Meet this Indian-Filipino couple selling Pani Puri along UN Avenue

You may not know, but if you walk down UN Avenue, you’ll find a tiny yet thriving pocket community of Indian culture: convenience stores full of their products, temples for their worship, and the row of street vendors accommodating their customers. Two of these vendors are Goldy Kumar, an Indian native who has been living in the Philippines for 23 years, and his Filipina wife, Marissa Kumar.

Kumar was once the 5-6 lender who Marissa’s sister was a suki of. Marissa sold Goldy SIM scratch cards while also being the one handing her sister’s dues to Goldy. It was a match made in heaven.

“I was lonely in the city, and when I saw her [Marissa], I immediately fell for her,” the cook said.

It was both an organic encounter and love at first sight, all sparked by a series of simple interactions.

A marriage of two cultures

The cultural exchange is most evident in their household. While the couple focuses on authentic Indian flavors for their business, their children often crave Filipino food. Even their kitchen practices reflect this duality.

Marissa explains that while Goldy is Hindu and maintains a strictly vegetarian diet (as is common in many Indian practices), he has fully embraced the Filipino way of life. Having lived here since 2007, he speaks fluent Tagalog and admits, “Mas gusto ko dito kaysa India.”

For Goldy, the Philippines is where his family, his business, and his heart reside. He now only visits his home province of Punjab during vacation. However, this doesn’t stop him from bringing a little bit of home to the hearts and stomachs of those lucky enough to chance upon their food.

Food for the soul

They’ve been running their stall, Goldy’s Indian Fresh Street Food, since 2014. Located along UN Avenue near the Sikh temple, they have become a staple for locals and visitors alike. While other stalls have opened in the area, the Kumars pride themselves on authenticity.

Unlike commercialized versions found in malls that use flavored powders mixed with water, Goldy’s Pani Puri is the real deal. He crafts his own Pani Puri Masala using a complex blend of ingredients, including toasted cumin seeds, shells (puri) made from scratch, potatoes, chickpeas, chaat masala, and a whole concoction of spices.

“Herbal yung sabaw,” Goldy explained.

The spicy, tangy water isn’t just delicious though, it’s also believed to be good for treating singaw (mouth sores) and aiding with acidity.

Stories in the mundane

The transition from the 5-6 lending business to the food industry was a welcome change for Goldy. He describes his former job as a “sakit sa ulo” (headache), finding much more peace in the rhythm of the kitchen.

They are just one of the many vendors in the city, but their stall represents a homegrown success story built on labor and love. Aside from their daily operations, they have expanded into catering and special events, especially on Sundays when the local Indian community gathers.

It is in third spaces like this that remind us of how so much possibility can be found when one shares his craft with others in the community. What started with a chance meeting over has turned into a decade-long love for food and connection.

For those looking for a taste of Punjab in the heart of Manila, Goldy and Marissa are serving not just 10 pieces each of Pani Puri for Php 100, but also a slice of their shared life throughout the years.