#Robinsons Supermarket

[gravethi3f]

feeling like a Colin Robinson victim today whenever someone tries to talk to me

[i-think-you-should-leave]

How do we move our bodies ever?

[grundoonmgnx]

John Robinson, The Emphasist/ All The Things You Tell Me About Myself Are Designed To Keep Me In a State of Ideological Capture (or: recreation of the end of the seance in Venice owing to the absence of sponge cakes in the supermarket in Castello), 2024

Oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm

[songofwizardry]

Ok I'm out of the UK and meant to be on an organising break so I don't even know the worst of it, because I'm off all my usual networks and chats, but here's a long post, because I'm angry: in the last few days, across the country, there have been (halal and Muslim owned) businesses burnt down and attacked including cafes (1 and 2) and a supermarket in Belfast; a Muslim cemetery was vandalised; multiple hotels housing asylum seekers or said to be housing asylum seekers were set on fire sometimes with people inside. And that's just what's on the news. The stuff coming out anecdotally, from the people I'm talking to, is even worse. And again, I'm not hearing the worst of it right now.

The rhetoric is blatant and obvious: the leaked list of targets for Wednesday evening that's going around explicitly says they won't stop coming until we make them. It explicitly targets immigration support, immigration lawyers, and asylum seeker and refugee support centres; and just because you think you live in a diverse area does not mean it’s not a target and that numbers aren’t needed. By virtue of it targeting immigration support (and by design!!!) they’re targeting areas with large Brown, Black and immigrant populations. Particularly Muslim populations.

I don’t want to fear monger, bc where communities have been showing up, the fash are being driven out. But like. I will not lie. It is terrifying to see blatant far-right, Islamophobic, explicitly anti-immigrant and anti-asylum rhetoric so openly on our streets, days on end. It makes me incandescent with rage to hear about mosques across the country issuing warnings and shutting down events, and to hear about my friends outside London whose families haven’t been able to leave their homes in days, to hear from my friends who are or support asylum seekers about how terrified they are. It infuriates me to see, even at this point, the language and reporting, because to make the news we have to step out of a mosque being targeted and offer the fash food and a tour of the mosque; because they're still talking about how much we "contribute" to this country and that's why you shouldn't target us; becaus there's still people pointing out super "reasonably" that this is a natural response of the white working class to unchecked immigration or our terrible crimes or the violence of Muslims or those fucking savages or because there's too many goddamn people crossing the channel or. Whatever new bullshit. Genuinely, this is still turning up in the reporting, and on socials, go look on twitter and you will be utterly horrified at the shit that's being said. I'm seeing it on tumblr too.

It makes me so fucking angry and yet I am unsurprised, because Nigel Farage is an MP and can still say that this is a “response to unchecked immigration”, because the shadow Welsh secretary can say there is “political justification” for the far-right action on our streets, because my friends who are asylum seekers have seen years upon years of being blamed for every ill and failure of the social safety net that the government has been responsible for. This is where we end up after years of talking about “no-go zones” in Muslim areas of cities, after “Stop the boats” (full of terrified people who are escaping unimaginably bad circumstances) becomes a reasonable political chant, after we had a prime minister whose blatant islamophobic comments were just… ignored for years, after years of newspaper front pages demonising us.

This isn’t just about the stabbings. (Tommy Robinson was in London leading a fash march before these stabbings. This has been a long time coming.) This is the result of years of this shit. So yeah, we are scared, and concerned, but also angry (maybe that’s just me; I am always angry). Look out for your friends. Check in on people, particularly if you know PoC and people targeted by Islamophobia (misplaced or otherwise, our Sikh friends get a lot of this shit as well), immigrants, and asylum seekers and refugees.

Numbers have been key to keeping the fash down. Counterprotests are happening everywhere—if you can get to one SAFELY (being the key word here—if you’re visibly going to be a target, there is no shame in staying home and staying safe) please do, don’t go alone under any circumstances, take the GBC number, don’t split off from the group, etc. Repeatedly, we have been the ones keeping each other safe. Counter-protests are being called by Stand Up To Racism (which is a SWP front), but particularly within London, BLMUK and LAFA (the London Anti-Fascist Assembly) are also coordinating responses—you can see stuff on the BLMUK instagram. Do what you can to help, but if you’re going out there, do it as a group and do it safely.

