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Mikoy Morales is one of the versatile actors of the Kapuso network. But aside from shifting between dramatic and comedic roles, the 'First Yaya' actor has also dabbled in entrepreneurship by establishing his family's dessert shop called Baking Duck.

In a GMA Lifestyle exclusive, Mikoy shares the beautiful story of how their family's baking business was born, what he's learned so far as an entrepreneur, and what their future plans are for Baking Duck.

Mikoy Morales shares beautiful story of how his family's passion for food and baking turned into a budding business / Source: @mikoymorales (IG)

In early 2020, just right before the pandemic struck, Mikoy and his family decided to start their dessert shop, Baking Duck, which was born out of his mother's passion for baking and their love for her home-baked goods.

Mikoy narrated, “My mom has been an enthusiast for as long as I can remember. My brother and I would come home from school to the smell of whatever she was baking.

“Then, she mellowed down because she got busy with work and would only bake brownies during Christmas season so we could give them away as gifts.”

Mikoy and family baking at home / Source: @bakingduckph (IG)

Mikoy also said that establishing their own online bakeshop seemed like the perfect path for them to take since he and his cousins share a love for food and his mom has been planning to rekindle her love affair with baking.

“My cousins naman, we've been midnight snacking our way through sleepovers since we were kids. It's a passion, really - snacking - until it reached a point when we would make and try out our own stuff. Two of them even pursued it as a career.

“So last January 2020, we decided to just make it happen. My mom's been wanting to bake again and eventually retire and have her own bakeshop, plus my cousins who are practicing somehow seemed to be heading towards the same direction na rin.”

The Kapuso actor also revealed that at the moment, it's purely a family business and all their home-baked offerings are a labor of love.

“Okay so right now there's 5 of us: Me, my mom, my brother Paolo and my cousins Emay and Emem, thus the five stars in our logo, which was made by our eldest cousin Eric.”

Mikoy's brother, Paolo, while baking / Source: Source: @mikoymorales (IG)

And although Mikoy is hands-on in running their business, he leaves the baking to his other family members.

“I do marketing, branding, and PR - basically anything that doesn't involve baking and accounting. (Laughs)”

Mikoy, hard at work, promoting Baking Duck / Source: @mikoymorales (IG)

The'Bubble Gang star also said that he has tried delivering some of their products to friends and workmates.

“It's always nice to personally give orders to people and see their reactions. It's a beautiful exchange.”

Mikoy said that most of the items on their menu are either tweaked or joint versions of his cousins' and mom's recipes, and that their best-seller is actually the oldest recipe on the menu, the Sugar Mommy brownie block.

In their social media posts, the Sugar Mommy is described as “a pure, block of chocolatism made for you to indulge in any way you prefer.”

Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram

Isang post na ibinahagi ni Baking Duck (@bakingduckph)

Actress Janine Gutierrez even posted about it and said, “Thank you, @mikoymorales!! Solid to!! Couldn't hide the slice here though.”

Plus, 'Owe my Love' star Benjamin Alves was also spotted munching on Baking Duck's Sticky Tita cinnamon roll.

When asked what his favorite among Baking Duck's products is, Mikoy picked a different dessert.

He answered, “Based on the ones out in the menu, it's the Tres Bibes: Tres Leches for me. THE. BEST. One can isn't enough.”

But just like any other business, their dessert shop also ceased operations for a while during the first time that the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was imposed.

“We paused operations since the ECQ declaration until about 3 months after only because my cousins couldn't come over from Marikina.”

But this hurdle soon turned into an advantage for them, as people began to shop for food online amid the ECQ.

“It was quite a struggle to come back from the break, but with restaurants closing and people being stuck at home gave us an advantage since we're online.”

Mikoy also shared some of the things he has learned in running their family business.

“(I learned) the importance of listening to your colleagues and your audience, knowing who you (your company) are, and communicating it authentically and effectively.

“(And) most of all, trusting the process and enjoying with the people you're with. It's the point of it all.”

Finally, Mikoy imparted what his greatest dream is as an entrepreneur and what's in store for Baking Duck and their clients.

“Oh my, definitely a cafe-resto. Also, ideally, we'd like to be able to produce our own supplies organically.

“As of now, we're sticking to our regular menu, but we have this new thing called the Weekend Bakery where we have weekly specials. We will be sharing whatever bread, dessert, or any random dish that we'll be making for ourselves as well.”

It's truly inspiring how Mikoy's family's love for their mom's baked goodies turned into a budding dessert shop. And what's even better is that the good smell and taste of delectable desserts made in their kitchen with love can now find their way into your homes through Baking Duck.

Check out what else is on their menu and how you can order their Sugar Mommy and other offerings on their official Facebook page.

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

If you'd like to also support other online dessert shops, check them out in the gallery below.