Written By: Reinzi Ellize Reyes
HARD WORKER. Yvette Canlas is seen working in their sari-sari store on Greenpark Villas 2. Photo captured by Lindsay Canlas.
In the Philippines, having a small business became a necessity next to having a stable job — 80% of enterprises in the country are family-owned. Microbusinesses are the most minor and most frequent of these enterprises. Nine out of 10 all micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines are microenterprises. Their kinship is deep-rooted because community members build these businesses around local needs.
Manila's first lockdown in March 2020 saw a ban on mass gatherings, the imposition of curfews, and the suspension of land, sea, and air travel (not including international departures). Even domestic travel in and out of the Philippine capital was barred. Since then, the country has seen its fair share of lockdown variations, and their effects have reverberated through essential industries such as transport, logistics, commerce, tourism, and food and beverage, to name a few. Filipinos had their lives similarly shaken up as many had to adopt new ways of working from home. The Philippine government only authorized firms classed as "essential services" to operate during data collection (April-May 2020). All other companies were shut down. Therefore, 74% of companies were working by the survey, while the remaining 26% were shut.
Many have turned to online options to cope with day-to-day living in a physically restricted world. Before the pandemic, brick-and-mortar outlets reigned supreme in the Philippine retail scene, and cash was the go-to payment method. But since the government imposed restrictions, online shopping quickly rose in popularity, as did the cashless payment. The country saw the most considerable shift in shopping applications across Southeast Asia and higher growth in e-commerce adoption compared to the global average. Microsellers make up a massive portion of businesses in the Philippines. And once lockdowns were in effect, those reliant on selling or offering services offline were heavily hit. There are approximately 1.3 million sari-sari stores in the Philippines, and 94 percent of people depend on them for their daily necessities.
Loriebeth 'Yvette' Canlas is a Sari-sari store owner residing in Imus City, Cavite. A mother of a ten-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter with her husband staying in Mabalacat, Pampanga, for business purposes. As the pandemic rises in the country, both businesses are not getting enough to sustain their children's everyday needs; she needs to provide. It is a role she is committed to maintaining her sari-sari store during the lockdown period. The family of four depends on local government assistance since the community quarantine that started on March 16, 2020,
“Nakakatanggap naman kami ng ayuda noon, hindi na rin masama kasi kahit papaano nakakadagdag siya sa pang-kain namin sa araw-araw. Kada eco bag merong dalawang (2) kilong bigas, tatlong instant noodles, tsaka dalawang lata ng sardinas”
These rations are essential as Yvette’s revenue has been cut in half since the lockdown,
“Ang laki na ng nagagastos namin dito sa tindahan tapos ang liit lang ng kinikita namin kasi yung mga suki namin mga wala ring trabaho, yung iba puro utang pa. Hindi pa kasama yung mga bayaran dito sa bahay kuryente, tubig, pagkain namin tas wifi pa kasi nag o-online class yung dalaga ko”
Her profits barely cover the P2,500 to P3,000 monthly household expenses.
Businesses have to deal with even more problems as a result of mobility constraints, since they lack supplies due to stock shortages. Yvette's ability to get resources is presently constrained.
“Noon kahit araw-araw ako mamalengke para sa araw-araw na pagkain namin tsaka paninda sa tindahan naging isang beses na lang sa isang linggo. Limitado pa ang pagbili ng mga bilihin, hindi ka magkapagrestock. Tulad na lang doon sa grocery na lagi kong binibilhan, bawal lumagpas sa anim na balot ng instant ng noodles kada checkout”
Any type of financial help would be beneficial to Yvette's shop's long-term viability.
“Grabe yung pagbaba ng benta ko di tulad noong okay pa ang lahat. Siguro aabutin ng P13,000 yung kakailanganin ko para mabawi yung nalugi ko dito. Yung kita kasi nitong tindahan napupunta na lang sa panggastos namin sa araw-araw minsan kulang pa”
This pandemic really hit business owners like Yvette. But like she said
“Habang tumatagal, habang nakakapit ka lang sa Diyos hindi ka niya pababayaan, makakaisip at makakaisip ka ng paraan para itaguyod ang pamilya, hindi ako sumuko kasi kailangan ako ng mga anak ko, gusto kong mabigyan sila ng makapagtapos and magkaroon ng magandang buhay”.
Filipinos are indeed hardworking people, Yvette never gave up and she always move forward despite what obstacles are thrown in front of her. Any goal can be reached with a lot of hard work and perseverance.
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