And please please push back against the anti-immigrant rhetoric, against these prevalent ideas (even) amongst “polite” middle class white liberals about Muslims who refuse to assimilate, about the “state” of “those” areas of Birmingham and Manchester and London, against the good immigrant narratives and the blame we get for everything from inflation to overcrowded classrooms to NHS underfunding, against the fucking vile way people talk about asylum seekers and people crossing the channel.

I am tired and sick to my core of the myth of “polite” British racism. I am tired of being told that things like that don’t happen here, of the shock I get anytime I describe the Islamophobia and racism that people (that I) experience. I’m actually very very tired full stop, and I don’t know how to end this paragraph.

Fuck the fash. We keep ourselves and each other safe. We need each other to keep our communities safe. Organise. And for the love of god, listen to us.

[ao3feed-jonmartin]

The teddy collector

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/1fu3Jne by Frodopotter7 Jon finds a teddy bear that strangely looks just like Martin. Or Statement of Emily Robinson, regarding a strange encounter in a supermarket. Words: 5661, Chapters: 6/6, Language: English Fandoms: The Magnus Archives (Podcast) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Martin Blackwood, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives), Sasha James, Not-Them (The Magnus Archives) Relationships: Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist Gets a Hug, The Magnus Archives Season 1, The Magnus Archives Season 2, Written in the style of the Magnus archive read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/1fu3Jne

[downthetubes]

New 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine, out today, “Rok of the Reds” joins Megazine lineup

The latest issue of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, 2000AD, is on sale today – in newsagents, supermarkets and comic shops – to warm the winter blues with some circuit shattering Thrill-power!

The latest issue of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, 2000AD, is on sale today – in newsagents, supermarkets and comic shops – to warm the winter blues with some circuit shattering Thrill-power. Just one flick through Prog 2415, with a cover from Cliff Robinson and Dylan Teague, and the likes of “Judge Dredd, “The Out“, “Hawk the Slayer“, “Fiends of the Western Front” and “Portals & Black Goo“ should…

[redstonedust]

extremely funny to me that most vocaloids have vague character guidlines like ''dont do anythin that would damage the company's image'' but pou-ta is out here like

so bad news everyone we can NOT draw the porter robinson vocaloid buying pads and ibuprofen at the liberal supermarket /hj

[dailyanarchistposts]

Note from Return Fire

It’s time again to confront the authoritarian turn brewing on the fringes of the climate movement, and here Klokkeblomst reminds us why. The essay’s subject – the academic Andreas Malm, who blows hot air about why pipelines should be blown up but also about the need for a new ‘War Communism’ of harsh State interventions in the face of the ecological (or, in his reductive terms, ‘climate’) crisis – can serve as an initial target, but we publish this contribution we received in the hope that it will also speak to the tendency that is latent in the current atmosphere of desperation, which we should expect to grow regardless of the influence of this particular figure. (While seeming less influential as yet in radical circles, Malm is wooed by certain establishment media in his native Sweden where he cuts the figure of the militant parading his support for Hamas and other authoritarian groups for a bourgeois audience; suggesting, as with his fellow academic – and fellow apologist for the atrocities of State communism – Slavoj Zizek, he seeks his main recognition in an arena that is not involved in the complicated dynamics of actually trying to effect revolutionary action.)

While in this case in favour of such actions (purely theoretically) if only they fit into his hierarchical schema, we can place Malm on the same spectrum as the UK academics Paul Gill, Zoe Marchment and Arlene Robinson of Univeristy College London’s ‘Department of Security and Crime Science’, who published a paper last year written to offer clear recommendations to the repressive organs of the State as to how to equate anarchist sabotages – legally and propagandistically – with terrorism: he is an enemy of our struggle. His vision insists on quantifiable movement growth as standard for an action’s effectiveness rather than chaotic flows of desire and affect which these sabotages often spring from, achieve, and unpredictably inspire; instead insisting on seeing their ‘results’ in a vacuum (following the well-trod elitist path of other eco-authoritarians Deep Green Resistance). As such he’s a good example of Leftist (and sometimes Left-anarchist) obsession with what the author of excellent third part of ‘After the Crest’ series – reproduced in a forthcoming chapter of volume 6 of Return Fire – calls ‘geometrical growth’, a logic of accumulation: in resistance like in capital.

