Marius and I got to attend the most exciting Kiddie event of the year! When Abi Marquez’s team emailed and invited us to be one of the media partners for Kiddie Kitchen by Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez, my answer was instant: OO AGAD!

Syempre as a mom, I always get excited about events where kids can learn, explore, and enjoy something meaningful outside the usual school or play setup. But this one felt extra special because it combined three things I personally love: kids, food, and Filipino culture. Of course, it was Abi Marquez. For a mommy influencer and creator like me, it felt extra special to be in the same room with someone who has become such a big name in the food and creator community. Medyo surreal, honestly — one of those moments na mapapasabi ka na lang, “Wow, I’m really here.”

Kiddie Kitchen is not just a cooking activity. It is a hands-on experience where kids get to touch ingredients, make their own food, listen to stories behind familiar Filipino snacks, and build confidence in the kitchen. Abi shared during our interview that this was already their second Kiddie Kitchen, and every event teaches them something new.

Kiddie Kitchen by Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez

The event started with registration, and from there pa lang, you could already feel the excitement. The venue was filled with booths and treats from different partners, making it fun not only for the kids but also for parents and guests. After registering, we were able to roam around the area and visit the sponsors’ booths.

Casa Italianos, the pizza sponsor, had a generous food spread and also provided the pizza dough used by the kids later in the program. Nutribullet served refreshing no-sugar fruit juices and shakes. Kreative Nook Manila prepared personalized bags with the kids’ names and cute fruits and vegetables designs. Soju Craft Lab had personalized bag chains, while Bricks and Memories added more fun with personalized Lego-style keychains. There were also booths and treats from brands like Croquembouche Factory, Kadto, and many more, making the whole area feel like one big family-friendly food and activity fair. Parang Pinoy Fiesta ang dating ba.

One of the main highlights of the program was when Abi surprised the kids with fresh ingredients from Sierreza. Sierreza is a social enterprise from Los Baños, Laguna that supports Filipino farmers and rural communities by buying harvests at fair prices and bringing produce closer to urban consumers. It is also known for helping connect farmers to customers in a more sustainable and community-centered way.   For the kids, this was a simple but important reminder that food does not just come from supermarkets or kitchens. It starts with farmers, soil, harvest, and people who work hard to grow what we eat.

The first dish the kids made was veggie pizza. They got to “shop” for their own ingredients, choose their vegetables, and design their pizzas using the dough provided by Casa Italianos. Ang cute panoorin because each pizza really showed the personality of the child who made it. Some were careful and organized, while others were more playful and creative with their toppings. After they finished assembling their pizzas, the helpers collected them for cooking. Later, the pizzas were placed in boxes so the kids could eat some and bring some home.

Next was palitaw, and this was easily one of the most enjoyable parts for the kids. Tuwang-tuwa sila because the dough felt like clay, so it was like they were playing while cooking. Abi explained why it is called palitaw and showed the kids how it is cooked. When the palitaw floats or “lumitaw,” that means it is ready. It was such a simple but memorable way to teach a Filipino merienda classic.

The last dish was, of course, turon. It was the perfect ending to the cooking session because turon is familiar, hands-on, and very Filipino. The kids were able to experience preparing a snack many of us grew up eating at home, in school, or from our favorite merienda vendors. The turon was already prepared for take-home, making it easier for the children and parents to enjoy after the program.

Throughout the session, Abi gave helpful kitchen tips in a way that kids could easily understand. She taught them how to properly hold a knife, how to choose vegetables, and how to appreciate the ingredients they were using. She also shared trivia about Filipino merienda like palitaw and turon. Hindi lang talaga siya cooking class. It was food appreciation, culture, creativity, and confidence-building in one fun activity.

After cooking, the kids enjoyed the food they made. Some were eaten at the venue, while others were packed for take-home. The pizzas were already in boxes, and the turon was ready for the kids to bring home. As a mom, ang saya makita na proud sila sa sarili nila. They were not just eating food. They were eating something they made with their own hands. Syempre yung turon at pizza inuwi namin for Mathieu.

