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An impressive small farmer’s market in Lagao!

Over the weekend we went to General Santos on business. We went to a resort owned by a friend during our stay in GenSan from 2000-2002. His resort is not faraway from the city. I’m so impressed with the location and the view. To wake up in that place everyday, I think I’m already good. Oops, I guess not yet, the internet and the cell provider is not yet good there. If those are fixed, I would be totally good there. :-)  After our meetings there, we worked it out that Bob will be doing some work with our friend’s company.

We were so over the moon that the owner of the business set the meeting during weekends. Know why I liked it over the weekend? Well, I’ve been hearing friends and seeing pictures they posted on Facebook about the Farmer’s Market in GenSan. To be honest, I was impressed. Even though it’s just small compared maybe to the farmer’s market in your part of the world but this one will do here in Lagao. Seeing the fresh produce and fruits I’m totally in awe of it. Seeing the people, they were so alive early in the morning it was good to see too. When we arrived there some of the stalls were still setting up. More than half were already set up. Lots of people were already there, some came after attending church. Good seeing some old friends there too.

Bob, Rue and Feyma
Bob at the Farmer's Market with our newphew
Veggies Galore
Market Courtyard where they serve food and drinks
Bob with our friend Rue

Geez, I want to buy a lot of the stuff I saw. Problem is we’re riding the bus, so I just limit myself on buying the stuff that would not get damaged during our transport. I had to let my brother-in-law buy a plastic woven basket for the vegetables and fruits that I bought. Seeing all the produce and the fruits you can tell they were so fresh because of the firmness and the color. They’re also selling free range chicken and eggs, which is hard to find here in Davao. I saw one stall selling meat and choriso. Looking good but I didn’t buy that. For sure next time. If we went there and used our car then I could buy those. One thing I bought there that the kids like a lot is the raw peanuts. My helper cooks boiled peanuts, most of us here at the house eats, I guess except for Bob & Chris.

The day before we talked to our dear friend Cathy, who lives there. One thing that we talked about was about the Philippine delicacies, farmer’s market has them. That’s the first thing I bought there. Lol. She also told us that she bought her produce there every week. I truly believed her when she says that the vegetables that she bought there stays fresh longer than the one she bought at the grocery store at the mall.

The fun part of being there was meeting again the woman behind the Farmer’s Market. Her name is Rue Ramas. We’ve known her 15 years ago. We met here when we still lived there. It’s so long ago that I can’t even remember. :-) She invited those farmers and sell their product at the farmer’s market. She’s not even charging them for rent of the stall, water and electricity. The farmer’s market is located at her front yard. She has a big lawn. Shes’ also the woman behind the used of corn husk crafts. She’s helping women make dolls, decors, place-mat and many more out of corn husks. I’ve seen lots of her creation in her shop and on facebook and I’m really impressed. She used to have a show place but she closed it down because she’s busy taking care of other stuff. She’s also selling seeds (I can’t remember her company name for that). She’s really a super woman. Good seeing you again Rue. If you go to the farmer’s market and you see Rue, don’t be shy on saying hello to her.

“If ever your family lives in that area or the neighboring town and has product that they want to sell in the Farmer’s Market, try to talk to Rue about it first. She might have stall available for you.” 

FARMER’S MARKET: located just across the former Notre Dame of Lagao Boys Department, (now it’s Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Lagao Campus). Not far from the Petron gas station, opposite street from Petron is Tiongson Street. It’s easy to find. You can ask around, people there knows the location, or just look for the big crowd on Sunday mornings.

Have fun shopping!!!

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“The Pandesal Kid” named Delmer!

My daughter and I did our early routine, walking in our neighborhood early in the morning. When we were almost home a kid showed up on the corner and yelled “Ate you want pandesal? It’s still hot”. I said to Jean we will just buy later at the bakery shop  since it’s too early. While following the path of that kid, I told Jean I think we’ll just buy so that the kid will make a little bit of money. So we then called the kid and told him we will buy some. I asked him how much per pandesal? He said it’s 2 pesos each Te (kids here called the older to them female “Ate” or “Te” – short for Ate).  So we bought 20 pieces. I gave him 50 pesos and told him to keep the change.

