Showbiz takes centerstage in new Mang Inasal branch

MANILA, Philippines - It was a showbizy opening for the newest Mang Inasal branch at the corner of Jupiter St. and Makati Ave. last Jan. 5. A pounding bongo drum invited people to come on in and join the fun. Ati-atihan dancers beckoned them not only to step right on in, but to savor the yummy dishes awaiting them.

Endorser Mark Bautista, franchisee Vic del Rosario, his son Vincent and administrator Tess Cruz cut the ribbon.

The festive atmosphere extended to the 500 seating capacity restaurant.  Diners sat huddled over a sumptuous feast of bangus sisig, pecho, spaghetti and Iloilo barquillos and halo-halo for dessert. Rice was overflowing as waiters hovered over customers to scoop up generous servings of this unlimited staple (unlimited rice is a feature of all Mang Inasal outlets).

Hanging covered lights, ordered straight from Iloilo, Mang Inasal’s place of origin illuminated everything below.

Waiters in the restaurant’s signature red and yellow colors were running to and from, taking orders, serving dishes. The waiters had to make way for customers who crowded the take-out corner.

“I saw Mark outside, so I decided to take my lunch here,” said Mang Virgilio, a native of Batangas, who happened to pass by a friend’s office nearby.

Another diner, a call center agent in one of the offices nearby, said she welcomed the new restaurant since it offered a good way of unwinding with friends after the daily grind.

It is for call center offices and other firms nearby that this Mang Inasal branch is open 24/7.

 “We will put up another one in Trinoma come March,” said Tess Cruz.

She adds that Mang Inasal is looking for a female endorser to help Mark promote the restaurant, whose secret of success lies in the sauce in which the inasal dishes are dipped.

The secret recipe for the sauce originated all the way from Iloilo, where Edgar “Injap” Sia II, Mang Inasal owner, put up the first branch six years ago. He and del Rosario first met during one of Sarah Geronimo’s concerts in Iloilo. The two hit it off right away.

Mang Inasal has inspired Mark so much, he’s thinking of putting up his own franchise somewhere in his native Cagayan de Oro. It will not only be cheaper there.  Mark has his family who can take care of business even if he’s in Manila.  It will be his first business venture, if ever.

“Mang Inasal is very hardworking.  They give it their all. They are persistent and aggressive. They want to succeed in the industry. And that is also what I see in myself,” says Mark.

Yes, birds of the same feather do flock together. That’s why Mark and Mang Inasal have gotten along well all this time. Chances are, they will continue to do so in years to come, when Mang Inasal spreads its wings further to cover more ground and spread the gospel of Ilonggo cuisine everywhere.

Mang Inasal has steadily grown since it offered franchising. It has branches in Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas, Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Tarlac, Boracay, Antique, Mindoro, Batangas, Pampanga, General Santos, Tuguegarao, Iligan, Bulacan, Cavite, Baguio, Laguna, Panabo, Cagayan de Oro, Lucena, Surigao, Palawan, Agusan del Sur, Malabon, Zamboanga, Pagadian, Koronadal, Rizal, Pangasinan. Dipolog, La Union, Ozamiz and Kabankalan.