HomeCooked hope

LABEL it home cooking inspired with a good taste of hope. There is this interesting place located at one of the city’s “more-often-passed-by-yet-rarely-stopped-at” streets that should catch one’s attention.

More specifically, right along Morales St., Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City (the area behind Harolds Hotel), is an establishment called Urban Kamalig (UK). Owned and operated by the Alipe family, UK is a living, existing business entity with a heart. Sure, the good food it serves during the day is part of the deal. But that bit actually, makes up only a small slice of their entire “vision pie” as the establishment wants its “advocacy” to remain as its main thrust.

“We siblings were always encouraged to be entrepreneurs as we were growing up. But not just of any kind, but those who would actually give something back to community,” shared Monica Alipe-Enriquez, chief operating officer of UK.

Basically, the place is a social enterprise established primarily to empower the out-of-school youth (OSY). Within the four walls of this cozy hangout, the working dynamic is that of a food place fused with a training center (or vice versa). By the way, the word “kamalig” is the Cebuano word for “barn.” Thus explaining the earthy ambiance the place gives from the color tones, to its interior styles.

UK currently has 17 OSY beneficiaries in various staff positions—from those who take calls for deliveries, serve the food to customers, to those who are assigned to pack the food in the kitchen and those assigned in the counter.

Notably, the staff is only required to do actual work for four hours daily. The other three hours, they are required to attend the UK Empowerment Program—an equipping and enabling training series specifically targeted for the attendees. If the staff accomplishes all seven hours, one hour is given as a bonus, and they are given worth a full day’s pay of work.

“Most of these kids felt hopeless and defeated in life,” said Monica. But now they are granted the opportunity to earn and actually build up their confidence and personality through working in such a professional set-up:
“These guys have to go back to school one day,” Monica shared about the establishment’s goal for these kids.

As for the food, the place serves up a tasty menu for breakfast that is available all day, and a different one for lunch and dinner. The menu is actually made up of full meal sets that are affordable and should be just as satisfying and filling for anyone. Good news for people working just around the area within a two-kilometer radius, UK is more than ready to take orders for delivery.

“The advocacy came before the business aspect, and we decided to go with food because we felt that food was appropriate and that everybody could relate to it,” said Monica. The Alipe family is very hands-on when it comes to the business, as its vision is to set up more outlets across the country. The more outlets, the more OSY it will be able to help.

Store hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m from Mondays to Saturdays. Parking is available for customers with vehicles who wish to drop by, and amenities at UK include a spacious training room, free wifi and restrooms. Perfect for meetings, functions or for just plain hanging out, a person here can enjoy a meal with full confidence knowing, that he has actually helped brethren in need.