Pioneering

Introduce yourself!
My name is Bien Dela Cruz, and I’m a senior barista at Chagee in the Philippines, where I’m from! Outside of work, I love to cook and make drinks that people around me will enjoy.

We hear you visited Singapore for a Chagee conference! How did that go?
It went well! I was surprised to receive an award, because only a few of us received it.

Congrats! Was that your first visit to Singapore?
Actually, it’s my second time in Singapore. The first time I came was for training for my job because I’m one of the pioneer baristas in the Chagee Philippines market.

Oh, cool! Was there anything that surprised you about Singapore?
I’m always surprised by how convenient Singapore is in terms of transportation—it’s like every block has a train station (laughs).

True, true! As a foodie, what’s your go-to midnight snack?
Tomi! It’s a type of Filipino corn flavoured chips—it’s my favourite childhood snack (laughs).

We’ve gotta try it someday! How about TV shows? What are some of your recent faves?
When I have free time, I always watch Culinary Class Wars on Netflix. I love being a part of the F&B industry, so seeing the contestants do what they love, and being able to see all of the delicious food they make is very interesting to me.

Is there a superstition you grew up with that you still hold onto today?
It’s not really a superstition, but I like this quote by Sadhguru, a Yogi guru. It says “it doesn’t matter what the stars say, as long as you are living like a human being, you are the master of your life.”

Finally, what are you looking forward to in 2026?
As 2026 begins, I’m excited about what life has in store for me. The past year brought many positive and unexpected developments, especially towards the end of the year. Now, I’m confident that I’m on the right path in both my personal life and career, and I’m really looking forward to all of the opportunities this new year will bring!