Jad poses for a photo by her stall in Bernardo Park. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Before Indian content creator Mr. Nobodydudy made the term "mekus-mekus" -- which literally means "mix mix" -- popular on social media, the Philippines already had its own original version of it. 

A cold, sweet dessert that is a sure fire hit especially in extreme heat.

The cool dessert is a big hit with residents as El Nino continues to bring high temperatures. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Halo-halo, which some consider as the country’s unofficial national dessert, is a popular cold dessert consisting of crushed ice and evaporated milk that are literally mixed with other ingredients. The ingredients usually include, but are not limited to ube, leche flan, langka, sago, gulaman, pinipig, minatamis na saging (sweetened banana), and minatamis na kamote (sweetened sweet potato). 

Halo-halo is popular with kids and adults alike. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

 IN-DEMAND BUSINESS 

In Bernardo Park in Kamuning, Quezon City, Julie Ann Del Rosariom, also known as "Jad,"  is starting to make a mark in their community. Dubbed as "Halo-Halo ni Jad," her street-side halo-halo store offers the dessert for P50. Add P10 more and one can get the special which comes topped with leche flan and ube slices.

Halo-halo ingredients usually include ube, leche flan, langka, sago, gulaman, pinipig, and sweetened fruits. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

According to Jad, her halo-halo is in high demand due in part to the extreme heat that Filipinos are experiencing.

"Malaki talaga ang kita namin sobra dahil sa sobrang init. Kapag nagbukas kami ng 11:00 AM, mga ala-2 pa lang sold-out na agad," she said.

READ: Heatwave swells Asia's appetite for air-conditioning

Jad says that customers really like the milk in her halo-halo. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

She  added that the secret ingredient of her halo-halo is in the milk. 

"Yung milk talaga yung binabalikan sa amin kasi ang dami, di tulad sa iba. Dapat kasi from the heart. Sabi nga nila, pag nag-business ka dapat is masarap para babalik-balikan ka. Hindi pwede yung nagbusiness ka lang, wala ka nang customer after that," she explained.

(It's really the milk that people keep coming back to, unlike the others. It should be from the heart. Like they say, when you get into business it should be good so people keep coming back. It can't be just a business, you wont get customers after that.)

She says even residents from the neighboring barangay buy from her. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
"Nasisiyahan talaga yung mga customer namin kasi araw-araw silang bumabalik e. Kahit yung sa kabilang barangay, binabalikan nila yung halo-halo namin dahil nasasatisfy sila sa lasa," she continued.

(Customers really enjoy it because they keep coming back. Even the ones from the other barangay keep returning for our halo-halo because they are satisfied with the taste.)

For an extra P10, customers get the "special" halo-halo. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsBETTER SOURCE OF INCOME

Jad also shared that because of this halo-halo business, she was able to help her and her partner a lot in terms of providing for the needs of her family -- something that she is not capable of doing on ordinary days.

Jad says the business has allowed her to provide for her partner and her family. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

She  narrated, "Pinakamalaking happiness ko yung nakakapag-provide na ko sa family. Dati kasi lagi kang mangungutang, ngayon dito sa halo-halo napo-provide mo na yung pambayad sa water, kuryente, nakakapagshare na ko sa gas."

(The biggest happines for me is that I can provide for the family. Before I had to borrow money often, but now halo-halo provides the payment for water, electricity, I can share for gas.)

Jad says she makes her halo-halo "from the heart." Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Aside from helping their respective families, the savings of Jad and her partner has grown significantly-- enough to support their needs. 

"Nakakapagtawid kami sa pangangailangan namin. Ang laki talaga ng kita namin kaya tinuloy namin ng partner ko kasi yung mga pangangailangan namin naporprovide namin," Jad said.

(It provides for our needs. We really earned a lot thats why me and my partner continued doing this because it provides for our needs.)

Jad puts the finishing touches on an order. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News