How Mangga't Suman, Latik-Latik, and Bilo-Bilo Ice Cream Put Heritage in a Pint

There was a post floating around recently—or a tweet, if we still call them that—arguing that kakanin should finally be normalized in cafe culture as a proper dessert. Biko with an Iced Caramel Spanish Latte? Yes, please. Palitaw with Cafe Americano? Sure, why not? Kutsinta with Strawberry Matcha Latte? Yeah, let's decolonize those cups.

While cafe-goers are dreaming up native food pairings, Marcelo's Microcreamery is taking things up a notch: turning those kakanin classics into artisanal ice cream, even winning the 2026 Best Specialty & Gourmet Frozen Dessert of the Year at the Katha Awards in May. Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Katha Award honors product excellence, export potential, and tropical heritage in Philippine food innovation.

Marcelo's Microcreamery was also the sole Philippine brand featured in its category at THAIFEX Anuga Asia 2026 at the Halal & New to Market Showcase in Bangkok, Thailand,

For founder and CEO John Marcelo, representing his country on the global stage used to happen on the racetrack. Today, the professional race car driver is planting the Philippine flag one pint at a time.

"I've been an ice cream aficionado for as long as I can remember; no matter what country I was competing in, finding the best local spot was always on my bucket list. But as much as I loved exploring those global flavors, I realized I wanted to create something that captured our own identity.

The pivot happened during a completely mundane grocery run. Looking down the freezer aisles, I saw a sea of sameness—none of it spoke to who we are. The real aha! moment hit me over a warm bowl of champorado: I wanted to craft an ice cream that was deeply, unapologetically Filipino," he tells Esquire Philippines in an exchange. The result is Marcelo's Microcreamery, which was launched in July 2025.

From his own kitchen, he began experimenting with kakanin flavors in small batches and brought them to his Bible study group. He excitedly recalls that "their reaction was unanimous—one taste, and they were instantly transported back to specific, cherished childhood memories." It was as if they "were engineering a time machine."

Bilo-Bilo was the hardest flavor to nail down, taking over six months of trial and error. It's also why they operate as a microcreamery, which lets them protect the absolute quality in small batches. The Heritage Line was developed, which also includes Inutak, Ube Macapuno Champorado, Latik-Latik, Mangga’t Suman, and Chocolate Champorado.

"My core inspiration has always been our heritage," Marcelo adds.

Marcelo Microcreamery's founder also said that he's on a mission to change the narrative that "premium" is almost always associated with "imported." Aside from putting out quality products, the brand also makes sure that its ingredients are sourced ethically.

"Sourcing directly from our local farmers is the very essence of what we do. We obsess over the details—from the crops we harvest at the start of the batch-making process to the final scoop served—because we want to give our consumers more than just a sweet treat. The goal is to give them the uncompromised taste of the Philippines, perfectly captured as a memory in a single dessert," Marcelo explains.

"We aren't just offering a dessert; we are offering a frozen time machine, an experience that takes you back in a pint. It is a testament that the flavors of the Philippines belong at the forefront of the global conversation, and every scoop is a celebration of the culture we are so proud to share."

Marcelo’s Microcreamery Heritage Line (P469.00 / pint) is available at Landers, The Marketplace, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, HeyDay, One World Deli, Romulo Cafe, Last Chucker, Manila Polo Club, Anya Resort Tagaytay, and Likhaang Filipino.

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