How Ms. Polly’s Cakes became a gas station sensation

MANILA, Philippines – Polly Garilao was a full-time, stay-at-home mother of two seeking financial independence when the idea of selling cakes came to her in the 1980s.

“It didn’t seem right for me to be 100% financially dependent on my husband,” Polly — the founder of Ms. Polly’s Specialty Cakes — told Rappler.

“After staying home for a while, it didn’t feel right for me, so I needed to think of ways to earn my keep — and it had to be something I enjoyed doing as well,” she said. That turned out to be baking.

Just like her pastries, Polly’s journey began from scratch. She measured, mixed, baked, and frosted with care before hopping into her blue Volkswagen to personally deliver her creations to friends. Shortly after, her chocolate cakes and confections found their way to restaurants’ dessert menus.

So, how did Polly’s Cakes become a beloved household staple only sold at a Makati City gas station?

Fueling cravings

Unlike the traditional bakery or home-based setup, Polly was “accidentally intentional” in making her cakes available only on the shelves of Shell’s Magallanes branch.

The idea came to her after returning to the Philippines from a year in the US, where her husband took up a mid-career program. They had just settled into a new home in Parañaque City.

Having to travel south everyday, Polly noticed a small convenience store right in the Shell Magallanes complex. It was called Bad Habit.

“It was a little store crammed with so many well-curated things to eat. I saw a constant stream of people coming in and out of it. Having moved to a new area and just restarting my business, I saw an opportunity there,” she said. She offered cake samples to Bad Habit’s owner, who liked it and sold it immediately at her store.

“It was a great business relationship we had. Totally flawless and mutually beneficial,” Polly shared.

Eventually, Shell opened its Select shops and Bad Habit became a Shell Select. “I really did not precisely pick a gas station to be my outlet. The universe did,” she added. This became the first outlet of Polly’s Cakes, and remained to be so for decades to come.

“Its location was best for me and the product. Because it was close to home and always along our way to and from Makati, it was very easy for me to oversee handling and, most importantly, to maintain a stock level that allowed cakes to be sold while they were fresh,” Polly said. This “edge” contributed greatly to the success of Polly’s Cakes through the years.

It was to many patrons’ sadness that Polly’s Cakes announced its Shell Magallanes closure last August 7, after over 30 years there. The entire Shell Magallanes complex had to be shut down for renovation, according to Polly, who is also sorry for her clients who “lost the convenience” it offered.

Filling her own tank

As Polly’s popularity grew, loved ones urged her to open her own outlet or coffee shop. But for her, that was never the goal — she was happy with the financial independence her business provided.

“I was content and still am content with whatever this business gives me. From the beginning I knew that I never wanted it to consume my time and energy. Perhaps subconsciously I felt there were other things I wanted to do for myself besides baking,” she said. True enough, in 1994, when her business had gained some stability, she felt like there was something else she wanted to do with her life: counseling.

Polly found another purpose beyond baking when she enrolled in the Diploma Program at Ateneo de Manila University’s Center for Family Ministries or CEFAM. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in pastoral ministry with a focus on marital and family counseling. For over a decade, she served as a staff counselor at CEFAM, and though she eventually retired, Polly still gives talks for the Cana Program.

Polly has been guiding young women considering religious life, helping them better understand themselves to make clearer, more informed life choices. “Pastoral work brings so much meaning to my life. Had I opened a coffee shop or opened more outlets, I would not have been able to do what I do today,” she said.

Both pastoral work and running Polly’s Cakes have taught Polly invaluable life lessons. “One is to follow your heart. Two, patience. Three, working one’s way through situations when ‘things fall into the cracks’ with calm, sincerity, and truth,” she said.

“Sometimes I still fail with the calm part,” she quipped.

The values Polly learned from baking have shaped her life and her business philosophy. The Tree of Life logo, inspired by her counseling days, symbolizes the joy, comfort, and growth she hopes her products bring to her customers, her staff, and her family.

Gearing up for the future

What’s next for Polly’s Cakes? In the same month of its Magallanes closure, the family-run business opened two new branches at Shell BGC and Shell Heritage, Taguig City. Why stick with gas stations?

“Because the business model that evolved with Magallanes Shell Select was so good for both of us that I am willing to try and duplicate it with another. I hope it works,” Polly said.

Aside from the recent expansion, Polly admits she’s “never seriously planned the next step” throughout her over 40 years in business. “I’ve always followed where opportunities aligned with my instincts. At the end of the day, I always say, ‘Everything is grace.'”

She’s also proud of her children, who have carved out their own successful careers. “If they choose to get involved and help the business grow, that’s up to them. I’ve never imposed anything on them, just as no one ever imposed on my life.”

Polly remains hopeful about the future, with two new locations marking a fresh start. But what excites her most is reconnecting with the loyal clients who have supported her for decades.

“Over the years, I’ve been mostly invisible to the majority of our customers, so it always brings me immense joy to meet people who say, ‘I’ve been enjoying your cakes since I was 8 years old!’ Now, many of them have children of their own and continue to buy our cakes.”

“Sometimes, I meet people who are thrilled to finally meet the person behind the Magallanes Chocolate Cake. Those moments are truly precious,” she added.

While Polly’s Cakes may no longer be a Shell Magallanes fixture, it continues to be a fixture in the hearts of loyal patrons and families across the city — and to Polly, that is more than enough. – Rappler.com

Ms. Polly’s Specialty Cakes can also be ordered for pickup from its commissary in Merville, Parañaque City, via 8824-7612 or 0920-9088002.