MANILA, Philippines –  It has been just under 18 months since actress Cherry Pie Picache lost her mother Zenaida in a robbery-homicide. But today, Cherry Pie is working hard to leave the painful memories in the past, and instead honor her mother’s memory, while living her best life. 

Coming off the success of On The Wings Of Love, where she played Tita Jacks, Cherry Pie recently also opened a new branch of Alab, serving Filipino food. Cherry Pie and her partners launched the first branch in Scout Rallos last year. (READ: ‘On The Wings of Love’ finale recap: Clark and Leah get their happy ending)

“I think my mother’s behind this. I am very blessed and grateful to have met and I have good partners with our business. I think she’s been guiding me all the way. The success of OTWOL, I am very honored and very grateful that I was included in the cast,” she said at a February event for the restaurant. 

It’s been six months today mama, you are thought of, missed beyond words, prayed for& loved every single day. This portrait of you has kept me company all this time. With God’s love& mercy, justice& truth will prevail. Dear friends, pls remember my mama, Baby Sison as she is fondly called, in your prayers today. Thank you Celebrating too the feast day of one of my son’s patron saint, St. Joseph. May we be inspired& be blessed to be like you, humble, caring and always obedient to God’s will. Have a beautiful day everyone!!

A photo posted by Cherry Pie Picache (@yescppicache) on Mar 18, 2015 at 5:10pm PDT

According to Cherry Pie, some of their most popular dishes include the Tinumok described on the menu as shrimp and coconut noodles wrapped in taro leaves in coconut cream, the Pianggan, a Tausug dish of grilled chicken cooked in coconut milk, and Lechon na Crispy Pata. They are also known for their desserts such as the the Bibingka Cheesecake and Pichi-Pichi with Quezo de Bola.  

Let’s take a look at the restaurant and the food. 

The interiors of the Alab restaurant in UP Town Center.

Pianggang, P290

Tinumok, P195

Lechon Crispy Pata, P590 

Kare-Kare, P450

Pichi-Pichi with Quezo de Bola, P90

Aside from the UP Town Center branch and main branch at Scout Rallos, Cherry Pie said that another branch in McKinley is scheduled to open this April. Three more branches are also planned in the south this 2016.

Alab Restaurant is under the umbrella of the Moderne Group of Restos Inc. Aside from Cherry Pie, Joel Fernando of JB Music and Christine del Castillo of Moderne Culinaire Academy are also involved with the restaurant.

Not a lot of people know that cooking is another passion of Cherry Pie’s. 

“That’s my other passion. Aside from my craft, I love to cook, that’s why I decide to go into the restaurant business,” she said.

“What we wanted it to be is to be the melting pot for people to taste different dishes across the region na they don’t have to go to those places anymore .All they have to is to go to Alab restaurant and they will taste to special dishes that the different regions offer.”

The actress said that like many entrepreneurs, she continues to learn in the food business and is grateful to have found the right partners.

“First and foremost, you really have to have good partners. Yung nagtutulungan kayo (You’re helping each other), you have one vision. And you agree on the things or the track you want to go to. I think that’s very important. And you trust each other. 

“You just have to really walk the talk. You offer your patrons what you tell them – good service, good food,” Cherry Pie said. – Rappler.com

Alab Restaurant has branches in UP Town Center and Tomas Morato. For more information, go to alabrestaurant.com, Instagram @alab_ph or their Facebook page.