A Different Kind of Fiesta

The Philippines is known to celebrate almost anything. From birthday parties, graduations to simple monthsaries (a monthly celebration of an event) to anniversaries, we always find ways to get together, eat and have a wonderful time with family and friends.

The Fiesta is no exception.

Every year, different towns in the country celebrate their Town Fiestas. Usually it’s the feast day of their Patron Saint or a commemoration of the birth month of their locale. This spans from a week to a month-long celebration filled with activities arranged by their Church or Local Government. People flock the town centers (referred to as Plazas) and celebrate in social gatherings. This is an opportunity not only for people to celebrate but also for the local businesses to earn more.

But what happens when a pandemic strike? What do you do when social gatherings are banned and face to face interactions are prohibited? How do businesses follow the new regulations set by the authorities? How does one cope in this everyday struggle?

Let us look into the narratives of two women who both share stories of courage and survival.

“Everything is Temporary”

Nanay Emma Morales owns a piggery and a small eatery from Manapla, Negros Occidental. Her husband owns a motorcycle repair shop and her kids help her out on the side. She happily recalls how her business flourished before the pandemic.

Nanay Emma Morales happily recalls how her business flourished before the lockdowns and quarantines. (Photo taken before Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last March 2020)

“Masayang-masaya kami dati. Nakakabenta ako ng 3-5 baboy kada lingo bago mag Covid. Nakakapag deliver din ako sa mga karatig-pook noon. Pati yung eatery ko maraming kumakain kasi kilala na kami dito at masarap ako magluto.”, recalls Nanay Emma.

(We used to be very happy. We sold 3-5 pigs per week before Covid struck. We were able to deliver to nearby towns also. Even my eatery was doing good. People flocked my store because they know the food I prepare is good.)

Things took a different turn when the lockdowns started.

“Ngayon hirap na hirap na kami. Hindi na ako makabenta ng baboy. Minsan palugi ko na binibigay para lang may panggastos kami. Pati yung eatery ko affected. Konti na lang ang hinahanda ko. Minsan nga kahit bihon na lang hindi pa mabili.”, says Nanay Emma.

(Not it’s really hard. I can’t sell pigs anymore. Sometimes I just give it without any profit just so we have money for our daily expenses. Even my eatery is affected. I just cook in small portions and sometimes even the noodles I cook doesn’t get sold.)

 The Town Fiesta last August 16 was supposed to be the highlight of her business per year.

“Ang lakas ko noon pag Fiesta ni San Roque. Lahat gustong gumastos. Nagpapa-rent din ako ng videoke sa mga bahay-bahay. Eh ngayon bawal na. Bawal ang social gathering. Bawal ang maingay. Pupuntahan ka agad ng pulis pag may narinig sa bahay niyo. Parang bawal maging masaya.”, lamented Nanay Emma.

(I had good business every feast day of San Roque. Everybody was willing to spend. I even had videoke machines that could be rented by different households. Now everything is not allowed. You can’t hold social gatherings. You can’t be too noisy. The police would go to you if they hear something. It’s like you can’t be afford to be happy anymore.)

But for Nanay Emma, she found solace and comfort in knowing that things are going to get better.

“Pero hindi ako nagpapatalo. May mga araw talaga na malungkot ako pero lagi kong kinakausap ang mga anak ko. Hanggang puwede akong maghanap-buhay, gagawin ko. Minsan nga sinasabihan pa ako na ‘Nanay hindi ka ba natatakot mahuli?’ Sabi ko naman, ‘bakit ako matatakot? Hindi naman ako nagnanakaw? Luto naman yung mga pagkaing binebenta ko? Wala namang sakit yung mga baboy? Malinis naman tayo at responsable pag dating sa mga kailangan (facemasks, shields, sanitizing etc). Alam ko na ngayon lang to. Kailangan lang natin pagdaanan. Tignan mo, bukas parang Fiesta na ulit”, ended Nanay Emma.

(I refuse to be defeated. There are days that I would really feel sad and down so what I do is I talk to my children. Also, I work and sell every chance I get. My children would always ask me, “Mom are you not afraid to get caught?” and I would answer, ‘Why will I be afraid? I don’t steal. The food I sell is cooked. The pigs are healthy. We are clean and very responsible when it comes to the mandatories (face masks, shields, sanitizing etc). Everything is just temporary. We need to get past this. Sooner or later, it’s going to feel like Fiesta again.)

“Help others so you can help yourself”

Nanay Cecilla Salarda is from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. She owns a Balutan (egg business) and supplies to different vendors and stalls all over town.

Nanay Cecilla Salarda started with two trays of Balut and then eventually grew her business with the help of NWTF. (Photo taken before the ECQ last March 2020)

“1998. Nagsimula ako sa dalawang tray lang noon. Dumating ako sa Kabangkalan tapos nag-isip ako ng magandang negosyo. May supplier kami noon na nagbibigay ng Balut. Humiram ako sa NWTF (Negros Women For Tomorrow Foundation) ng pang capital. Ayaw pa nga nila ako pahiramin noon kasi buntis ako. Akala nila gagamitin ko lang sa panganganak.” , she hapilly recalls.

(1998. I started my business with two trays. I arrived here in Kabangkalan and I thought of what business I could do. I had a supplier before who provided me with the Baluts. I borrowed from NWTF (Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation) the capital I needed to start my business. I remember them being reluctant because I was pregnant during that time. They thought I was gonna use the money to give birth)

With the right determination and mindset, she was able to grow her business.