Now like always, justification is never lacking for his politics of ‘emergency’ that would justify totalitarian State measures; once you’ve accepted the price of such intervention as justified and likely to achieve the results you want, in today’s world there’s no shortage of issues to tack this lust for iron-fisted measures on to. The logic of urgency, however, is a poor metric for the ecological struggles we need. The idea that we have only so many years, decades, or “chances” left only obscures the effects of the crisis that are already happening; just disproportionately to the poor, non-Western, non-human. Such clock-watchers base their forecasts on technocratic measures like CO2 particles that are determined on levels utterly out of our participation, leading us directly away from our own judgment and experience: for instance, in the ongoing struggles to defend land and simultaneously rejoin the life of what actually sustains us beyond the supermarket and internet, or against capitalist extraction projects; which such academics and (wannabe-)politicians haven’t been positively contributing to but now want to co-opt and lead, straight into the dust. And, as this reduces the successfulness of these resistances when we let this happen, it gives even more grounds to the authoritarians (Left or Right) who propose their more ‘radical’ solutions...

In Malm’s take, the anti-nuclear movement is ‘naïve’; yet his model rests on technologies that don’t even exist yet in forms that have shown results, and he ignores efforts like re-vitalisation of indigenous lifeways, restorative agro-ecology, commoning, etc. This isn’t surprising for the legacy he likes to see himself as representing: the Leftist project of seizing the reins of a global industrial order, the results of which he hypocritically decries; yet remains utterly attached to its world. This is far from an isolated symptom these days; it hits a nerve for the terrified citizens who buy his books. Furthermore, his strident defence of the State – and insistence on the primacy of its agency vis-a-vis the ecological crisis – comes at a time of a crisis of governance worldwide which anarchists would do well to push away from the State-form; but Malm offers the contenders for the outcome of this power vacuum a new legitimacy, an ‘eco-Marxist’ flavour serviceable for the same project of infinite technocratic accounting that the progressive (we don’t mean this in a positive light) parts of the capitalist system are already clamouring for. He ignores the actual fault-lines like borders – which, as a Statist, he can only favour – which have been and will be some of the first flash-points as ecological collapse gains speed. Each argument for totalitarian responses invigorates others; we can see for example how in Germany among the supporters of the most restrictive COVID-19 regulations was the federal leader of the Green Party, proposing the governance of the state of emergency as “the model” for “the configuration of climate change”, praising Chinese “management of the pandemic”...

While we disagree that the struggles Malm should support instead should be “non-violent (but not pacifist)” because we do not find it to be a useful conception or restriction, as we’ve made clear since our very first chapter, and we’re not sure exactly what “climate justice” would mean in this context, we find it important to extend the reach of this piece as much as possible; including, to the degree we can, to the youth and others recently becoming active in the fight for a dignified life and a flourishing ecology we could call home. Artwork was supplied by the author, with a couple of additions from us. We welcome feedback at returnfire@riseup.net – also, to see the articles referenced by title throughout this text in [square brackets], consult chapters of the current volume of Return Fire (vol.6). PDFs of Return Fire and related publications can be read, downloaded and printed by visiting our website.*

– R.F., Winter Solstice 2021 * returnfire.noblogs.org

[daramdarararam]

Hirap maging pinoy. Sinisingle out ni NutriAsia ung toyong binebenta sa Dali na kaparehas daw ng packaging? parang andami namang iba na ganon din packaging, you know marca pina??? mas gusto naming toyo yan kesa DatuPuti panget ng lasa ng toyo at suka nila. Bumaba siguro sales nila, yun ba namang kada sulok ng barangay may Dali! mas mura kasi talaga. Ang mamahal kaya ng presyo sa ibang stores, super mura ng delata, lalo ung ala-spam na luncheon meat jan!! Hindi na ako magtataka if pagtulungan ng ibang malalaking retail stores like Robinsons Mini, puregold/alfamart tong Dali.

Some of the brands/products na go-to ko jan e ung GoNutt!!! Kulina tomato catsup na kalasa ng heinz !! saraaap. at masarap ung icecream nila, ung mga tinapay nila etc. kung ako sa ibang stores, babaan din nila presyo nila. kasi kaya naman pala ganon kababang presyo ng hindi sinasakripisyo ang quality eh. sarap din nung bakakult saka ung blueberry yoghurt na lagi ko din jan binibili. even ung mga pinoy brands, may ilang sentimo or 1-3 pesos ang difference sa ibang supermarket!! para sa mahihirap, napakalaking luwag non. 1k ko makakapaguwi ka na ng isang box jan! frozen products gooods den lalo ung chicken nuggets!!

andaming energy no. hindi ako makatulog eh hays hahahahaha shareholder talaga ako ng dali bwhahaha!

