Ate Tess of JT Restaurant Wins City's Award for Excellent Small Business

On the last day of April 2019, our beloved Ate Tess of JT Restaurant received a Certificate of Honor from D6 Supervisor @matthaneysffor excellent small businesses in the City. Her food is the soul of our cultural district! Stop by her spot at 953 Mission Street, and check out more photos below, and don’t miss her recipe for giniling na baka at https://bit.ly/2TyfWgS

Tita Tet: First of all, congratulations.

Tita: Tess: Thank you!

Tita Tet: Malaking karangalan ito sa SOMA Pilipinas. Bilang Pilipino. So, sa tingin ninyo, ano yung kahalagahan ng award na ito bilang isang Pilipino… unang Pilipino na makahunan ng award na ito ng [Small] Business Honoree Award?

Tita Tess: Sa totoo lang, napakalaki talaga. Kasi, sa dinami daming ng negosyo dito sa America, na pili ako, isa ko sa na pili and, napakasaya ako kasi ito ang pinapakitang na tayong Pilipino kaya nating lumaban. Uhh and then, alam nila na magaling tayo mag trabaho. And pag tayo nag trabaho, galing sa puso. And, masaya ko. Of course, dahil hindi ko akalain na makukuha ko ulit ng award na to. So tinawagan ako, hindi ako mapaniwala na ako yung bibigyan ulit ng award. So, sabi ko sa sarili ko, “I deserve this, kasi, I work hard.” Alam ng Dios yan. Kung paano ko mag trabaho. Right?

Tita Tet: Sa tingin ninyo, ano halaganito? Anong ibig sabihin itong award na ito sa negosyo ninyo?

Tita Tess: Uhh, ang ibig sabihin ito, maraming tumatangkili sa negosyo ko. And then, hindi lang basta negosyo doon eh. Kasama yung puso. Kasama yung pakikisama. Sa kapwa natin, kahit sa ibang lahi. Kung bakit, andito parin ako. Alam nila, na totoo kong tao ko. Yun ang isang secreto. And, pag galing sa puso, lahat magagawa mo. In God… number one siya. Tapos pakikisama. Yung ang “the best.”

Tita Tet: Sa tingin ninyo, bilang sa lahat sa inyo sa negosyo… ano naman ng halaga nito dito mismo sa district… ng District 6 ng SOMA Pilipinas? Ano halaga nito sa tingin ninyo?

Tita Tess: At least napatunayan ko na kaya natin ilaban na District 6. Na may pagkakaisa tayo. Yung ang kailangan natin, eh. Para mabuo ang SOMA Pilipinas, andito lang ako. Kung kailangan nyo ako, just call me and I’ll be there. With all my heart.

Tita Tet: First of all, congratulations.

Tita: Tess: Thank you!

Tita Tet: This is a great honor for SOMA Philippines. As a Pilipino. So, what do you think is the importance of this award as a Filipino ... the first Filipino who will be awarded this [Small] Business Honoree Award?

Tita Tess: Actually, it's really great. As a matter of business in America, I choose one of my favorites and I am very happy because it shows that we as Filipinos can fight. Uhh and then, they know we're good at our work. And when we work, it is from the heart. And, I'm happy. Of course, because I did not think I could get the award again. So I called, I could not believe that I'll be awarded again. So, I said to myself, "I deserve this, because, I work hard." God knows how I work… right?

Tita Tet: What do you think about it? What does this award mean for your business?

Tita Tess: Uhh, this means that there is a lot of adoration for my business. And then, it’s not just business there. It includes the heart. It includes the struggle of the communities. To all of us, even in other races. Why, here I am. They know, that I am a real and true person. That is one of the secrets. And, if it comes from your heart, you can do everything. In God ... he’s number 1. And then, to be with the community. That is the best.

Tita Tet: You think, as everyone in your business ... What is the value of this in the district... of District 6 of SOMA Philippines? What does it matter to you?

Tita Tess: At least I can prove that we can fight District 6. We have a unity. That's what we need, eh. To build SOMA Pilipinas, I'm just here. If you need me, just call me and I'll be there. With all my heart.