Meet Jael Francisco | Entrepreneur and Cookie Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jael Francisco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jael, how do you think about risk?
Risk has definitely played a big role in my life and career. Ever since I was young, I was always taught to play things safe. Go to school, get good grades, go to a nice college, graduate and get a great paying job. I never really took any risks, and I always tried to follow this “ladder” that society teaches us. After working in the corporate field of sales and marketing, I struggled with finding a career that I was truly passionate about. It was only until I started my own business that I then realized what truly made me happy and what I could still make a living out of. This was one of the biggest risks I took in my life. Stepping away from a stable job to transitioning into a leap of faith and starting my own business. Looking back at it now 2 years ago, it was the best decision I ever made. I look back at my life now too, and I realized that life is all about taking risks. There were so many opportunities I wish I had taken and pursued. It may have led to other moments of happiness, unexpected paths and other areas of success and adventure. The great news is, once you realize your potential and what your capabilities are, risks tend to be not so scary after all.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a home-based, Filipino Shortbread cookie business. I make them from my home kitchen and I sell them at local farmers markets, online, through street fairs and local festivals. What sets us apart from other cookie vendors is that we are not your typical cookie vendor. The shortbread cookies, otherwise known as “polvoron,” are a type of Filipino shortbread dessert that is much softer than other shortbread and it’s soft texture crumbles and melts in your mouth as you eat them. They are deliciously soft, buttery and come in a wide assortment of flavors. We’re excited about bringing more and more exposure of our product to the masses and having everyone try this delicious treat.

It wasn’t easy getting to where we are today. We started playing with different ingredients, recipes and it took awhile till we had our “aha!” moment. We had to navigate through coming out with a delicious product, while working the logistics of branding, marketing, packagaing and other things. It took some time but we were able to get through it.

So far we’ve learned that in order to be successful you must take risks, and you have to be able to have a winning product and effective promotion to get it out to the masses. This is something we are still working on and will be continuing to work on as we move forward. There will be hurdles and growing pains, but it’s all a part of the business side of things and sacrifices must be made in order to be successful.

My goal is to make polvoron a household name and make it as popular as the traditional cookie is. I know how delicious it is, and I’ve always grown up with it being my favorite Filipino dessert. I just want the rest of the world to know and experience how delicious and unique it is too!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to places like Coronado, Old town, Balboa park, and the Gaslamp. These are mainly touristy areas, but they have so much history and they are all in all great places to relax, sight see and tell great stories about. Some of the most fun places I like to go to in the city would be Mt. Soledad in La Jolla. This place has an awesome view of San Diego and you are near the beach. It’s a relaxing place to soak in a great view of our city. In regards of places to eat, I would take them to some of my favorite Taco shops in San Diego. After all, that’s they type of food we’re known for right? Places like Rigoberto’s and Tacos El Gordo have always had some of the best Mexican food I’ve tasted.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to my dad. He taught me the true meaning of hard work and how to start a business. When I was young, he took me along to work beside him in his line of work. It wasn’t easy and in fact I hated it, but as I grew older I realized all the valuable things he taught me. How to make a living by working for yourself, going the unconventional route and making decisions on your own, treating people the same way you would want them to treat you, and so on. There were so many life values and things I learned from him. He is also one of the major reasons I started my own business, as he introduced me to the product I make and sell today.

Website: www.papaspolvoron.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papaspolvoron/

Twitter: @papaspolvoron

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papaspolvoron/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/papas-polvoron-chula-vista

Image Credits
Junemy Pantig