This architecture graduate turns pastillas into street food, sushi, other treats

Gone are the days when pastillas can only be enjoyed in balls or sticks. Now, you can now have it shaped as street food like betamax and isaw.

According to Athena Imperial's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, Candy Esmundo's family has always been in the pastillas business. She just thought of putting a new twist to the delicacy.

"In-innovate ko 'yung pagkaing Pinoy sa pastillas. Binigyan ko siya ng art. Di ba lahat naman tayo, nung bata tayo, naglaro tayo ng clay? Sabi ko kung sa clay nahuhulma lahat, why not sa pastillas?" she said.

("I innovated the Pinoy treat pastillas. I applied some art to it. When we were kids, didn't we all play clay? I thought if clay can be shaped, why not pastillas?")

Candy does not only make street food-shaped sweets. She also makes ones that are in the form of sushi, chicken wings, hotdogs, and even dog breeds.

The architecture graduate started selling pastillas in school when she was 22 years old for allowance. It also helped her grow the business as some professors even became her distributors.

Candy now also has distributers and buyers in other parts of the world.

More than earning an extra income, Candy said she wants the business to grow more so she can be an avenue for others to also make a living.

"Meron kaming mga working student, single mother, different professionals na distributor. Gusto ko mas lumaki 'yung business para mas maraming tao ako na mabigyan ng negosyo," she said.

("We have working students, single mothers, different professionals as distributors. I want the business to grow so I can help more people have a business.")

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News