His creations have adorned the tables at countless weddings, christenings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.
While on Saipan, Efren Manabat found pleasure in coming up with spectacular designs for his cakes, like the eight-foot long cake he decorated with a rainbow and life-size sunflowers. He adorned his cakes with fountains and trees, and whatever the occasion called for.
Today, Manabat continues to please consumers with his superb creations at Queen Bee Bake Shop in West Texas, a bakery owned by Anita Esberto, a nurse, who heard about his talents.
Manabat bakes cakes with various flavors like chocolates, vanilla, marble and tres leche. He also bakes Filipino flavors like ube yam and mango cakes.
His expertise is slowly spreading as Queen Bee Bake Shop recently began supplying bread to Country Square Market in Vacaville and Three J’s Oriental Store in Vallejo.
He also makes cookies, pastries, siopao —a meat-filled bun — and other Filipino delicacies.
Manabat began his baking career in the Philippines back in 1973. He moved to Saipan with his wife Omega in 1979, and worked for Herman’s Modern Bakery until he left Saipan for the U.S. last year.
Anne Hayes, owner of Herman’s Modern Bakery told the Variety in a telephone interview, that Manabat was a real asset to the company.
“Manabat is the best baker, a very creative cake decorator, and he worked well with everybody,” Hayes said.
She added that they were sorry Manabat had to leave but “they were glad for him.”
“To Efren, we wish him well and we hope he will be more successful in his endeavors,” Hayes said.
Mimi Maghanoy, who served as Manabat’s “big sister” on Saipan, said he was Herman Bakery’s first Filipino cake decorator.
“His creativity is really admired by many. He’s got real talent and we are happy for his success,” Maghanoy said.
Queen Bee Bake Shop was featured in the July 21, 2008 issue of The Daily Republic.