[funnyfooddatabase]

Celebrity Apprentice Diet Snapple Trop-a-Rocka and Snapple Compassionberry

Drink

Type of Funny Food: Tie-In Product

Introduced: May 2010

Location: Supermarkets

As part of the final challenge of Celebrity Apprentice, the last two contestants- Bret Michaels and Holly Robinson Peete- were tasked to create a marketing plan for an original Snapple flavor they conceived.

Bret Michaels, a diabetic, chose to create Trop-a-Rocka, a diet black and green tea with pear, mango, and cinnamon, while Holly Robinson Peete created Compassionberry Tea, a black and green tea with passionfruit and strawberry flavors. 

Both flavors were available for a limited time in supermarkets. Proceeds from the sale of both were donated to different charities- Trop-a-Rocka to the American Diabetes Association and Compassionberry to the HollyRod Foundation for autism research.

[celestialvoyeur]

9 People You Would Like to Know Better

Tagged by @introvertia - Thanks!

1. Three ships : AOS Spirk, TOS Spirk, SNW Spirk  😂

2. First ever ship : Spirk 💙💛

3. Last Song : Oh Lord by Foxy Shazam

4. Last Film: Star Trek: Beyond (I swear I do like things other than Star Trek, I just happen to have watched the AOS movies most recently lol)

5. Currently reading : A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson

6. Currently Watching: Mostly YouTube videos about house cleaning so I can get some motivation!  😂

7. Currently consuming: A cheese and ham toastie 😊

8. Currently craving: Creme Caramel! (honestly, I WANT one and the supermarket was out the last time I went 😭😭😭 first world problems)

If you want to: @gunstreet @spirkme915 @flippyspoon @wonderbent @thetimetostrikeislater @onwhatcaptain @spocks-husband @cicaklah @why-lamp

[phoebejaysims]

Robinson Family - Round 4

Now that Liam’s got his degree, the workforce is a callin’. Thanks to good old nepotism, he was able to score a job at his father’s workplace in the span of one conversation...

The business offices are a little useless at the moment, so I’m thinking of having Liam and his dad invest in a shop. I feel like Tillage needs a Poundland to sell various bits and bobs: a place to give the supermarket a run for its money.

The Robinson’s are moving up in the world. They even splurged on a car!

[charlesandmartine]

Friday 30th June 2023

Happy Birthday Amanda.

Up early because we were changing locations, but first we needed to get this troublesome tyre sorted. Mr Enterprise said we needed to take it to their preferred tyre provider KAL Tires. They were on route to our next location and in Penticton, some 6 or seven miles away. We rocked up on the forecourt just after eight in the morning just after they opened for the day. They were rammed packed and really couldn't commit to a finish time, so given that Mr Enterprise couldn't provide a replacement car, we had to get it fixed; after all we had a date with the Kettle Valley Heritage Railway. All aboard at 10.30 sharp. Basically we had very little time to hang around tyre emporiums. Mr Enterprise gave us an alternative, Fountains Tires just around the corner. They were very nice, but also very nicely sucked their teeth and said you wouldn't believe how busy they were today. We agreed we wouldn't, but what could they do for us. I left Martine to be a little tarty and explain that it would ruin our holiday if we couldn't be on the road in an hour.

They cracked on, fixed it and refused to charge us!!

We were on our way; 20 km to the railway, stuck in traffic, sweltered in the building heat, screamed into the railway yard at 10.26, the engine whistle sounding in that maunful North American sort of way they have a habit to do. Slung the credit card at the ticket lady and ran down the platform as the guard shouted 'all aboard '. I parked the car.

The train took us 10km along the standard guage track from Summerland along the original Kettle Valley Railway Line (the same line as the trail we walked 2 days ago) passing farms, wineries (the Dirty Laundry Winery), rivers and forests. The 104 year old engine, now converted to run on oil, was uncoupled at Trout Bridge Canyon and brought us back again. Not originally on this line but as a 4-8-0 would have had similar capability to an engine required to pull heavy ore up a 2° gradient. We thoroughly enjoyed our journey, the ticket inspector gave a running commentary and spent some time sitting talking to us. He said that it was the UK that was inspirational in the establishment of Heritage lines in Canada, although some were struggling and could face closure. The traveller's faces reflecting the same glazed little boy enthusiasm you meet anywhere in the world as soon as a steam engine puffs around the bend.

