In a world of polished perfection and viral stunts, Abi Marquez did something radical—
she stayed simple. She stayed herself and yet Abi Wins at Cannes!
No dramatic voiceovers. No over-edited montages. Just a girl in her kitchen, wrapping lumpia, laughing at her own jokes, and cooking the way most of us do—by feel, by instinct, by memory. And somehow, that was enough to bring her to the red carpet in Cannes, holding the award for Best Food Blogger at the 2025 World Influencers and Bloggers Awards.
How did she do it?
The answer is as clear and comforting as a freshly fried roll: she led with sincerity.
Simplicity Is a Superpower
Abi didn’t try to be what the algorithm wanted. She didn’t chase trends—she made them. Not through shock value, but through creativity rooted in the familiar. Her videos felt like home: the soft clatter of the kawali, the shimmer of oil, the chatter of a young woman talking to you like an old friend.
In her hands, even something as humble as lumpia became exciting again. Not because she reinvented the wheel—but because she reminded us how joyful the wheel could be.
This is the power of Filipino cooking: it’s not loud, but it stays with you. It nourishes. It connects.
What the World Saw
Maybe the rest of the world expected something fancier. A dish plated with tweezers, narrated like a documentary. But what they got instead was Abi—offering them lumpia stuffed with ice cream or peach mango pie, wrapped with love and served with a laugh.
What they got was a glimpse into the Filipino soul: inventive, generous, lighthearted, and full of pride without being boastful.
And it resonated.
Not because it was perfect. But because it was real.
A Kind of Success We Recognize
At Simpol, we believe that great food doesn’t need to be complicated. That it’s okay to eyeball the measurements, to taste as you go, to season with your heart. Abi’s cooking mirrors that philosophy. Her content isn’t about showing off—it’s about sharing.
She made the world fall in love with her by doing what so many of us do every day: frying lumpia in our slippers, laughing through our mistakes, and feeding people with our whole hearts.
Her win is proof that authenticity still matters. That you don’t need to be flashy to be extraordinary. That a home cook with a good idea and a kind spirit can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.
What We Take With Us
Abi’s moment in Cannes wasn’t just a career milestone. It was a quiet revolution. A reminder that Filipino food doesn’t need translating to be understood. It just needs to be shared.
And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is to stay exactly who you are.
So here’s to Abi Marquez—proof that simple doesn’t mean small.
It means honest. It means rooted.
And in the end, it might just be what the world is most hungry for.
Instagram: @abigailfmarquez
TikTok: @abigailfmarquez
YouTube: Abi Marquez
