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Remembering Colette’s ‘passion for life’

Tonyo Cruz

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Remembering Colette’s ‘passion for life’

COLETTE. The baker is remembered by her eldest son for her 'passion for life' and for introducing him to 'art, books, literature, and theater.'

Courtesy of Stefano Lean dela Cruz

(2nd UPDATE) Colette dela Cruz is remembered for a lot of things – the buko pie chain that was named after her, and Hiraya Bakery, among other things. Her son will never forget her 'passion for life.'

Writer and entrepreneur Ruby Nicole “Colette” dela Cruz died Sunday, September 12, due to COVID-19 in her hometown of San Pablo City, Laguna. She was 46.

Millions know her name. Her father, entrepreneur Plaridel dela Cruz named his business after her: Colette’s, now one of the country’s top buko pie brands.

But most of us didn’t really know Colette who was a daughter, mother, writer, friend, lover of literature, entrepreneur, and ultimately, a baker at heart.

In an interview, her eldest son Stefano Lean remembers his last conversation with Colette.

Sabi niya, lalaban siya. Kasi marami pa siyang gustong gawin sa buhay. Gusto ko actually siyang bantayan. Pero ayaw niya. She had her caregiver,” he said.

(She said she’s fighting because she still wanted to do so many things in life. I wanted to watch over her but she said no. She had her caregiver.)

He said his mother spent three weeks in the hospital, and that many times, they thought she would pull through. 

Asked how he and others would remember Colette, Stefano Lean paused for a second but firmly replied: “Pinag-iisipan ko ito. Ang maalala ko kanya ay yung values na tinuro niya sa akin.” 

(I’ve been thinking about this. But I’ll always remember the values she taught me.)

Ang naibigay niya sa akin ay yung belief in the potential of each child or each person. Passion for life, and meaningful things in life. Mga bagay na nagbibigay na joy. Inintroduce niya ko sa art, books, literature, and theater,”  he said.

(She taught me the belief in the potential of each child or each person. Passion for life, and meaningful things in life, thing that bring joy. She introduced me to art, books, literature, and theater.)

Colette’s son proudly added: “Pinalaki niya ko around books, reading, writing, and the humanities.” (I was raised around books, reading, writing, and the humanities.)

Even neighborhood kids received books from her, he said.

Stefano Lean said that his mother Colette found joy in her chosen art, which was baking.

Colette studied Food Technology at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB) in the early 1990s. It was around that time when her father started his buko pie business, which he named after her.

At UPLB, Colette served as culture editor for the official student publication UPLB Perspective, which come out fortnightly at the time.

“We joined paper at the same time, in 1992. Later, after we became editors, she became my culture editor. Minsan tahimik, pero alam mong marami siyang alam (She was quiet, but you knew she was well-read). She was vocal especially on women’s issues,” said Erwin Escubio, Perspective’s former editor-in-chief. 

Apart from being a campus writer, Colete helped revive the cultural group Tulisanes, and where she became known as a guitarist.

Escubio said it was after their graduation that Colette established the franchise system for her namesake, her dad’s business Colette’s buko pie.

After tending the family business, Colette worked at The Maya Kitchen and later, at the Sofitel Hotel. 

She left for the United States, with a plan to take postgraduate studies in gastronomy. She ended up working in French restaurants Sel de la Terre, and L’espalier, and discovered the “locavore” movement.  

In between lulls, she worked odd jobs including as a call center agent, and later, as an ESL teacher.

In 2016, she returned to the Philippines for a vacation and stayed for good. She co-founded Hiraya Bakery with former Sofitel colleague Likha Babay. 

Colette is survived by her father Plaridel (now a city councilor of San Pablo), and by her children: Stefano Lean, Keziah Benjamin Elijah, and Liz. Her mother Regina died when she was still studying in UP Rural High School.

Colette turned 46 on August 22.

Remembering Colette’s ‘passion for life’

– Rappler.com

Tonyo Cruz was a member of the UPLB Perspective staff when Colette was among the paper’s editors.

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