25/03/2025
๐๐-๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ-๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐
๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฒ | ๐ต๐ด๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ด
Step into the world of your favorite K-Dramaโ stand in the heart of bustling Seoul, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the city, savoring every bite of your steaming hot ramen. Now, picture that same magic, right in the middle of Silay City.
Leading this vision is Carmey, the 25-year-old owner of Silayโs first affordable Korean ramen station whose entrepreneurial spirit mirrors the passion and persistence seen in every inspiring female heroine. Though she holds a degree in BS Psychology, Carmeyโs love for entrepreneurship was always her true calling. She has been hustling since childhood, turning small businesses into stepping stones toward something bigger.
โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ก๐ค๐ก๐,โ (I grew up at my lolaโs tiangge) she shared, citing her lola as her inspiration in her journey. It was here that she first witnessed the hustle and determination required in life as the tiangge was their only source of income โ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ ๐ค, ๐ฃ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ, ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐จ,โ (When I was in elementary school, I started selling munchkins and pastillas.) she continued. Carmey was able to finish her studies through balancing studying and her other business ventures, selling frozen foods and gift cheques. For her, business was more than a means to make moneyโit was a way to carve out her future.
Like every great story, her now-booming business started with a simple "what if." โ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก-๐ค๐ฃ ๐ ๐ค ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ?โ (What if I start a ramen station here in Silay?) she thought to herself. Carmey explained that her eureka moment came when she visited a ramen station in a different city, sparking the idea. At first, the plan was just a small kiosk in the public plazaโa humble start due to a tight budget. But with dedication and an investorโs support, the idea expanded into something bigger. The idea of bringing something as unique as a ramen bar into Silay, a city that was yet to embrace such a concept, ignited her excitement.
The opening of her ramen station was met with such warm support from the local community. โ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ค๐ฃ,โ (The support from [Silaynons] was overwhelming.) Carmey recalled, describing how the locals rallied behind her from the very beginning, despite the challenges. Now, the ramen station has become a favorite spot for students from nearby schools, offering a cozy atmosphere for them to unwind and bond over delicious bowls of ramen. But for her, itโs never only about making moneyโitโs about the experience she could offer to her customers. โ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐ค ๐ข๐-๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ ๐-๐ฟ๐ง๐๐ข๐,โ (I want them to feel like theyโre in a K-Drama.) For Carmey, itโs the connection, the idea that her shop becomes a backdrop to something special in their lives, that she values the most.
For young Silaynons dreaming of starting their own business, her advice is simpleโโ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ช๐ฅ. ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐, ๐-๐จ๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ก.โ (If you want something, set your goal.) She stresses the importance of starting small and building steadily, urging aspiring entrepreneurs to stay true to their values, especially when it comes to money. By dedicating themselves fully to their goals, they can move forward without regrets, knowing theyโve given their best effort every step of the way.
Carmeyโs journey is a powerful reminder that dreams arenโt always achieved in the fast lane. From the early days of selling munchkins and pastillas to opening her first ramen station, she built her success with patience and resilience. In a world that often pushes for instant success and immediate results, Carmey has proven that persistence and a steady commitment to oneโs values are the true keys to lasting success. Dreams indeed come true, through one deliberate step at a time, with patience and purpose.
words by: ๐ฅ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐น & ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ
photos by: ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐
๐ถ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐
art by: ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ
