 ABOUT US - Emie & MarkWe met as friends in 1997, working together at Lords Cricket Ground in London. Emie, originally from Bulacan, moved to London in 1995 with her daughter Tess. I, Mark had just completed my degree in London and had been living there for 6 years, working full-time as a Conservation Officer at a Nature Reserve in South London, and part-time at Lords.
We became lovers in 1999 and moved to Huddersfield shortly after. It was a very difficult move, especially for Emie and Tess as they had built a strong circle of friends in the local Filipino community. Tess danced for the Philippine Community 'Angels' and Emie was actively involved in events. We decided that the change would be good for us all and would mark the beginning of our lives together.
Only a few weeks after we moved to Huddersfield we met a Filipino, called Espie, with a market stall (Emie - laging sinasabi sa akin ni Mark, na si Ate Espie ay Nanay na rin nya) and soon got introduced to the large community there. Tess settled in well at her new school and both Emie & I got local work, I worked in a local school and Emie at Asda. a year later we saved enough money for my first trip to the Philippines, I was both excited and nervous at meeting Emies remaining family (both mother and father passed away when she was very young). I had travelled well, but never experienced Asia and was not sure on how life would be.
Obviously I fell in love with everything Filipino, the people, the food, I love adobo kang kong, buco chopsuey and buco pandan (Emie - si Mark kumain nang kumain nang buco pandan sinabayan nang Kolt 45 maya maya nag ta takbo na nang kubeta! Sa sobrang ka takawan!), ayoko nang Balut (hindi masarap!), the colours, the beautiful islands, the transport (mostly Jeepneys). I could have happily moved there at the end of the holiday! (Emie - Ng uma-andar na ang eroplano. Nakita ko na lang , na lumuluha na pala si Mark. Tinanong ko sya (Mark), Bakit ka na iyak, ang sagot nya sa akin ay? Ayaw na nya daw umuwi ng England! Kasi masarap at simple lang ang buhay sa Pilipinas!)
Three years ago we moved from Huddersfield to another part of Yorkshire to help with my fathers family businesses. We set-up Pinoy Mini Mall mainly as an online grocery store as we were fully aware that many Filipinos have no access to local Filipino stores in the bigger towns and cities. Being able to buy online, would help them get some of the foods they love quickly and cheaply.
Uma asa po kaming kayo ay mag e-enjoy sa aming Munting Tindahan! Pinapahalagahan Po, namin ang inyong mga kumento at katanungan, ito po ay nakakatulong at makakatulong sa aming karagdagang serbisyo. Para sa inyo! |
