BY DARWIN DELA CRUZ
ORIENTAL MINDORO – In the heart of Calapan’s bustling streets, a humble coffee cart emerges as a beacon of inspiration and warmth.
Meet twin sisters Mary Joy and Mary Grace Fajardo, owners of 2N1 Coffee Street whose story of a coffee cart start-up is not just about coffee but as well as about community, passion, and the pursuit of a dream.
The twin sisters – both 21 years old – is just one of the emerging young entrepreneurs whose source of inspiration for their coffee cart was triggered by their love for milk tea and coffee.
“Kaya siya tinawag na “2N1” (two-in-one) kasi “one” kaming dalawa,” Mary Grace said referring to their being identical twin sisters and at the same time their love for coffee and milk tea. 2N1 Coffee Street is almost 4 weeks in operation.
Born to a family of four siblings, their father is a former tricycle driver and their mother is a home maker who sidelines selling meat products. The twin sisters became the family’s breadwinner when they first ventured into on-line selling and as social media content creators. After pooling their on-line profit, they used this as capital to build their coffee cart.
“Isip po kasi ng iba hiningi po namin sa parents yung capital.” She even added, “Kami po nagpapa aral sa sarili po namin.”
In terms of running and managing 2N1 Coffee Street Cart, “Halos hati po kami. Minsan po siya (Mary Joy) ang namimili, minsan naman po ay ako, then sa pag prepare po ay tulungan po kami. Then nag aaral po kasi kami kaya we decided po na kumuha ng tutulong namin para siya po ang magtitinda sa cart namin which is yung ate ko po. Pag lunch po and hapon natutulongan po kami. Basta kung sino po ang free sa aming dalwa. Lahat po hati kami sa gawain basta free po kaming dalawa.”
When asked for an advice to would-be-entrepreneurs, Mary Grace had this to say: “Don’t be afraid to start a business. Yes, risky pag usapang negosyo but we also need to set our mind into a positive mindset. Actions and prayers is the best we can do. Kung napanghihinaan ka, believe that you have received it. Minsan kailangan din nating maniwala sa Kanya na kaya natin. Keep going. Hindi hadlang ang edad natin para simulan ang pangarap.”
To know more about 2N1 Coffee Cart, you may find them at https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071520835290