The program ended with a raffle, plaques for each child, and bags and bags of tokens. Every kid went home with something special, but more than the freebies and prizes, they brought home a new memory: that cooking can be fun, creative, and something they can actually do.

Future of Kiddie Kitchen by Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez

During our short interview, I asked Abi what inspired her to create Kiddie Kitchen for kids. She shared that she has always loved being around children. As an ate to two younger siblings, she grew up making them laugh and playing with them.

Abi also said she sees herself in young kids who are trying their hand at cooking because she herself found her passion for cooking at a very young age. As her content creation career evolved, one of her missions became teaching the next generation how to cook, especially the recipes many of us grew up with.

She shared, “One of those missions is teaching the next generation how to cook, or making sure that they know how to cook the recipes that we grew up with.”

When asked if she plans to include more kids in her content in the near future, Abi answered, “Why not?” She said there are many kids today with great personalities, and even very young creators who are already doing impressive things in the kitchen. She even mentioned how amazing it is to see a 10-year-old cooking dishes she herself might not have done at that age.

Abi also happily shared that she is becoming a tita soon, and she is excited to have a baby at home whom she can cook for. Very tita energy, and honestly, very relatable.

I also asked if there are plans to make Kiddie Kitchen more regional so more kids around the country can experience it. Abi said it would be a great idea and that it is one of her dreams to bring Kiddie Kitchen to regional areas. Since the past Kiddie Kitchen events have been in Manila, she understands that there are also many “kiddie chefs” from other parts of the Philippines who would love to join. For regional versions, she imagined local twists like durian turon or other dishes inspired by the flavors of different places in the Philippines.

Thank You to the Sponsors and Partners

Kiddie Kitchen by Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez was made possible by NYMA and Team Abi. NYMA, which stands for Now You Must Aspire, is a talent agency dedicated to nurturing trailblazers across all media spaces. NYMA provides executive clients with expertise in digital marketing, strategy, consultation, and local representation for international talents. The company’s vision is to be the home of Filipino talents and to bring Filipino entertainment to the world.

RAW Events, RAW Styling, M&M Coordination, Astrafilms, LST Mobile, Alicom, Sierreza, Gabbie Jewelry, Hedley & Bennett, Aruga Apartments by Rockwell, AMU, Awards Central PH, Casa Italianos as the pizza sponsor, Kadto, Rise & Savor Co., Croquembouche Factory, Red Mango, Bricks and Memories, Soju Craft Lab, Kreative Nook Manila, Nutribullet, Flourwinkle, Manong Philippines, OmieLife, Chako Lab, Run It Decks, Lock n Lock, Beaba, allthethingsph_, Tiny Buds, Tough Mama, Flying Tiger, Lorins, Gourmet Farms, Maya, Daiso, Bake Et All, PrintSmith PH, Wannabeads, Oh So Healthy, Celebrate Manila, All The Things, Invito, MOMO Desk PH, Act II, Kidzoona, The Lighthouse Group, EA Graphix, Krispy Kreme, Jireh Food Products, Donewell, R2Z2 Tables and Chairs, Gentcrafts, Robinsons, HAHSY, Tempo, Masflex, Scrub Daddy, Garden Barn, Inc. Housewares – Retail, Brabantia Philippines, Joseph Joseph Philippines, SCANPAN Philippines, Golden Fiesta, Evian, Gourdo’s, Illo’s Prive Catering, SFCO Catering-Makati, Hotdish.ph, Gogdak Chicken, Love On Plate, Andok’s, and Chooks To Go. Each partner helped make the event more memorable for the kids, parents, guests, and media partners through food, gifts, cooking essentials, fun activities, and thoughtful take-home treats.

Follow Abi and NYMA for the Next Kiddie Kitchen

For parents who want their kids to experience a fun and meaningful cooking activity like this, make sure to follow Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez, NYMA, and the official management pages for updates. Who knows? The next Kiddie Kitchen might be bigger, more creative, and hopefully soon, closer to more kids around the Philippines.

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