After lunch we set sail for our next two night stop in Salmon Arm. To get here we had to travel the long winding road alongside the complete 84 mile length of Lake Okanagan, momentarily stopping at 'Save-on-Foods' store to pick up supplies in Kelowna and walk along the lakeside at Peachland, another of our old friend Mr Robinson's town creations. The bright shiny supermarket more than adequately provided us with a rubbery chicken and a most fine selection of locally produced Canadian SB. It has, I would like to confirm, proved exceedingly pleasing on the palette and could well be the start of a long and fruitful relationship.

Our bed for the next 2 nights is in a very well appointed basement with an agreeable outdoor space from where this missive is being crafted.

ps well over 30° C again today.

pps Canada is proving more and more pleasing as we progress north. 200km today

ppps we bought some Tim Tams.

pppps it's Canada Day tomorrow.

[bellisimaflowershop]

#bellisimaflowershop 🌹💋❤️ Surprise them with fkowers 🌸🌸🌸 📍South Supermarket Malolos 📍Message us/📨 @bellisimaflowershop.malolos 🌸 🌹🌹🌹 #vdaywithbellisima #valentinesgiftph #valentinesday #giftidea #philippines #ofw #seamanlife #flowershop #onlineshop #bouquetflowers #malolosflowershop #viral #BulacanFlowershop #robinsonplacemalolos #free #delivery #chocolatebouquet (at Robinsons Malolos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cof4DqVh5Se/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[group9interdisciplinaryproject]

Art Installation Experiences research - Kai Robinson

Omega Mart - Las Vagas

Omega Marts is an interactive art exhibit in Las Vegas put together by Meow Wolf. The experience begins in a false supermarket filled with goods that mock real supermarkets. From here, you enter the actual art exhibit through a fridge. You will have access to games, treasure hunts, and an immersive visual experience using color and shape.

This experience, Like what we will be putting together, has a visual element that coincides with its physical interactive elements. This is a great example of what we need to think about when producing our project. It’s all about the experience, and that’s our goal for Omega Mart. It’s quite large and expensive, so you experience it by moving your own body and walking through it. There are textile aspects and strong visual color, which keep the viewer's attention. It almost feels like it’s a playground for adults rather than just for kids and seems to be a group experience rather than an individual one in which you would interact with others. The environment has given me a good sense of some initial ideas and what ideas we may want to consider. I’m not quite sure if there’s a meaning behind the store and the exhibit or if it’s really meant to be just a playground and a place to have fun.

Atelier de Lumieres - Paris

The Atelier de Lumieres in Paris is a digital exhibition that shows off artwork and information in a confined space where they protect the images and the floor with the VoiceOver to get across the information.

In this sense, it is similar to what we may be doing for our group projects with these visuals and sounds to produce an idea and get it across to an audience. It is clear from their website that it is extremely popular, and it is a much more interactive way of learning about art and history, which is something for us to think about once we commit to our idea. Do we want them to learn something, or do you want them to just experience an environment? This is a large question that we have in these initial weeks.

It is also clear from looking at the website they have multiple different showings. They show something about the pharaohs. They show something about oriental art. They have a van Gogh exhibit. It is clear it’s a popular medium and has many uses in today’s world, and it’s a new take on a museum. You may not be able to see the pieces in person, but you’ll be able to experience The love and thoughts behind them through this medium.

Oasis - Montreal

Like the last one I looked at, this experience is all about visuals and sounds. It has multiple immersive galleries, and within these galleries, there are relaxing spaces where you can sit down and really feel the emotion Coming through. These experiences take place in a rather large space, and projections on the walls, ceilings, and floors create these immersive realities.

I think this will be more similar to what we’re gonna try and produce for our project with images and sounds in an enclosed environment where you’re trying to enjoy the experience. You’re not. You don’t have to do anything yourself to enjoy it. The experience happens to you, and they don’t seem to have many experiences. They only have three on show at the moment, but the one that interests me the most is one about nature showing flowers blooming, bees flying, and Nature in its habitat, almost radiating the feeling of calmness from the videos I’ve seen, and these experiences through these visuals and sound and the relaxation and the immersion is what we’re trying to produce, and I think it’s gonna be a challenge. It’s gonna be hard work, but looking at these three different experiences gives me a sense of the scale of what it has to be and the emotion it has to show.

