Carmona, Cavite

DEAFinitely Happy Store

Coffee, Compassion, and Cavite’s Best Kept Secret

PUBLISHED May 29, 2025

PHOTOS | WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO

DEAFinitely Happy Store in Carmona, Cavite is more than just a café—it’s a social enterprise powered by the CARER Program, a local government initiative providing free education and livelihood for persons with disabilities. Located inside Carmona Elementary School, the store offers snacks, coffee, award-winning handmade products like the paper mâché piggy bank, and meaningful pasalubong items. Operated entirely by PWDs, it reflects the town’s commitment to inclusion under the theme #NobodyIsLeftBehind. A visit here supports a cause, celebrates local talent, and offers a genuinely heartwarming experience.

Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into DEAFinitely Happy Store with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!

Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to DEAFinitely Happy Store. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.

Tucked quietly inside Carmona Elementary School in Cavite is a little café with a big heart—and an even bigger mission. It’s not your typical coffee stop. It’s called DEAFinitely Happy Store, and if you ever find yourself road-tripping through Cavite or exploring the southern outskirts of Metro Manila, this is one place you’ll want to pin on your map.

Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.

Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.

ABOVE: A community café rooted in the CARER Program of Carmona, a pioneering initiative launched in 2000 that grew from a 20-learner project into an award-winning, inclusive education and rehabilitation program for persons with disabilities.

The CARER Program: How It All Began

This café wasn’t built overnight. In fact, its roots go all the way back to 2000, when the local government of Carmona launched the CARER Program, short for Comprehensive Approach, Responsive Education, and Rehabilitation.

What started as a 20-learner initiative has grown into a holistic, free and sustainable special education program for persons with disabilities in Carmona. Through the efforts of the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), CARER offers education, vocational training, and rehabilitation—all under one roof.

The program has gained recognition for its inclusive model. It was awarded the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in 2022 and previously received the Apolinario Mabini Awards in 2015 and 2018. Honestly? It’s not just a success story—it’s a blueprint for what local governments can do when they genuinely commit to leaving no one behind.

Award-Winning Creativity: That Paper Mâché Piggy Bank

You know what’s surprisingly famous? A paper mâché piggy bank handcrafted by members of the PWD team behind the store. Yep—it’s not just a charming souvenir, it’s a product of real skill, patience, and pride.

Made entirely by persons with disabilities from the CARER Program, this piggy bank isn’t just cute—it’s meaningful. It even won recognition at the ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards, an annual event by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism. It’s simple, full of heart, and proof that creativity doesn’t need a spotlight to shine.

Café Offerings: Simple, Honest, and Heartfelt

DEAFinitely Happy Store keeps things refreshingly simple. Their menu features coffee, iced drinks, sandwiches, and merienda favorites—the kind of food you’d gladly go out of your way for on a lazy afternoon.

But here’s the twist: the entire crew is made up of persons with disabilities. The café uses color-coded order slips and simple visual cues so everyone—staff and customers alike—can communicate clearly and confidently.

So yes, you’ll get a good drink here. But you’ll also get something better: a reminder of what inclusion really looks like.

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ABOVE: A cozy café serving coffee, iced drinks, sandwiches, and merienda favorites—simple comforts that make any afternoon feel special.

More Than a Café: Pasalubong and Souvenirs That Support a Cause

The store doubles as a souvenir shop, and trust me, it’s not just for display. They’ve got handmade crafts, food items for pasalubong, and local products that tell a story. Everything you buy here directly supports the livelihood of the workers and sustains the CARER program. So whether you grab a mug, a bag of local snacks, or that famous piggy bank, you’re walking away with something that matters.

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ABOVE: A handcrafted paper mâché piggy bank made by persons with disabilities under the CARER Program, celebrated for its creativity and heart at the ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards.

#NobodyIsLeftBehind: More Than Just a Hashtag

Here’s the thing: DEAFinitely Happy Store isn’t a charity project. It’s a community hub. It’s a movement. Their theme—#NobodyIsLeftBehind—isn’t just a feel-good slogan. It’s the operating principle behind everything they do. From their hiring process to their partnerships, every decision is made with inclusivity at the center.

Visiting the store means stepping into a space where everyone is given a chance—not just to work, but to grow, to connect, and to be seen.

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

DEAFinitely Happy Store is located at Gate 2 of Carmona Elementary School in Barangay 8, Carmona, Cavite—just a short drive from the town’s center and surprisingly easy to get to, especially if you’re coming from Metro Manila or nearby provinces. Thanks to major roads like CAVITEX and CALAX, the drive is smoother than you’d expect. Whether you’re taking the Cavite–Laguna Expressway from the south or coming in through the Manila–Cavite Expressway from the north, Carmona is conveniently connected.

It’s best to visit on weekday mornings or early afternoons when the place is calm and the staff has more time to chat and engage with guests. If you’re in the area, you might also want to swing by Carmona Municipal Hall or the lively Carmona Public Market—both are just a few minutes away.

For the latest updates on store offerings, community events, or any changes in their schedule, check their official Facebook page: DEAFinitely Happy Store – Carmona. Whether you’re coming solo, with family, or as part of a community tour, your visit is sure to be more than just a coffee run—it’s a quiet but powerful way to support inclusivity and local enterprise.

Final Thoughts

Honestly? If you’re traveling through Cavite and skipping this place, you’re missing out on something truly rare. DEAFinitely Happy Store is where good food meets good advocacy, and where your cup of coffee does a little more than wake you up—it opens your eyes.

So the next time you’re craving something authentic, something warm, and something real—skip the big chains. Stop by DEAFinitely Happy Store. You’ll leave a little more full than when you arrived.

I’m looking forward to the stories and images leaving a lasting positive impression on you, just as they have on me. Stay connected with us on social media for a weekly exploration of travel assignments and breathtaking visuals. Our focus is on championing local tourism, showcasing small businesses, and honoring the magnificence of the Philippines through the content we curate. Join us in spreading the word by clicking the ‘share’ buttons below. Your support means the world to us.

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