Milk and Tea Roxas: A Family's Perfect Blend
A pandemic, a neighbor's milk tea shop, and a family that built something together. The story of how Milk and Tea Roxas grew from a small shop on Burgos Ilawod to its new home on Hughes Street.
In Hiligaynon, tanyag means to offer, to put forward, to proudly show. At Tanyag Panay, that's what we want to do for the local businesses that make our island feel like home: share their stories so more people get to know them.
This time, we're featuring a shop that many in Roxas City already love. Milk and Tea Roxas is a family business built on courage, hard work and a lot of good food. Four years after opening, it now has a bigger spot near Roxas City Plaza and is getting ready to celebrate its 5th anniversary.
We had the chance to chat with Ruselle Busalla Bahan, who runs the shop with her husband, Armand Dela Cruz Bahan, and their children. She shared how it all began, the people who helped along the way, and what keeps their customers coming back.
A Leap of Faith in the Middle of a Pandemic
Before Milk and Tea Roxas, Ruselle worked as a registrar and cashier at St. Mary's Academy in Lunao, Misamis Oriental. Armand was a salesman for ECE Marketing, a medicine distributor, and his work kept him in the Visayas. Roxas, Capiz was one of his routes.
After five years of distance between them, Ruselle resigned from the school, and in 2013 the family settled for good in Oton, Iloilo.
Then the pandemic came, and with it, a hard question.
"If ever indi gid man matapos ini ang pandemic, tapos isa lang ang may work, dapat may income man ako."
"What if the pandemic never ends, and only one of us has work? I needed to have an income too."
The answer turned out to be right next door. Their neighbor in Oton had opened a new milk tea shop shortly before the pandemic, and Ruselle's family quickly became regulars.
"Manamit gid ya ang burgers, lumpia shanghai, pork siomai kag drinks niya, especially milk tea kag specialty of the house nga frappes."
"Their burgers, lumpia shanghai, pork siomai and drinks were so good, especially the milk tea and the frappes, the specialty of the house."
With Armand's support, Ruselle applied for a franchise from the Milk and Tea mother house in Oton, and they were approved. Milk and Tea Roxas was born.
From a Small Shop to a Bigger Home
Milk and Tea Roxas opened on April 19, 2022, in a small shop on Burgos Ilawod. Ruselle and her children learned to make the food and drinks themselves.
"It's a family business."
Two years in, the store beside them closed, and they took over the space. Before their 3rd anniversary, the shop had already grown. Later, Armand retired early from ECE Marketing after 12 years of service so the couple could run the business together, with help from their children.
This year, two months after their 4th anniversary, they found a new spot for the business. On July 18, 2026, Milk and Tea Roxas moved to Hughes Street, near Roxas City Plaza. The new shop is more spacious, can seat bigger groups, and finally has parking.
"Proud kami nga we are celebrating our 5th anniversary next year. Nagdaku na amon shop, more spacious to accommodate customers, kag damo na kami crew."
"We're proud to be celebrating our 5th anniversary next year. Our shop has grown bigger, with more space for customers and a bigger crew."
The People Behind the Counter
What we love most about Milk and Tea Roxas is that it's run by people who care. Ruselle and Armand lead as owners and managers. Their sons, Allen Benedict and John Laurence, supervise the kitchen crew and the drinks area, and both also take turns at the cashier. Joshua and Bon work the drinks area, while Lyka Angelene and Tricia keep the kitchen running.
Ruselle looks after every corner of the shop herself.
"Alagang-alaga ko ang shop, especially sa dining kag kitchen."
"I take really good care of the shop, especially the dining area and the kitchen."
Customers notice. According to Ruselle, the compliments they hear most are about the taste of the burgers and drinks, the service, and the cozy dining area.
What to Try
First time? Start with their homemade chicken burger, made with breast fillet. The Deluxe comes with bacon and cheese. Pair it with a frappe, the specialty of the house, like the Mango Cheesecake or Biscoff Frappe Crunch. Craving breakfast at any hour? Their all-day breakfast best-sellers include Chicken ala King and Beef Tapa.
A Word of Thanks From Ruselle
When we asked Ruselle about her journey, she made sure to thank the people who made it possible.
To God, first of all.
To her mother, who taught her how to run a business.
"Mama ko nga nag-brought up sa akon paano mag-business."
"My mother, who raised me to know how to do business."
