In crucial moments, the resilience of some Pinoys shines.
Despite Covid and the nation’s economic fluctuation, life went on, business was as usual for a few, and notable celebrations occurred.
The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo of the Cebu Provincial Government, the quincentennial commemoration of Christianity in the Philippines, the celebration of the 400 years of Recoletos’ presence in Cebu, the schools’ graduation and enrollment, the opening of malls and food outlets, as well as civic affairs went on.
Cathay Pacific Airways improvised a program to award outstanding travel agents in their homes with all safety nets.
The birthday and anniversary celebrations reunited families.
The times have urged some Pinoys to transform from being “Juan Tamad” with “bahala na” attitudes to creative bread earners. The family has become the reason to exist. We may not be as zealous as other countries yet, but we are getting there.
Here are more stories:
A helper from Talisay supports her nine children with her measly monthly income as a stay-out household maid and the irregular income of her husband, a tricycle driver. During weekend, she sells balot.
A former teacher crafts and sells math and science workbooks. A business couple converted their huge property into a tourism site of blooming flowers and verdant trees. Why so? The husband said that the ‘wonder of nature’ is the best place to reflect on God’s providence.
There is this family, where the mother owns a small carinderia, the father is a part-time construction worker, while the children do housekeeping after their online classes. Total family income every day is 100-150 pesos.
Online food and catering services, virtual tutorial sessions, and streaming platform Kumu for our performing artists are prolific alternatives.
Some are thinking of home or online garage sales of precious and useful houseware, furniture, jewelry, signature bags, décor, and clothes to earn and decongest their homes. This seems like a good idea!
Home services to repair TVs, refrigerators or air conditioning units, and laundering are becoming profitable for some. A repair man quipped, “This is even better now because we have more clients and less competitors!” Ah, people have different ways of seeing things.
All these are tests of survival. I am happy the best of the Pinoys comes out during crucial situations. Jose Rizal must be happy, for after all, the indolence of the Filipinos is slowly moving toward better directions.