“Sa tulong na rin ng supplier ko nakapag-invest na ako sa gamit. Kumuha na rin ako ng mga tao noon kasi gusto kong makatulong. Nagsimula ako sa 10 tao tapos may 50cents sila sa bawat Balut na nabebenta nila. Sa kalaunan lumago din yung negosyo ko, naging 50 na yung tao ko na naka motor at nagsusupply sa mga maliliit na vendors dito. Lahat yan bago Covid.”

(With the help of my supplier I was able to invest in some equipment. I also employed people because I want to help others. I started with 10 people and they had a 50cent incentive for every Balut they sold. My business grew eventually and I was able to get 50 people who all had motorcycles. They supplied to the small vendors here. That was before Covid happened.)

Admittedly, her business was greatly affected because of the pandemic.

“Wala ng bumibili masyado ngayon kasi may curfew and bawal ang social gatherings. Dapat yung Fiesta sana malakas yung negosyo ko kasi halos dalawang linggo nasa labas ang mga tao. So ngayon wala na. Kinausap ako ng kagawad kung gusto ko magbenta sa labas ng mga groceries, pharmacies at matataong lugar. Um-oo ako kasi gusto kong may trabaho yung mga tao ko. Pero dapat malinis at maayos. Naka face mask at face shield tapos laging may baong alcohol. Eh ganun talaga eh, kailangan mabuhay.”

(Nobody buys as much as they used to because of curfew and social gatherings are not allowed. The town Fiesta should’ve been a peak time for my business because for two weeks, there are people outside the plaza. Now it’s very limited. The town councilor approached me and asked if I wanted to sell in front of groceries, pharmacies and establishments with people. I said yes because I want my staff to have a source of income but they have to make sure that it’s clean and orderly. They should wear face masks, face shields and there should always be alcohol. That’s the case now. We need to continue living.”

She was also able to buy a small parcel of land from her business before. The vegetables she harvests here also provides for her staff members. Although this is very minimal compared to what she was earning before.

“Alam ko kasi yung pakiramdam pag nawalan ka at hindi mo alam kung papaano ka magsisimula. Alam ko rin yung pakiramdam pag ang saya-saya ng lahat. Hindi man kami makapag benta ngayong Fiesta, at least naparamdam mo kahit papaano na puwede palang maging masaya kahit pandemya.”

(I know the feeling when you lose something and you don’t know how to start all over again. I also know the feeling when everyone’s happy. We might not be able to sell this Fiesta, but at least I assured my staff that we can still be happy in the midst of the pandemic.)

Project Dungganon

These women have been supported by NWTF (Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation) through their Project Dungganon. Sheila Guanzon, General Manager for Operations said that this Pandemic posed a lot of challenges to their operations but they strive to serve their clients and their communities to the best way they can.

NWTF launched Project Dungganon to aid small businesses have a fresh start or continue their livelihood. They provide calamity assistance as well. (Photo taken before the ECQ last March 2020)

“14% of the PD branches is currently closed due to the different quarantine conditions within the LGU’s. In line with the temporary closures of the said sites, the organization is also unable to deliver not only the financial services they offer but they are also having a hard time disseminating the non-financial services they have for the clients. The restrictions in travel have also decapitated the operations of the MFI as it is their means of connecting to clients in the remote areas of the country. Several teams have also been stranded in different provinces for a time where they were not local and this has really put a strain on the organizations project movement.”, mentioned Ms. Sheila.

But NWTF continued to innovate their processes to help serve everyone.

“Due to the widespread effect of the Pandemic, the Project Dungganon operations had to find new ways to evolve and cope with the new normal that they are facing. For financial services, scenario setting and stand procedures were established for each scenario.  Digital platforms were introduced to continue support financial services of our clients.  A client based survey was first launched in order to chronicle the effects of the pandemic towards our clients. From here the needs of the clients were studied by the team, and from there PD is currently working on new financial services that can help their clients move forward. Changes in the loan protocols and operational structures in the branches were also made in order for the team to keep on delivering their services, while making sure that their employees were also kept safe.

In line with the non-financial services, a quick and swift transition had to be made. With the new working environment presented for the Client Services team, they had to advance into strengthening their online presence. From the idea of a Social media evolution, services like trainings and business development assistance are now being transitioned to the different social media platforms available. The team is also making use of the communication resources available to the clients to see the conditions on the field.”, continued Ms. Sheila

The health of both staff members and clients is of top priority for the organization. They made sure that everyone is aware and involved in this constant plight to operate with strict health standards.

“The organization has set up new protocols in order to continue operations without hampering the safety of both employees and clients. Please know this has been always the number 1 priority of Project Dungganon. All the projects were based from the idea of safety first before anything else. With this, developments in the branches and the Head office were set up to ensure safety for everyone; Washing areas (with soap and clean water) were assembled outside of the premises, social distancing rules were implemented by limiting the clients and employees within the branches, Plastic barriers were set up within the offices to make sure there is no physical contact between clients and employees and last but not least memos, educational videos and advisories were disseminated accordingly to support the said safety developments within the branches and head office. All of these safety protocols were derived from the medical community and LGU rules and regulations in line with the continued operations of a business.”, ended Ms. Sheila.

The need to be there for each other.

Every day is a struggle and the struggle is real.  One can always hope like Nanay Emma and one can choose to help out like Nanay Cecilia.

“Kailangan naming magtulungan para mabuhay. Tutulungan ko sila para matulungan ko rin yung sarili ko. Nakakatawa no? Bawal tayong magkita-kita pero kailangan nating magsama-sama para malampasan natin itong pandemya.”, ended Nanay Cecilia

(We need to help each other to survive. I will help others so I can help myself. It’s funny right? We are not allowed to see each other but we need each other to be able to survive this pandemic.)