in her words

CHEF MARGARITA FORÉS looks back on her journey as a woman in the kitchen

- MARK NICDAO

For celebrated chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés, food has always been more than sustenance; it has been a vehicle for transformation, leadership, and breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry.

Before her passing, Forés prepared a speech for SM Supermall’s “Inspiring Women, Inspiring Women” Summit this year's International Women's Day. She reflected on her journey, which began with uncertainty on the streets of Florence in 1986 and later led to a career that redefined the culinary landscape in the Philippines. In her speech, she recalled the women who mentored her, the challenges she faced, and how food became her tool for empowerment and change.—Daphne Sagun

Good afternoon, everyone.

I remember a moment in September 1986 as though it was yesterday. I was 27 years old, standing outside the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence with a suitcase in hand, feeling the crisp autumn air and wondering what lay ahead. I had traveled halfway across the world, unsure if I had the courage or skill to take on what I'd set out to do.

At that time, I didn’t realize that stepping into the unknown was an act of empowerment in itself—a declaration that I was willing to pursue my passion, even without knowing where it would lead me.