the end of the day, Ongpauco-Tiu’s world centers on food, family, and the pursuit of happiness. “Love,” she said, is the best gift she has ever received.
And if she had a free day with no responsibilities? “I’d go to the beach and just hang out under the sun,” she said. “With, of course, a picnic with food. Lots of food.”
As for the secret ingredient that makes everything taste better, it’s “love and passion,” she said without hesitation.
Ongpauco-Tiu takes on Simpol.ph’s ’50 Simpol Questions’. Watch the full episode here.