[1] meowwolf.com. (n.d.). Omega Mart | Now Open | Meow Wolf Las Vegas. [online] Available at: https://meowwolf.com/visit/las-vegas.

‌[2] www.atelier-lumieres.com. (n.d.). L’Atelier des Lumières - Site officiel - Créé par Culturespaces. [online] Available at: https://www.atelier-lumieres.com/en.

[3] OASIS immersion. (n.d.). OASIS immersion - a new all-immersive experience and exhibition. [online] Available at: https://oasis.im/en/all-immersive-experience/.

‌[4] Meow Wolf (2022). The Omega Mart Experience | Meow Wolf. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pua8Sq-UMM [Accessed 23 Jan. 2025].

‌[5] Culturespaces • DES LUMIÈRES (2024). Egyptian Pharaohs / The Orientalists... the Atelier des Lumières’ 2024 exhibitions. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFLWmeFccQ [Accessed 23 Jan. 2025].

[6] ‌Palais des congrès de Montréal (2021). Oasis immersion. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmGiMxb89Jg [Accessed 23 Jan. 2025].

[princegiancarlcorderobonita]

For Angel (sari-sari store) unfiltered

### **"Cornered by Change"**

#### *The Struggles of Sari-Sari Stores in General Santos City in a Globalized Economy*

---

### **Opening Scene/Introduction**

In the heart of Barangay Lagao, where children’s laughter echoes through narrow streets, a humble sari-sari store stands as a fixture of community life. Its bamboo shelves are lined with an eclectic mix of goods—sachets of shampoo, instant coffee, biscuits, and tiny packs of laundry detergent. Inside, Nanay Linda, a 58-year-old store owner, greets every customer with a warm smile, her weathered hands deftly counting coins.

"Business used to be good," she says, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "But now, it’s different. People go to the malls or order online. They buy in bulk at supermarkets or find cheaper products imported from other countries."

Nanay Linda’s sari-sari store, a microcosm of local commerce, represents a broader narrative of small business owners in General Santos City who are struggling to survive in an era of globalization. Once the backbone of neighborhoods, sari-sari stores are now caught in the crosswinds of a rapidly changing economy.

---

### **Background and Context**

Sari-sari stores are ubiquitous in the Philippines, with over a million of them scattered across the country. These small, family-run stores serve as community hubs, providing not just goods but also credit, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging.

In General Santos City, sari-sari stores play a vital role in the daily lives of residents, offering affordable goods in small quantities to cater to low-income households. However, their position in the community is being threatened by the forces of globalization.

The influx of foreign franchises, the rise of e-commerce, and the availability of cheaper imported goods have disrupted traditional retail practices. As supermarkets, malls, and online platforms offer lower prices and a wider selection of products, sari-sari stores are struggling to compete.

---

### **The Main Story: Challenges and Struggles**

#### **The Threat of Imported Goods**

One of the most significant challenges faced by sari-sari stores in General Santos City is the competition from imported products. Foreign-made items often flood the market at prices lower than what local suppliers can offer.

"People always ask for the cheapest option," Nanay Linda explains. "But how can I sell cheap when my suppliers are also raising prices because of imported competition?"

For example, imported instant noodles and snacks are often sold in supermarkets at prices that sari-sari stores cannot match. Bulk-buying options in large retail stores further erode the sari-sari store's advantage, as customers prefer to stock up rather than buy in smaller, pricier portions.

#### **The Rise of Malls and Supermarkets**

General Santos City has seen a rapid expansion of malls and supermarkets in recent years. Chains like KCC Mall, SM City, and Robinsons have drawn customers away from traditional sari-sari stores by offering convenience, air-conditioned spaces, and promotional deals.

Lito, a sari-sari store owner near the downtown area, recalls the impact of a nearby mall opening. "When SM opened, my regular customers stopped coming. They said they could find everything in one place at lower prices," he shares.

#### **The Shift to E-Commerce**

Another blow to sari-sari stores has been the growth of online shopping platforms like Shopee and Lazada. These platforms allow consumers to order products at discounted rates, often with free shipping promotions. For younger generations in General Santos City, the allure of convenience and cost savings has made online shopping a preferred choice.

Maria, Nanay Linda’s daughter, shares her observation: "People in our neighborhood used to buy their toiletries and snacks from us. Now, I see delivery riders dropping off boxes from Shopee and Lazada almost every day."

