😁 Kamusta, bro and sis Hivers? It’s Kymmy, the makulit! Makulit is Filipino for “naughty” in a childlike manner, NOT something… 😏🤭🤣

This is my second post and my entry to ASEAN Hive Weekly Challenge #156 - Local Markets. I’d like to take you to a very weird mini-trip I had this morning at the local market in a nearby city. Are you ready? All aboard! 😎

Prepping the can’t-leave-without-these

If you have read my introduction post, you’ll know I have an illness. Part of it is I get random anxiety attacks. Whenever I’m outside, I bring the black necklace. The long black tube is like a whistle with no sound. When I get anxiety attacks, I blow through that tube so that I can slow down my breathing. Well, the watch is a real necessity. Would you believe me if I told you I have that for almost 13 years now? And yes, the tumbler. Before, I would bring a 3L water bottle. But it is too bulky and heavy. So, I started using a smaller tumbler instead. I just lessen my drinking.

I bring three bags with me. A backpack, to put stuff inside instead of carrying it with my hands. A small shoulder bag where I keep my phone and wallet. Lastly, a bag made of plastic sack. It’s very durable! You can put 2-3 bags of groceries in it. I bring it so that I’ll use only one hand in carrying multiple bags instead of two. It’s only a freebie from Magic Sarap seasoning (it’s like MSG but Filipino version). So, mama bought 5 packs. My aunt bought 10.

To the market we gooooo~

Welcome!👋😁

The green vehicles you see are traysikels. It’s like a motorcycle with a cart and an additional wheel. This isn’t what they used to look like when I was in high school. They look more like mini cars now, all covered. Before it’s so bare that you can see through the souls of the passengers.

📷 I kept taking stolen shots that the pictures blurred out 😅

My hands were shaking from nervousness, shyness, and burning self-consciousness as if the people were looking at me and were like “What’s wrong with this girl? Why is she taking photos? Is she crazy?”

I’m not used to this taking of photos thing. Much more in public. Much much more with random strangers. Much much much more when I’m scared someone might snatch my phone and ran away with it. Much much much much most when my mama learns about it. Then, probably, this will be the last time I’ll see the local market. Or will I ever see the sun shine.

First, I headed to buy the lumpia or spring roll wrapper. But I will just use the word lumpia. I’m going to make lumpia for my sister when she comes home. But I will make it today and just put them in the freezer. Then, cook it when she comes. I will try my luck in posting a recipe of the lumpia that I made. I really tried my best to take good pictures (please be kind to me 🙏) but in the measurements, mostly, I only “use feeling” as Uncle Roger says 😉👌

When I pretended to be not-so-local

Okay, so here’s the thing.

I was roaming around and I wanted to get pictures but I was too shy, nervous, and overly self-conscious. But I need to overcome them. The man you see with the poultry products, he’s the first seller I asked if I could take pictures and he said yes. Even jokingly asked if he could join and I happily said YES 😁

Then, a weird idea popped in my mind.

No, the idea is not the squid.

Here’s the idea:

What if… I speak in Filipino? Our local dialect is Hiligaynon and usually non locals would use Filipino to communicate. They might think “oh, she isn’t a local that’s why she’s taking photos.” Believe me. It worked! I overcame my struggles at most. Well, the problem was not them. It was me. Overthinking all the time.

Great Hall of veggies

This section of the local market is what I call the “Great Hall of Veggies.” It is a narrow pathway with vegetable stalls on both sides. You can find various kinds of veggies here and they are as fresh as they can be.

Tita Ana, the hardworking, kind, and lovely veggie seller

In the market, there is always one store where I buy most of my veggies. The owner of it is Tita Ana and her husband. But in the photos below, she’s only with her sister, Tita Analy. In our country, tita means aunt. I bought some veggies from her for the lumpia, some spices, and lots of eggplants. I love eggplants! Especially when just fried and dipped in soy sauce, vinegar, and chili.

Curious about Tita Ana and her life as a seller of veggies, I asked if I could have a short interview with her.

She said yes! I’m ecstatic! 😁🥳

Tita Ana (left) and Tita Analy (right)

What is the greatest challenge for you in managing a vegetable store?

The hardest part is when your money is not enough. Today, the money needed for capital is getting expensive because the prices of goods are increasing.

Why, tita?

Sometimes, it can’t be avoided that we need to borrow (money). That is the hardest. If you don’t have capital.

If that happens, what do you do to resolve it?

What we do is, sometimes, my husband would have side hustles for additional (money). Because if you’re going to depend only on this business, you will go bankrupt. (Money for) every expense from the house comes from here and other expenses like school. If you don’t have additional income, your business will fail.

What if tita, since your selling vegetables, what do you do if they’re almost spoiled?

We throw them.

But what happens to your capital?

None. It’s a loss. For example, in our vegetables, we will buy 3 bundles of dahon kamote (sweet potato leaves) for 20 pesos (USD 0.36). If new, we will sell it for 15 pesos a bundle but if it’s old we sell it for 10 pesos. So that the loss would be lessened. But most of the time we lose a lot because the freshness of the leaves doesn’t last until the next day. Other than that are the pests. The rats. That’s another cause for loss. They don’t choose (what kind of vegetables to eat).

With all these hardships that you’ve been through, what is the lesson that you understood?

As much as possible, don’t borrow money. Also, you need to be wise with your money. That’s it. When you need to buy products, you need to choose the best and it should stay longer. And people would really get attracted and buy them if they’re beautiful and fresh. But if your products look old, people would never choose them.

I thanked them for their kindness and time and happily walked away with my fresh spices and veggies, especially my beloved eggplants.

Dropping by the grocery

I need to buy some goods at the grocery. It’s just walking distance from the local market. I was roaming around trying to collect the items on the list mama gave me when I saw coffee. Then, I realized, I FORGOT TO BUY COFFEE BEANS!

I need to go back to the market.

I was done with my groceries and put them all into proper bags. The groceries went inside the yellow bag. The veggies went inside my backpack. After that, I headed to the market again bringing all these heavy stuff.

I’m alive, alert, awake with fresh coffee

I went to Dory Reyes Store to buy my coffee beans. I bought only half a kilo which lasts me for 2-3 months since I’m the only one who drinks freshly grounded coffee at home. I ground my own coffee. I invited my mama and papa but they prefer instant coffee. Me, I just prefer pure coffee with ice like an iced Americano.

Heading home

I went to another mall where outside it, I waited for the traysikel that passes by our barangay (village). I usually start my first meal at 2 PM, but I already decided to eat siomai (steamed dumplings) and drink sago’t gulaman (sweet beverage with gelatin slices and starch pearls).

I’m not used to selfies but I think I needed one here as a remembrance. After waiting for about 5-10 minutes, I was able to ride a traysikel home. These are the scenic views I pass by throughout my ride.

☺️ We have reached our destination. How was the ride? I’d love to hear from you! 😁

Sellers in the local market may smile at you and ask you what you need. Offering kind and honest service. Behind those smiles are struggles and problems they are trying to overcome. Even though they don't earn much, they find other ways to have additional income even if it means sacrificing rest and enduring exhaustion.

🙏Please, whenever you go out to the local market and buy food, please, please, please, be kind to them. They're more than just the vegetables, fruits, or meat they sell. They're people, too, who deserve kindness for working the whole day for their family and dreams.

🙏Thanks for reading my bro and sis Hivers! I really appreciate your time, effort, and patience. 🥰

@kamustakymmy here ✌️ See you after a few midnights! Salamat! ☺️😴

Some photos are Canva edited.