MANILA, Philippines – In a small kitchen in Bohol, the smell of freshly-baked bread fills the air, but it’s not just any bread — these loaves by Cebu City native Marlo Lidot are his personal works of art.
Lidot has cultivated his brand of artistry, merging his love for baking with a passion for portraiture.
The skilled artisan baker is known for his handcrafted bread portraits of celebrities and political figures; whether it’s a tribute to Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo or internet star Ivana Alawi, each of Marlo’s creations captures both the likeness and emotion of customers’ idols on a canvas of dough.
Never been more bread-y
Lidot’s love for baking started in 2010, after learning the basics of bread making. According to Lidot, he began to “improve” when he took BS Industrial Technology, major in Food Preparation and Services Technology in 2013 at Cebu Technological University.
It was during his internship at Radisson Blu’s kitchen in 2015 that he discovered his pastry niche, jumpstarting nearly a decade of work in five-star hotels across Cebu and Central Visayas, including prestigious pre-openings.
“It’s been almost 10 years in the field,” Lidot told Rappler with pride, who moved abroad in the pandemic to pursue his international career.
However, like many, the pandemic brought unexpected challenges. In February 2020, Lidot’s international career as a pastry chef was halted.
“The opportunity I had been waiting for had been closed. How do I survive during the global crisis when establishments in the hospitality field were closing?” he asked himself.
Stuck at home, feeling anxious, and unsure of the future, Marlo returned home to Bohol and channeled his energy into something new.
“It was during the quarantine when I figured out the artistic and unique concept of creating bread arts and portraits,” he said.
With only basic home equipment — a small home oven and manual tools — Marlo meticulously began crafting his bread portraits and bringing them to life. Maximizing the materials to execute the process with the same result in proper standards, he said that despite the struggles, his “passion led to the success of being creative.”
Love in every loaf
Each bread portrait takes Lidot a minimum of two hours to complete, though more intricate designs, such as his portrait of Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo, can take up to three hours.
“My message is that I hope to meet Carlos Yulo and give tribute to his resilience, Filipino dedication, and pride,” Marlo said. He has also created bread art of Chloe San Jose, Antonette Gail, Whamoscruz, and other online influencers.
Marlo’s craft extends beyond celebrities, to include political figures like Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte, Leni Robredo, and Manny Pacquiao, among others. Each portrait is customizable, making his work popular as gifts or party giveaways. Customers can request portraits of their favorite NBA player, singer, or even loved ones, pets, logos, and nature scenes.
No matter the subject, Marlo puts the same level of care and precision into every loaf.
Lidot blends European-style bread with a Filipino twist to keep his creations of premium standard and symbolic of Filipino culture. The ordering process requires at least a two-day lead time before the exact delivery or pick-up date.
Lidot’s art has caught the attention of international publications; his works have been featured in the UK-based Mini Bakers and Cakes and Sugarcraft Magazine and in The Global Filipino Magazine in the UAE just this September. Lidot has even made his way to WGN Chicago News!
“My proud achievements were unexpected — bringing a Filipino name to an international food magazine in the UK and UAE!” he shared.
Despite the recognition, Lidot admits that the road hasn’t been easy. “My initial struggles during my online selling are the area and equipment. Running my business solo during the pandemic, I handle everything from production to marketing,” he said.
With a small setup that can only handle five productions a day due to limited resources, Lidot is at a crossroads in his business: declining mass orders while preparing for his dream of opening a bakery in the Chocolate Hills of Bohol soon.
“I still don’t have a proper bakery and pastry equipment. I am using manual kneading of the dough during production,” he shared. Still, Marlo’s perseverance is paying off.
“My plans are to continue what has been started and do what is needed to improve and inspire more Filipinos, especially our pastry and bakery chefs,” he said. For Lidot, there are no limits to what one can achieve; only possibilities.
“Integrity, discipline, humbleness, and prayers are the keys to every success,” he said.
Lidot’s journey is more than just the craft of baking; it’s a testament to a hardworking Filipino baker’s resilience, boundless creativity, and deep love and pride for his country. With creations that are both satisfying to the tummy and pleasing to the eye, Lidot continues to leave an edible mark both in the local and global scene. – Rappler.com
