🥇City of Firsts
02 Oct 2019
In 1976, we opened the first papemelroti in Ali Mall, Cubao, Quezon City. During the opening, Muhammad Ali cut the ribbon and there was a huge cake that almost filled the lobby. One could watch the proceedings from the 2nd floor where our little shop was located.
It was during the summer vacation, so we manned the shop, from making the things to selling it. Tina, (the "TI" in papemelro-TI) who was 7 years old, wrapped the gifts on the floor because she could not reach the counter yet.
A writer from a women’s magazine wrote 3 full pages about our family and the business. Because of her article, people would come up to the 2nd floor, point to our sign and declare, “I know what that means, Patsy, Peggy, Meldy, Robert and Tina!”
Yesterday, my husband and I attended the rebranding of Araneta Center to Araneta City. They featured our store as one of the pioneers (and amazingly the only one left of all the businesses that opened in Ali Mall at the start!!!) Thank You Lord for that miracle! And thank you to the people behind Ali Mall who took a chance on a little craft business like ours!
PATRICIA ALEJANDRO PATERNO
https://patsypat.blogspot.com
Papemelroti's owner and artist Patricia Paterno has been married for 21 years to a man with a good heart. They have one son who is as funny as his dad. She has been working in the family business since she was 11. When she gets home from work, she stays in her craft room and makes collages, scrapbook layouts, ATCs, and thinks of ways to re-use things normal people would throw away. Visit her arts and crafts blog. She wants to be passionate about God's passions so she also made a blog, Hebrews 13:3, about their service in the QC Jail.
Tags:
