A Christmas Box Every Day

Hilda Arenas
Dec 18, 2025
4 min read

The Mullets bring joy across Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Philippines

For millions of Filipinos working abroad, Christmas is a season of joy mingled with longing—a time when homesickness hums louder than carols. Yet in a quiet warehouse in Belfast, Manolito and Maria Luisa Mullet have turned that longing into love. Through MGM Cargo Limited, they make sure Christmas reaches Filipino homes across the Philippines—one balikbayan box at a time.

Inside their warehouse, the sound of packing tape blends with kwentuhan, laughter, and the comforting aroma of coffee. Around them rise towers of brown boxes—sturdy, familiar, and sacred. Each one carries stories of sacrifice and devotion, ready to cross oceans.

“Every balikbayan box is a love letter in disguise,” says Manolito, smiling as he seals another package. “We don’t just send boxes—we send home. We send Christmas.”

From neighbours to partners in life and purpose

Before becoming the heartbeat of Belfast’s Filipino community, Manolito and Luisa were magkapitbahay—next-door neighbours in Muntinlupa, Manila. Childhood classmates turned soulmates, their journey would one day span continents.

In 2001, Luisa, a nurse, left for Belfast in search of a better life. Her sons were only two and four years old. “It was the hardest goodbye,” she recalls softly. “But I told myself every sacrifice would be worth it if it gave them a brighter future.”

Nine months later, Manolito followed. For years, they worked long shifts and spent Christmases apart from their children, sending home the same kind of boxes they now deliver for others—boxes filled with love and longing.

In 2004, the family was reunited in Belfast. Today, their eldest son, Dr. Carl Manuel, serves as SHO at Ayr Hospital’s Respiratory Department in Scotland, while their youngest, Dr. Vinze Emanuelle, works as an F1 doctor at King’s College Hospital in London.

“Their education was paid for with long hours, patience, and faith,” says Manolito.

Their sons’ success stands as a tribute not only to their parents’ devotion but also to the collective strength of the Filipino diaspora—the nurses, carers, seafarers, engineers, and dreamers who give so much of themselves for family.

*The Mullet family's two sons are both Medical Doctors*

How a box became a bridge

The idea for MGM Cargo Limited was born from those same values of faith, sipag, and malasakit. In 2011, Manolito founded the company, naming it after his initials—Manolito Gatchalian Mullet. What began in their living room has grown into one of Ireland’s most trusted Filipino-run logistics companies, serving communities across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the Isle of Man—known for reliability, care, and community spirit.

“When a box doesn’t arrive for Christmas,” says Manolito, “it’s not just a delay—it’s a broken promise. We protect that promise fiercely.”

Luisa, still a nurse by profession, now helps run the company part-time—managing customer service, community events, and social media. Together, they have built not just a business, but a bridge connecting families separated by oceans.

Every box is a Christmas morning

Ask any Filipino abroad—packing a balikbayan box is a ritual. Each chocolate bar, each shirt, each tin of corned beef is chosen with care. These boxes hold not just goods, but memories, affection, and the scent of home.

“When families in the Philippines open a box, it doesn’t matter if it’s January or July,” Luisa says. “It’s Christmas morning. It’s proof that distance hasn’t dimmed love.”

The Mullets understand that feeling deeply; they’ve lived it. That’s why every shipment is handled with reverence. From Belfast to Manila, their partner, LCSN Express Movers Inc., ensures safe passage to even the most remote barangays.

“These boxes are pinag-hirapan,” explains Manolito. “They’re filled with months of work—not just money, but time, thought, and love.”

Giving back, building community

As MGM Cargo grows, so does the Mullets’ commitment to giving back. They’ve employed fellow Filipinos, trained local agents, and supported cultural events across Ireland—from Independence Day celebrations to charity drives and Christmas gatherings.

“Our agents are part of every shipment and every promise we keep,” says Manolito. “By employing people who know what it feels like to be far from home, we make sure our service comes from the heart.”

Beyond logistics, the Mullets view MGM as a mission of belonging—a reminder that even abroad, the Filipino spirit of bayanihan and generosity endures. Through sponsorships, free box raffles, and community outreach, they continue to bring joy and hope to others.

“We built this not just for our family, but for our people,” says Manolito. “Every box sent keeps our culture alive and our community connected.”

Christmas beyond borders

For the Mullets, Christmas isn’t confined to a date—it’s a feeling carried inside every balikbayan box. Each parcel that leaves their warehouse carries more than gifts; it carries faith, love, and the enduring belief that distance can never weaken family ties.

“Every box carries love, care, and a little Christmas magic,” says Luisa. “Opening a balikbayan box always feels like Christmas morning.”

As another holiday season begins, containers once again depart from Belfast—each one packed with faith, generosity, and devotion. For the Mullets, and for Filipinos everywhere, Christmas isn’t defined by place or time—it’s defined by remembering, giving, and loving from afar.

A Christmas message from the Mullets

“To all Filipinos abroad,” says Luisa, “never forget that every hour of hard work, every night away from family, carries meaning. It builds futures, heals hearts, and keeps our families strong.”

“This Christmas,” adds Manolito, “we celebrate not just our success, but the spirit that unites us—the love that crosses borders, the faith that endures, and the joy that arrives home, one box at a time.”

Maligayang Pasko—from Manolito, Maria Luisa, Carl, and Vinze Mullet, and the entire MGM Cargo family, delivering love, culture, and Christmas cheer across oceans.