GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Jo-Ann’s Bakeshop second generation owner Anabella Kho Noel detailed the establishment’s 58-year baking history and expansion into Sarangani province during the third episode of the podcast “SOX On The Spot.”
Hosted by Genory Vanz Alfasain, also known as Yadu Karu, and Harlem Jude Ferolino, who goes by Papa Lem, the episode examines how the General Santos landmark has preserved its traditional baking methods since opening in 1968, the year General Santos achieved cityhood.
During the program, Noel highlighted the bakery's traditional pugon brick ovens, constructed in the 1970s by artisans from Iloilo. Fired by wood, the masonry structures provide superior heat insulation, impart a natural aroma to the bread. It survived strong earthquakes like the magnitude 7.8 earthquake last June without structural damage.
The bakeshop maintains a commitment to natural ingredients, avoiding artificial colorings and flavorings while prioritizing local sourcing, such as using regional coconut sugar in its piyaya.
Popular menu items include pagong bread, commonly paired with milk, as well as siopao, muffins, and starbread.
Marking a major business milestone, the enterprise recently opened its first physical branch outside General Santos in neighboring Alabel, Sarangani.
The feature is part of the “SOX On The Spot” podcast series, which covers local business, culture, and community developments across Region 12. The show is distributed on major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
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