Macy Cubacub works at a reputable fashion house in Dubai by day. When dusk falls, she dons another hat – puts on a pair of gloves as well – and hands over slices of Philippine sweet delicacies to expats and tourists at a family booth in the ongoing Rigga Night Market in Deira.

“It’s about balancing life, work and business. It’s tough, and we’re sleep-deprived most of the time. But despite the hardships and sleepless nights, it’s very fulfilling,” Cubacub, who hails from Pampanga, a province in Central Luzon, Philippines, said.  

Their food stall’s name is “Mayumu,” which is a Kapampangan word for “sweet.”

“When we were just starting out, we thought of something that would suit our products. Since our products are sweets, and we are from Pampanga, we decided to use the word ‘Mayumu,’” Cubacub said in a mix of English and the vernacular.

She said her mother, Leny, is the “pillar of our business.”

“Without her, I wouldn’t know if we can do this. She would give up her rest time just to make sure everything’s according to plan,” Cubacub said.

Mayumu is very popular at the night market. Cubacub also attributed this to having set a goal.

“If you have a goal, you would literally do everything just to attain it. That’s what keeps us going. And so, we move on despite the seeming endless exhaustion. You have to work hard for it; nothing come by chance or luck,” Cubacub said.

Among crowd favorites on the spread are pure ube halaya, nilupak, cassava, biko, maja, bibingkang kanin, suman malagkit, suman balinghoy, tamalis Kapampangan, kalamay ube, kutsinta, palitaw. Everything is prepared and cooked everyday.

Muyumu  currently has four staff – one working at the stall; three doing the cooking.

Despite this, mother and daughter are also hands on, “simply because it’s our business.”