#pillars of our society. who makes sure I'm eating. who makes sure I'm not taking on too much. who writes references.

[thevegetablewhichnoonedaresname]

I owe freaking everything to middle aged women looking out for me. And I mean everything

[tat22]

Weekly Blog

Week 2

The sari-sari store business is one of the pillars of our society. Unusually, no other countries in this part of the world have this large number of sari-sari stores elsewhere. Even in our barangay, there are many sari-sari stores, and since we were young, this has been the standard layout of a sari-sari shop where people may interact and share ideas and opinions.

                As a student, I was asked to interview the owner of one of the sari-sari stores in our neighborhood. I came to know Aling Ester, a 61-year-old who has had a sari-sari shop for about 5 years and is our neighbor. As I describe her store, the exterior has a grill or shield for theft prevention, and there is a small table outside for customers to eat their food. It is a common and traditional sari-sari store. I asked random questions about her and her business. At first, I asked about the background of her business, and according to her, she began creating a little sari-sari store in 2017 as a hobby and at the same time to make some money by selling various things that their neighborhood needed. “A sari-sari store is a good small business for me, as long as you manage it very well. And I believe this kind of business is not only a one stop shop providing locals with everything from daily food necessities to cleaning supplies, but this is a colorful, cultural icon that brings together the community” she said. We can really tell that she is not just an ordinary sari-sari store owner but an extraordinary one because she also wants to preserve or embrace our culture, which is important to us as Filipinos. My second question concerns her manner or her "Diskarte sa pamaligya." "Of course, my product display is very affordable and convenient, and being a friendly Tindera is a big asset to make sales," she replied with confidence. And I've seen firsthand how friendly and diligent Aling Ester is in my role as a neighbor. Despite her manners and awesome personality in creating business, I also asked her about the challenges or problems that she had encountered upon doing her business, since the start up. According to her, starting a business is not simple because you have to get all necessary business permissions, make sure to meet all requirements, and have the required money available for this sari-sari store and it is absolutely critical and risky since you might not be aware of all the possibilities. You must also be persistent in doing this and create a plan beforehand, so you can have a profitable business. Last question I’ve asked Aling Ester is one that is captivating because in the future, I also want to have a small business. I asked about the benefits in creating a business, what makes her persevere and stay in this kind of business after all these years. “I can say that, I hold my time and I'm the boss here. And I enjoy selling, so I have more bonding time with my family. I learned to socialize with different types of people, and monitor my small profitable sari-sari store. Well, not all businesses succeed but if you have determination, perseverance and are willing to take risks and be happy with what you do. You can achieve your business goal.” She clearly answered.

                Interviewing a sari-sari store owner is a complicated but an exciting challenge for a student. We all understand that this is a small business, but it is essential because without hard work and dedication, your firm will not succeed. You will be able to claim full credit for the rewards if your business's success is the product of your labor of love. Nothing in business provides as much fulfillment and satisfaction as achieving your objectives through your initiative, perseverance, and hard work