To her husband, Armand, who supports every decision she makes for the business and wears many hats along the way.
"Husband ko nga gasuporta sa akon sa tanan nga desisyon ko para sa business namon, especially sa dining kag kitchen, kag pagiging driver, panday, electrician, kag kung ano-ano pa."
"My husband, who supports all my decisions for our business, especially in the dining area and kitchen, and who is also our driver, carpenter, electrician and so much more."
To her children, especially Kuya Allen Benedict and Kuya John Laurence, who help her and back everything she wants for the business, especially the menu.
To her crew, for following her rules and showing respect since day one: Rheine, Jaypee, Spike, Ronald, Judy Ann, Lyka Angelene, Tricia, Bon and Joshua.
To Gerald Yanger Ledesma, owner of Milk and Tea, who accepted their franchise application and gave them the chance to start.
"Dako gid nga salamat sa owner sang Milk and Tea nga si Gerald Yanger Ledesma, nga nag-accept sa amon application for franchising kag gin-hatagan kami sang chance para maka-franchise, kay indi gid tanan nga ga-apply ginahatagan niya."
"A big thank you to the owner of Milk and Tea, Gerald Yanger Ledesma, who accepted our franchise application and gave us the chance to open a franchise, because he doesn't give that chance to everyone who applies."
Ruselle's Advice for Anyone Starting a Business
We asked Ruselle what she would tell people who are planning to start a business, or who are just getting started. Her answer comes down to a few things she lives by every day.
Believe in yourself first. Before anything else, trust yourself and the plan you're building your livelihood on.
"Dapat una may salig gid ikaw sa kaugalingon mo, sa ginaplano mo kag sa ginasudlan mo nga pangabuhi."
"First, you need to believe in yourself, in what you're planning, and in the livelihood you're stepping into."
Ask God for guidance. She leans on her faith and asks God to guide her plans.
Be patient with the daily grind. Sales won't always be the same every day. Patience keeps you going.
Respect your team. For Ruselle, your relationship with the people you work with matters just as much as the business itself.
"Dapat ikaw may respeto man sa ila para irespeto man nila ikaw."
"You have to respect them so they will respect you too."
Most of all, be hands-on and love what you do.
"Ang pinaka-importante, hands-on ikaw sa imo negosyo. Isa ikaw sa magatrabaho, indi ang sige lang sugo sa mga crew mo, kag mahal mo gid ang imo ginaobra."
"The most important thing is to be hands-on in your business. Be one of the people doing the work, not someone who just keeps giving orders to the crew, and truly love what you do."
From Tanyag Panay to Milk & Tea Roxas
Ruselle's story stayed with us long after our chat. So we made something for the Milk and Tea Roxas team, inspired by everything she shared: an animated version of their M&T logo, our thank-you for letting us tell their story.
Ruselle,
Every pearl was meant to land in the cup, but one hit the rim and spilled out. It wasn't its fault, and it wasn't in its control. It fell, it bounced, it fell again, and it kept going.
And when it finally landed, it grew into the circle that now holds the name Milk & Tea.
That pearl is you. The things that pushed you off course didn't end your story; they started it. Keep trusting yourself, your strength and the ideas you carry. Small things that refuse to stop can become something big. 馃
Why We're Proud to Share This Story
At Tanyag Panay, we believe Panay has so much to offer, and it starts with businesses like this one. Milk and Tea Roxas began as a family's answer to an uncertain time. Today, it's a place where friends meet, families gather, and a whole crew builds their livelihood.
That's the kind of story that deserves to be seen.
"Gusto namon i-visit nila ang Milk and Tea with their loved ones and friends, because our place is cozy and our food can satisfy their cravings."
As Ruselle's customers like to say: milk tea and friends are the perfect blend.
Visit Milk and Tea Roxas
Hughes Street, across the Petron gas station, beside Cake Story, near Roxas City Plaza, Roxas City, Capiz.
Hours: 8AM to 8PM, daily
For orders: +63 946 609 5470
Facebook: Milk and Tea Roxas City
Milk and Tea Roxas is part of the Milk and Tea family, with its main branch in Oton, Iloilo, and franchise branches across Iloilo, Capiz and Antique.
All photos courtesy of Ruselle Busalla Bahan, owner of Milk and Tea Roxas.
Do you know a local business on Panay with a story worth sharing? Message us at Tanyag Panay. We'd love to feature them next.
