Skip to main content

SM Mompreneurs and their Recipes for Success : Mia Robles-Ng of Breakthrough Restaurant

Not all heroes wear a cape, some wears an apron and prepares delicious recipes in the kitchen. And so goes these Mompreneurs who run successful businesses in SM malls in Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa.

Mompreneur, or "momtrepreneurs," is a slang term describing women who run their own businesses while also acting as a full-time parent, thus the word is the combination of “mom” and “entrepreneur”.

This Mother’s Day, these strong women are highlighted and honoured for their exemplary role in raising their families and tend to their own businesses and still manage to do it with flying colors.

Let us get to know their secret recipes for success.

MIA ROBLES-NG 

Breakthrough Restaurant at SM City Iloilo


When in Iloilo, trying the delicious cuisine of the place is a must. Breakthrough Restaurant is a go-to place and as they say, you haven’t been to Iloilo if you haven’t gone to this place.

Mia Robles-Ng is the new generation handling this business of good-tasting Ilonggo cuisine to the Ilonggos as well as local and international tourists.

“Breakthrough Restaurant is a brainchild of my parents, Munding & Daday Robles. Both UP Diliman graduates - BS Marine Bio & Hotel and Restaurant Management respectively. 

It started as a small - carinderia like , turo-turo style “eatery” with simply home cooked food and off the grill seafoods. Mr. Robles was not a fan of advertising before, he didn’t pay for any ad. Where Breakthrough is now is a result of hard work , “pag-amuma” sa customer, fresh food and just word of mouth from our patrons and friends.” shares Mia  

She says that before her parents ventured in restaurant, Mr Robles was into fish culture/fish farming business and her mother was an HRM graduate--they decided to “join forces” and so Breakthrough Restaurant was born. Pioneering in the Sinugba nga Managat, the delicious fish was presumed as pest before, but Mr. Robles as fish enthusiast, knows that the meat of the Managat is really tasty. 

Mia reveals that partnering with SM is a value-added factor, “it helped us reach more customers, the SM goers. Since Ilonggos really love SM.”

As the business grew, Mia and her family made sure that their employees are part of its growth, they made sure that their welfare are also taken cared of – “It feels nice to give livelihood to people too, to give them job and earn. Now we have scholarship programs to exceptional children of our employees. “

Adapting to the new normal is also a challenge, but with their business experience, Mia made sure that they cope with the situation — “It’s our first take in delivery service. Honestly, our food are best eaten dine in and or fresh off the grill, but we really have to adapt to this pandemic.” 

Mia revealed that they used different medium like telemarketing and social media, to remind people that That they are still in business. “One good thing also is that our employees as willing to multi task - the waiters before are delivery riders now.’, Mia adds

Mia Robles-Ng says that SM has been really generous with their discounted rates on rentals. “It really helped us cope during this times.”

If there are things to learn with this whole experience, Mia has this to say—“Social media is key now, everyone’s on their phones. whatever they see interesting, looking yummy they will try. they will buy. but for them to be repeat customers, you have to really make a promise, that your product is good. that “ay kanamit gd man! i will eat this again! i will let all my family taste this”. Don’t just be instagramable! you have to have something that will make them call you again or come back to you again. Also…. that we have to live with this new normal, its ok to go out. to eat out! -as long as we follow health and safety protocols. We have to thrive again! Support Local also so we can help others thrive in our community. 

Perhaps, continuing the success of Breakthrough Restaurant can be attributed to Mia’s mindset of motherhood—“As a mother, sometimes i think I am at my best, and sometimes I feel I am not good enough. I always want the best for my kids.  Motherhood is a journey, I haven’t mastered it and that I need to be kind to myself too. To remind myself to trust my instincts and just “you do you”.

Breakthrough, being the home of delicious Ilonggo specialties Mia also has this to say of being an ideal mom-- “A mother is a home - where you feel safe and loved. Nurturing, encouraging and where you can be yourself.”



Popular posts from this blog

Travelers guide to Iloilo transport terminals (Airport, Jeepneys, Buses, RORO. etc)

Being the biggest city on Panay Island and the center of Western Visayas region, Iloilo City is a transportation hub whether by land, sea or air. These numerous transportation terminals facilitate day to day commerce, light & heavy industries, and tourism, among others. As this is a travel blog, this guide is aimed to tourists who want to experience and explore Iloilo and perhaps even beyond. Iloilo International Airport A little more than five years old, the Iloilo International Airpor t is among the most modern and beautiful in the country today. It is situated around 20 kilometers from Iloilo City , straddling the towns of Cabatuan, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara . It has direct links to Manila, Cebu, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro  and Puerto Princesa plus international destinations Hong Kong and Singapore . Among the first hurdles tourists will have to contend is the distance that translates to expensive fare when traveling to and from this airp...

Connie Carillo Diversified Farm in Bingawan: Helping Sustaining a Healthy Community Through Farm Schools

The area around the town of Bingawan, the edge of the central portion of the province is where it ends and the town of Tapaz, Capiz province begins and is very much another unsung corner of Iloilo with warm, friendly, welcoming people. Bingawan has some rich farming land and farming is at the heart of its village life. The landscapes are gorgeous here; with gentle pastures, to the high mountains. The area offers some beautiful hikes and bike trails across its lovely rolling meadows, woodland and a few working farms. The town would be less touristic than its neighboring towns but is well worth exploring. If you are concerned about how organic can contribute to benefit our shared environment, promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved, then a trip to Connie Carillo Diversified Farm is for you. With the governments’ efforts to improve the knowledge and technical skills of the farmers, the Connie Carillo Diversified Fa...

St. Joseph Chapel at Festive Walk Iloilo's The Deck

While most malls around the country host Sunday masses in some obscure hallway filled with plastic chairs with a makeshift altar, some malls have built niches or transformed unused spaces into places of worship. And Ilonggos should be proud that one of the newest malls in Iloilo City has actually a chapel located in a prime spot and one that boasts both beauty and serenity.  The St. Joseph Chapel at Festive Walk Iloilo is located in one of its al fresco areas known as The Deck located  at the 3rd level. While this open air area also has a mini plaza and dog park (and soon - cafes and restaurants) it is the chapel that highlights this al fresco part of the mall. Eucharistic mass services are held every Sunday at 11am while first Friday masses at 5pm.  It is open to the public everyday for personal moments of silence and solitude. The Deck and everything in it is open from 10am to 10pm with the entrance located betwee...