In a moving tribute to the resilience of the overseas Filipino spirit, Maria Paz Banaag-Marquez was presented with a Special Award at the Global Filipino Icon Awards 2026 tonight. Her journey from a domestic worker scrubbing floors to the owner of a nine-branch bakery empire, Maria Paz–Pastry & Café, stands as a testament to the power of “tiis” (endurance) and a mother’s unwavering love.
Maria Paz arrived in Dubai driven by the same necessity as millions of other Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). However, her motivation was deeply personal. Her daughter, Jamaica Mae, was born with multiple disabilities, and Maria knew that only extraordinary effort could secure her child’s future.
After years of domestic labor, Maria took a leap of faith in December 2021, opening a modest bakery. In just four years, that single shop has flourished into a nine-branch success story across the United Arab Emirates. “Tiis lang, basta kaya ang trabaho, gawin ang trabaho (Just endure; as long as you can do the work, do it),” Maria shared during the ceremony. “I believe that goodness always comes back twofold.”
The cornerstone of Maria Paz–Pastry & Café is her signature Filipino-style cheesecake. Freshly baked and free of preservatives, the recipe is a deliberate nod to the “simple Pinay” heritage.
The bakery’s rapid expansion is attributed to:
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Authenticity: Preservative-free, homemade recipes that evoke nostalgia.
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Integrity: A business model built on honesty and kindness toward customers and staff.
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Community: Providing a “comfort hub” for Filipinos to ease the pangs of homesickness.
Beyond the balance sheets and the sold-out batches of pastries, Maria’s story serves as a roadmap for others. Her transition from service work to entrepreneurship proves that humble beginnings do not define one’s destination.
“Her success isn’t just about baking; it’s about the love put into every batch,” noted the awards committee. “She has turned the toughest of beginnings into something truly sweet for the entire OFW community.”
