Crafting hope for Filipino families (Part 1)

My love language includes words of affirmation, acts of service, and gift-giving. I find joy in writing heartfelt letters, crafting delicate origami roses, and creating charming pop-up birthday cards.

Personalized, handcrafted gifts are significant to me, reflecting the giver’s heartfelt sincerity. When Ms. Pia Manalastas introduced our MBA class to the Aim2Flourish project, which empowers us to share untold business stories and offers a platform for business leaders to exhibit their passion, analyze their enterprises with an appreciative perspective, and highlight innovations that can transform the world, this particular brand came to mind immediately.

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Their steadfast commitment to environmental conservation through recycling, the celebration of Philippine culture evident in their designs, and their foundation as a God-centered, family-oriented business resonate deeply with my core values.

It’s a business whose story I am proud to share and with which I long to be associated. Driven by this desire, I contacted them across various platforms, capturing their attention and securing an interview. My friends know my love for thoughtful gifts and personal touches well—traits that Papemelroti exemplifies.

Papemelroti is a heritage brand choice for gift shopping in the Philippines. It offers various handcrafted and eco-friendly products. The brand is celebrated for its innovative use of recycled materials, its dedication to showcasing Philippine cultural heritage through its designs, and its commitment to creating sustainable livelihoods for local artisans and families. With over 20 branches in Metro Manila, Pampanga, and Cavite, Papemelroti continues to impact the environment and the community significantly.

Papemelroti’s journey began in 1967 when Benny and Corit Alejandro opened a modest boutique on Tomas Morato Ave in Manila. Contrary to common belief, the term “papemelroti” is not derived from “paper” but from the names of their five children in order of age: Patsy, Peggy, Meldy, Robert, and Tina.

Over the years, Papemelroti has evolved into a pioneer of eco-friendly practices. The business was among the first to use unbleached brown kraft paper, significantly lessening the environmental impact by avoiding harmful bleaching agents. Unlike conventional white paper, which involves toxic chemical processes, their brown kraft paper is eco-conscious and sustainable. Papemelroti’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond paper.

They specialize in upcycling and creatively reusing waste materials. The store repurposes newspapers and old paper into items such as albums, calendars, and gift wrapping. Plastic bottles are transformed into piggy banks, and paper rolls and Yakult bottles are crafted into doll figures. They also utilize reclaimed wood for various products, including furniture, shelving, and wall art, often sourced from crates that once transported bulky items like elevators or car parts.

Papemelroti collaborated with optical retailers to recycle discarded eyeglass lenses into unique magnets and necklaces. For years, the company has encouraged customers to bring in recyclable materials for repurposing, further reducing their environmental footprint. Items accepted include, but are not limited to, used domino tiles, computer keyboards, bubble wrap, and old watches, which can be dropped off at any of their branches. They ensure all aspects of their production, including packaging, are made from 100% recycled materials.

The Alejandro siblings attribute Papemelroti’s success to their mother’s talent, Corit, for creating something valuable out of things that people would throw away. She liked to call herself an ordinary housewife but was always a woman with a mission. Their mother instilled in them the value of viewing waste from a different perspective, encouraging creativity, and seeing it as an opportunity to create something beautiful.

Another remarkable aspect of this family is their strong faith. They credit the success of their business venture to God and believe that they will be able to overcome any challenges that come their way. “God is the one who sustains our business. We started in 1967, so ang tagal na di ba? I believe that God is also the source of our creativity.” This strong faith in God is a central part of Papemelroti’s journey and is something that we can all be inspired by and connect with.

(To be continued)

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. She wrote this reflection paper for her class on Trends and Issues in Business and Management: CEO Series. She can be reached at crislet_bantegui@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

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