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The story behind the success of Papemelroti

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Jon Carlos Rodriguez, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - When you&#x27;re in the mood to look for Filipino-made arts and crafts, one name may pop into mind: Papemelroti.</p><p>What started out as a small gift shop in the 1960s, the family business has grown into a specialty shop carrying a wide variety of paper products and other accessories mostly made from recycled materials.</p><p>But what does &quot;Papemelroti&quot; even mean?</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/lifestyle/01/19/papemelroti.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Photo from My Puhunan Facebook page</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>One of the owners, Patsy Alejandro Paterno, shared that the brand name comes from the names of five Alejandro siblings--Patsy, Peggy, Meldy, Robert, and Tina.</p><p>They are the children of Benny and Corit Alejandro, the owners of Korben Gifts.</p><p>Patsy said her mother herself made stuffed toys and dolls from scrap when they started the small business.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung mga pira-pirasong tela, gagawin niyang stuffed toys. ‘Yung mga toilet paper rolls, gagawin niyang doll. &#x27;Yung bote, gagawin niyang piggy bank. So mula ng bata ako, nakikita ko ‘yung nanay ko na mahilig gumawa sa kamay niya. Very artistic siya, very creative,” she told &quot;My Puhunan.&quot;</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/lifestyle/01/19/papemelroti3.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The owners of Papemelroti, Patsy Alejandro Paterno and her siblings. Photo from My Puhunan Facebook page</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Patsy said the first Papemelroti opened in 1976 in Ali Mall, selling recycled and re-purposed products designed by her siblings.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan kasi na iba ang paningin natin sa basura, which is exactly what my mom used to do,” she said.</p><p>Patsy said the Filipino brand is conscious about helping the environment and empowering Filipino families.</p><p>“We’re really committed to helping Filipino families, so ayaw naming mag-import from other countries kasi that means tinutulungan mo ‘yung mga pamilya doon, eh dapat mauna dito,” she said.</p><p>Patsy&#x27;s brother, Robert, is still involved in designing some of the products in the store, including piggy banks made from plastic bottles.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/business/piggy-bank.png"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Photo from My Puhunan Facebook page</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Robert believes that their business was able to survive over the years because young Filipinos go through the &quot;Papemelroti phase.&quot;</p><p>“Tumatak na din sa isip ng mga tao na dito ka makakabili ng mga paper products na hindi ganoon kamahal. ‘Yung mga bumibili sa amin, karamihan mga bata,” he said.</p><p>Papemelroti now has 18 branches in the country, most of which are located in Metro Manila.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/lifestyle/01/19/papemelroti2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Photo from My Puhunan Facebook page</div></figcaption></figure></div>

<p>MANILA - When you're in the mood to look for Filipino-made arts and crafts, one name may pop into mind: Papemelroti.</p>

MANILA - When you're in the mood to look for Filipino-made arts and crafts, one name may pop into mind: Papemelroti.

The story behind the success of Papemelroti

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The story behind the success of Papemelroti

Jon Carlos Rodriguez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 20, 2016 04:09 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 26, 2017 10:27 AM PHT

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