Cool profit on hot election day

I was cleaning my mail the other day and I found this link with the title "Cool profit on hot election day." Suddenly, I recalled the memories of my Manila-Bulletin-On-the-Job-Training during the summer of 2010. I can't help laughing at myself for doing silly things at the duration of the entire internship. And what is even funnier is that I cannot believe myself for having survived the Pasig police beat. Whew! Anyway, here is the copy of one of my first published articles.

P.S. Continue reading til you reach my name at the bottom. :)

 

Cool profit on hot election day

 

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD

May 11, 2010, 2:40pm

Aside from having the chance to vote in order to choose our country’s next leaders, election day in the Philippines proved profitable for vendors, considered part of the “underground economy,” who doubled their earnings.

Vendors in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City said that election day was a “profit day” – especially for those selling cold refreshing drinks from sago gulaman, to buko and melon juice to voters who had to line-up for a few hours under the heat of the sun to participate in the country’s first ever automated elections.

Fely Persincula, 38, married and who has eight children, said that she is expected to earn at least P800 from selling corn (mais) and “sago gulaman” to voters queuing in different polling precincts at the Pinagbuhatan Elementary School.

When asked why she chose corn and sago gulaman as the kind of goods to sell, she explained that it’s much easier to sell to the people.

“Madali kasi ito itinda at mabenta sa kanila lalo na at mainit ang panahon ngayon" (It's easier to sell especially since the weather is very hot today,) Persincula said.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Angie Asomrado, who sells gulaman and melon juice outside the school, said she would earn more or less P600 for half day’s work.

Asomrado, who has two children ages 13 and 10 explained that if it was just an ordinary day, she would not earn that much money.

“Mas malaki ang kita ko kung araw ng election kumpara sa regular na araw (My earnings are much better during the elections compared to a regular day,” she said.

Maria Fe Reynancia, 62, who has been selling buko juice for the past five years, also said that her earnings doubled because of the high demand for her drink.

She said from a capital of P500, the money will double in just a few hours.

Reynancia, in the meantime, said that despite her needing to do business to earn money, she did not set aside her responsibility and duty as a Filipino citizen to vote during an election.

“Kahit kailangan magtrabaho, gumising pa rin ako ng maaga para bumoto" (Despite the fact that I need to work, I had to wake-up early in order for me to vote,) she said.

Reynancia said that she wished that elections would be held every day so that small-time vendors like her will earn enough profit to feed the family.

“Kahit hindi pwede mangyari, pero sana araw-araw eleksyon" (Even if it’s impossible to happen, how I wish everyday is election day,) she said. 

(With Guia Trinidad)

SOURCE: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/256878/cool-profit-hot-election-day