Deo Jarito Balbuena, known to many as Diwata, has gone a long way before setting up his successful pares business.

Before becoming the face of the country’s famous overload pares, Diwata ventured first as a construction worker, beautician, sari-sari store owner, and even a contestant for “It’s Showtime’s” Miss Q&A segment until he opened a mini stall serving bowls of pares.