#### **Economic Pressures on Store Owners**

Aside from losing customers, sari-sari store owners face rising costs due to inflation and the weakening peso. The prices of basic goods, transportation, and utilities have all increased, squeezing profit margins.

Nanay Linda’s ledger reveals the reality of her situation: dwindling sales paired with mounting expenses. "There are days when I don’t even break even," she confides. "But closing the store isn’t an option. It’s our only source of income."

#### **The Loss of Community Connection**

Perhaps the most intangible loss is the erosion of the sari-sari store's role as a community anchor. Where once neighbors gathered to chat and exchange stories, the rise of impersonal retail spaces and online shopping has shifted social interactions elsewhere.

"I miss the days when kids would come here after school to buy candy and tell me about their day," Nanay Linda says wistfully. "Now, they stay inside, glued to their gadgets."

---

### **Broader Implications**

The struggles of sari-sari stores in General Santos City reflect larger trends in developing economies worldwide. Across Southeast Asia, traditional mom-and-pop shops are being displaced by the march of modernization and globalization.

The decline of these small enterprises has far-reaching consequences. Not only do they provide livelihoods for millions, but they also contribute to local economies by supporting small-scale suppliers. Their loss represents a shift away from community-based commerce toward a more centralized and corporate-driven economy.

Moreover, the transition to e-commerce and big retail raises questions about inclusivity. While wealthier consumers benefit from lower prices and convenience, those without access to technology or stable internet connections are left behind. This digital divide exacerbates existing inequalities.

---

### **Hope and Resilience: Responses and Solutions**

#### **Community-Based Solutions**

Despite these challenges, sari-sari store owners in General Santos City are finding ways to adapt and survive. Some have formed cooperatives to pool resources and negotiate better prices from suppliers. By working together, they can compete more effectively against larger players.

Nanay Linda joined a local group of store owners who share tips on inventory management and promotional strategies. "It’s comforting to know I’m not alone," she says. "We’re all trying to help each other."

#### **Government and NGO Support**

The local government has launched programs to support small businesses, including sari-sari stores. Training sessions on digital literacy and financial management equip store owners with the skills they need to modernize their operations.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also stepping in to provide microloans and grants to struggling store owners. These funds enable them to stock up on inventory, invest in refrigeration for perishable goods, or diversify their offerings.

#### **Embracing Technology**

Some sari-sari store owners have embraced technology to stay competitive. By using apps like Sari-Sari Store POS (Point of Sale), they can track sales and manage inventory more efficiently. Others have started selling their products on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace, reaching a broader audience.

Maria, inspired by these innovations, has helped her mother create an online presence for their store. "We post our products on Facebook and even offer delivery within the neighborhood," she says. "It’s not much, but it’s a start."

#### **Focusing on Community Ties**

Ultimately, what sets sari-sari stores apart is their deep connection to the community. By emphasizing personalized service, extending credit to loyal customers, and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere, store owners can retain their niche in the face of globalization.

"I’ve known most of my customers for years," Nanay Linda says with pride. "They trust me, and I trust them. That’s something no mall or website can replace."

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### **Conclusion**

The sari-sari stores of General Santos City stand as both a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the challenges brought by globalization. While these small enterprises face stiff competition from malls, supermarkets, and online platforms, their enduring presence speaks to the strength of community ties and entrepreneurial spirit.

As Nanay Linda and others navigate this changing landscape, they show that adaptation is possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Their stories highlight the need for inclusive policies and support systems to ensure that no one is left behind in the march toward modernization.

In the end, sari-sari stores are more than just businesses—they are the heart of their communities. And as long as there are people like Nanay Linda who refuse to give up, they will continue to endure.

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### **References**

- Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023). *Retail and Trade Industry Report.* Retrieved from [https://psa.gov.ph](https://psa.gov.ph)

- Local interviews conducted with sari-sari store owners in General Santos City, December 2024.

- Del Rosario, M. (2023). *The Impact of Globalization on Small-Scale Retail in the Philippines.* Journal of Economic Development, 12(4), 223–239.

- Sari-Sari Store Cooperative. (2024). *Annual Report on Community-Based Retail Initiatives.* General Santos City, Philippines.

- Department of Trade and Industry. (2023). *Programs for MSME Development in General Santos City.* Retrieved from [https://dti.gov.ph](https://dti.gov.ph)