AT CZACZACZA CAFE, EVERY BITE TELLS A STORY

At the corner of Mayor Juan Chanyungco St. and Sparrow St. in Marikina once stood a small RTW shop—unassuming, yet brimming with potential in the eyes of two chefs in love.

- LAI S. REYES

For seven years, Czarina and Marvin Sevilla dreamed of opening a café in that very spot. Then, one afternoon, the opportunity appeared in the form of a simple sign: For Rent.

"It felt surreal," Czarina recalls. "The moment I saw the sign, I called the lessor right away. I told him our story and how we had prayed for this exact moment."

The lessor hesitated. The young couple seemed too inexperienced to run a café—or to manage the rent. But their sincerity won him over. When he learned Czarina was the mind behind Avocadoria, a brand beloved for its clever, health-conscious offerings, his doubts vanished. They were ready.

FROM HOPE TO HOME

With the lease secured, the couple poured their hearts into bringing their vision to life. What drew them to the corner wasn't just intuition—it was community. Surrounded by schools and steps from Marikina City Hall, the location was perfect for a neighborhood café: students stopping by after class, government employees enjoying a quick coffee break, families unwinding after long days.

They had imagined it all for years—the hum of conversations, the aroma of pastries baking, the comforting rhythm of a space built on warmth and good food.