Delmer

Delmer

Then I was asking him what’s his name? Where does he live? How old is he? And what school is he attending? He answered my query. His name is Delmer. He lives in Maa, a bit far from us. So I asked him if  he walk from Maa to our subdivision? He said yes. Wow, he must starts waking so really early. He said he’s 13 years old. He’s attending public school in Maa. The sad part is he already quit school before and now again because the mom gets mad at him every time he comes home late. He said he comes home late due to he had to stay later in school because the teacher still teaches the slow reader kids. And he is one of them. So to satisfy his mom, he quit school. I guess the mom would rather have Delmer sell pandesal than go to school everyday. Delmer looks like a really good kid and very respectful. He probably thanked me a dozen times.

Delmer the pandesal kid

Delmer the pandesal kid

I was really telling Delmer before we walked separately away from him that he should try to go back to school next year and not stop. I told him if he won’t finish up at least high school he will be continue on getting lower job since he had no education. His mom works as a stay out helper for somebody near their house. The dad’s job was collecting plastic bottles, cardboard and metal stuff (They call it here “bote bakal”). So really they don’t make that much. I think he said he has 2 other siblings.

It really makes me sad that so many kids here have to stop school because they have to help making money for the family at a young age. It’s one of those unending cycles going on here in the Philippines.

I wish those families that struggle to live in the city will go back to the province and try to raise poultry and pigs for meat. And make a small garden for a start then maybe expand later to sell. Sad part for so many of these people they don’t want to live in the farm. Even though they struggle living in the city, still they stay. I know for one family, our laundry lady, they have a farm not far from here in Davao. But she said she doesn’t want to live there because it’s too quiet for her. Her husband and kids said the same thing.

Anyway, I’m really hoping for the best for Delmer. By the way, he is a 5th grade student. I’m really hoping he will continue his studies next year and will continue on until he graduates high school. I’m crossing my fingers for him. So many kids like Delmer here in the Philippines. Hoping for the best to all of them too.

Cheers!

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Having business here in the Philippines while living abroad!

I was asked by a reader here with questions “If is is good for her to put up business here in the Philippines while she’s still living abroad?”.  I answered her back that I will not recommend that. You know why? If the owner is not around the workers will not do what the owner want them to do with the business. I know of some friends who owned businesses here and letting the family members run the business while they are still living abroad. Really lots of them end up closing in no time.

The lady wants a small eatery place with karaoke and they want to serve beer. In short it’s like karenderia with karoake bar. She wants to start to have business here before her retiring time abroad. She works as a nurse if I remember. She earned pretty descent money. She already had some other properties here and she wants to add more income. She told me that she will have her family manage the place before her retiring time. So she’s asking my opinion about it.

Karenderia

Karenderia

I don’t recommend to people to have business here but you know what I don’t know the people that she entrusted her money with. It’s really up to her. She should study hard and read a lot online about people here putting up business if it succeed or if it fails. She should study the pros and cons to it. I’ve know people that put up business for the family and fails.

We had a friend, before he and his wife put up a pretty nice business for the family. They also want the money (income from the business) to be saved for their future retirement here in the Philippines. They put up a nice internet cafe business with 15 seat cafe complete with printer, scanners and all those stuff that’s good for the cafe. It was good at first. Then later it was mismanaged by the family members. Later on almost all the customers that’s occupying the seats in the internet were family members. So no revenue was generating with the business. Year or so later the business folded. So it’s really sad.

My really close friend bought like 3 jeepneys and farms for her family and to save some money when time for her to come back here for good. Well, her contract abroad was not over yet and her jeepneys were already starting to deteriorate. It cost her a big amount of money at the end. The farm starts to make money but family’s relationship starts to fail. Comes with the fighting  and not talking.

A family member of mine sent money for her family to start a small business. Instead the family bought a billiard table and because it’s not their hard earned money they just left the pool table outside without cover in just a few months after buying it, it was nothing but trash. The big investment just rotted out in-front of them.

So if thinking of investing while not here to manage it? I hardly recommend putting up businesses here.

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