BACOLOD City – The economic pain brought about by the coronavirus disease pandemic forced adjustments, especially to people’s sources of income.
Some shifted to a work-from-home setup, while some lost their jobs. Street vendors here were no exception.
We often see them greeting us politely, convincing us to buy their merchandise such as snacks and ready-to-wear (RTW) clothing. They won’t even mind walking miles under the scorching heat just to put food on the table back home.
Reynaldo Eleazar, a 42-year-old resident of Barangay Handumanan, has been selling kakanin for five years. He walks on the streets and knocks on establishments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eleazar said his meager income could not sustain the daily needs of his two children aged six and 10.
He appealed to the government to extend more assistance to the poor.
Eleazar hoped that public mobility would not be restricted as most of his customers were employees of business establishments.
He is already happy if he could earn P300 now. Before the pandemic, he could take home P700.
Eleazar has only simple dreams: “Makabakal lang bugas kag sud-an sa adlaw-adlaw okay na ako sina.”
“Nahandum ko gid nga sa 2022 magtawhay na ang kalibutan. Nga ang tawo indi na makulba-an (sa COVID). Ginapangayo ko nga indi lang malatnan ilabi na gid ang pamilya ko,” he added.
Meanwhile, Roberto Pama of Barangay Vista Alegre shared it would take him two days to sell out all his RTW clothes.
Yet to become a father, Pama ventures not only in this city but also out-of-town.
Before the pandemic, he could take home P2,000. Now he has lost almost half of his income.
He hoped for a “better” government.
“Kon mag-uswag ang Bacolod basi mag-uswag man ‘ko,” Pama said.
Their stories depict the life of those people not only worried about their health but also how to bring food to their family.
Just like us, they hope that this pandemic will end soon./PN