Apung Victor effect in Dubai: Inside Filipino restaurant success

Bianca Lumibao is the owner of Apung Victor Sizzling Special in Dubai. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

When Bianca Lumibao laughs, it is easy to see why people say she resembles singer Yeng Constantino. The comparison comes up early in our Expat Media interview, drawing a shy smile from the 32-year-old restaurateur. But beyond the lighthearted moment is a story defined not by resemblance, but by resilience.

In Dubai’s ever-busy Satwa district, Bianca has built something deeply personal. Her flagship restaurant, Apung Victor Sizzling Special, is more than a dining spot. It is a tribute to family, heritage, and the long journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurship.

The young restaurateur started Apung Victor with just six tables. Now, it has grown into five restaurants across Dubai, with franchise offers in the pipeline.

Who, or what is Apung Victor? The name Apung Victor carries both cultural and emotional weight, Bianca explains. “In Kapampangan, ‘Apung’ means grandfather. It represents something traditional,” she tells Expat Media in her first media interview. “Victor is my father’s name and it also means victory.”

Although the family is originally from Tarlac City, north of Pampanga, they share Kapampangan roots, known across the Philippines for bold flavours and culinary pride.

Her father, fondly called Tatang Victor, runs his own ice cream business in the Philippines. His influence is unmistakable in Bianca’s restaurant. “Our halo-halo is inspired by his ice cream and secret ingredients,” she says.

Naming the restaurant after him was a moment of pride for the family. “He was happy we brought Kapampangan flavours to the UAE,” Bianca adds.

From small start to glow-up

Apung Victor’s journey did not begin in Satwa. The business first operated under a different name in a hotel in Deira, but the concept did not gain traction.

Bianca regrouped, studied the market, and made a strategic move. “I realized Satwa was the best location, especially for Filipino diners,” she says.

When Apung Victor opened in Satwa in 2023, it started modestly with just six tables. What followed was something few could have predicted. “We had long queues immediately,” Bianca recalls. “Even when we added more tables, it was still full.”

Less than a year later, the demand led to expansion. Today, Apung Victor operates a larger, two-storey restaurant at the corner of Manila Building in Satwa. It also opened a restaurant near the Burjuman Metro Station and two more restaurants in Kings Park Hotel, Al Muraqqabat.

At the heart of Apung Victor is a clear mission: make authentic Filipino food accessible. “Our concept is to make Filipino food affordable for working Filipinos here,” Bianca says.

Apung Victor is a true family-run operation. Bianca oversees operations. Her brother, Bryan, is the head chef and the creative force behind the menu. Their mother ensures the quality of their popular halo-halo, while an aunt manages production of their Dh1 isaw, one of their best sellers. A younger sibling helps run the cashier.

Bryan says: “When Bianca visited me in the Philippines, I cooked for her and that’s when the idea of opening a restaurant started. I curated the menu from scratch, from costing to cooking techniques. I didn’t have formal training, but I learned through online tutorials. Seeing how far we’ve come, I am proud. Our food brings people back.”

Bianca means business

Bianca’s entrepreneurial spirit began early. At 15, she was already selling skewered meat and running a small sari-sari store in the Philippines.

At 19, just after graduating a two-year Computer Programming course in college, she moved to the UAE with a clear goal: help her mother, who was working as a nanny. “I saw her cleaning cars, too. It made me cry,” Bianca recalls. “I told her I would help her.”

Her determination paid off quickly. On her second day in the UAE, she secured a job as an assistant secretary in an oil and gas company. “That job changed me,” she says. “I gained confidence and communication skills.”

She eventually ventured into the restaurant business, a pivot that gave her pride and purpose. With Apung Victor, Bianca measures success not just in profits. She recalls moments when customers could only afford the simplest meals. “When we see someone eating just isaw and rice, we quietly give them a free serving of bulalo,” she says. “We tell them not to be embarrassed.”

This sense of community extends beyond the restaurant. Apung Victor also supports church events, including catering for large gatherings. “Our biggest was serving 800 people.”

Looking ahead, Bianca’s vision is clear. She wants Apung Victor to grow beyond Dubai. “I want to open it to franchisees,” she says. “I want to create more Filipino entrepreneurs.”