Marlon Canaway poses with his ice cream making machine at Six Angels Ice Cream Shop in Mandaluyong City on April 18, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

When one thinks of Filipino ice cream, what comes to mind is the "dirty ice cream," the sorbetes or native ice cream peddled on the streets by colorful carts.

Every detail of that description is true, except for the infamous tag.

For Marlon Canaway, the moniker should be dropped.

"Yung ating ice cream ay napakalinis naman talaga. Kasi tinitiyak natin ang kalinisan, kasi unang-una, ang kumakain po niyan ay mga anak ko, pamilya ko at publiko. At saka siyempre ayaw naman din natin gumawa ng hindi malinis kasi kapag nagkaroon ng problema sa labas, e tayo rin ang mamo-mroblema diyan, tayo rin ang sasagot, tayo rin ang masisira sa tao. Kaya dapat ang ating pagkain ay malinis talaga," said Canaway.

(Our ice cream is really very clean. The reason why we make sure it is clean is because my own children, my family, and the public are the consumers. And of course who would not want to make a clean product? If we don't, the same problem will come back to us and will create a bigger problem. So foremost is that it has to be clean.)

The 50-year old owner of Six Angels Ice Cream Shop in Mandaluyong City overcame obstacles himself before tasting success.

From being a “probinsyano” from Masbate province turned OFW, Canaway started his backyard traditional ice cream manufacturing shop that has grown to be a popular brand in the streets of Mandaluyong and San Juan.

Workers process the ice cream at Six Angels Ice Cream Shop that will be sold around the streets of Mandaluyong and San Juan. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Canaway narrated, "Ang simula ko sa ice cream, simula sa probinsya. Siyempre dala ng kahirapan napadpad ako ng Maynila, tapos may nakilala akong nagtitinda ng ice cream. Nagtinda po ako ng ice cream, hanggang sa natutunan ko ang paraan ng paggawa, paano gawin itong ice cream."

(The story of my ice cream business started in the province. To escape poverty I tried my luck in Manila. It was there where I met an ice cream vendor and eventually I became one. Eventually I learned the process of making ice cream.)

"Tapos habang nag-aaral ako, inalam ko talaga itong paggawa ng ice cream kasi sabi ko may potensyal ako dito, balang araw sana magkaroon ako ng ganito. Kaya nung nakapag-aral ako, nag-abroad ako, pagkagaling kong abroad, nagtayo ako ng maliit na ice-creaman. Hanggang sa umabot ng ganito," he added.

(I went into it seriously because I said I have a future here, I wished that someday I would own one. So after finishing school I was able to work abroad, and when I finally came back I immediately put up a small ice cream house until eventually it grew.)

BUSINESS SECRET

Marlon Canaway (2nd right) poses with some of his Ice cream vendors and carts at the Six Angels Ice Cream Shop in Mandaluyong City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

The ice cream house gets its inspiration from Canaway's own six children, hence Six Angels. He now has 14 carts roaming the streets from his shop in Mandaluyong.

According to Canaway, amid the rising summer heat temperature in the country, his ice cream business breathes life not only to his family but to everyone in the community.

“Sa sobrang init ng panahon ngayon, kapag kumain ka ng ice cream, kahit papaano, yung katawan mo mapapasukan ng malamig kaya nakakabawas talaga ng init sa panahon natin ngayon,” said Canaway.

(With the extreme heat nowadays, having ice cream somehow gives you a feeling of relief after eating it.)

He also shares some of his business secrets for success for all aspiring entrepreneurs planning to enter the ice cream-making industry.

A vendor of Six Angels Ice Cream serves customers looking to beat the heat with a cone of ice cream in Mandaluyong. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

He said the process of making one is really simple, but the real secret is making everybody involved, from the production to selling, happy.

“Sa ngayon, mataas ang kita ng negosyo kasi mainit talaga kaya kumikita kami, kumikita ang mga sorbetero ko. Lahat kami masaya,” Canaway exclaimed.

(Now that the weather is really hot, business is really good. Our vendors are also making money, so everyone is happy.)

Canaway said that while making his business profitable by maximizing the high heat index, he makes sure that his resellers are safe in selling his products by means of keeping them hydrated and taking extra precautionary measures.

“Tinitiyak natin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga sorbetero na naglalako sa kalsada lalo ngayon na napakainit ng panahon ngayon. Kaya mayroon silang mga payong para kahit papaano may proteksyon sila sa init.”

(We make sure of their safety first especially in this hot weather. Every cart has its umbrella so that they get some protection at least.)

From being called "dirty ice cream" to now providing livelihood for many people, Canaway said nothing tastes better than the cool, sweet taste of success, just like his ice cream.