Tiangges: Responding to people's needs

TOI some, they are nuisances that crowd the pavements along the edges of the streets. But to others, they are a source of cheap items that offer solution to hunger and provide satisfaction to your wants.

Just like the latter, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario also believes that bazaars or locally known as tiangges should be given a chance to expose their purpose, rather than be shooed away just because of their intent of earning a living.

Tiangges are small shops where a variety of goods are sold for a lot cheaper than prices at the malls.

The installation of these tiangges during the week-long 2013 Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet provides huge assistance, not only to these micro-business enterprises, but also to the athletes, coaches, officials and all spectators visiting the Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center to see for themselves the spectacular athletic competitions.

A wander at the far side of the parking area of the sports center will lead you to the hamlet of these bazaars. There are 50 of these stalls sitting astride the right portion of the area, containing all sorts of souvenirs that will clutch your interest, and foods that will tickle your taste buds with assurance.

Just take time in roaming around the whole venue of these bazaars and you’ll see a bunch of stuffs; and by bunch of stuffs, I mean a manifold of them.

Craving for a corn cub, a chocolate or perhaps a siomai? Don’t you worry, it’s all available there. If you might happen to look for something that will quench your thirst, mineral water, fruit juice, healthy drinks, fresh cow’s milk or maybe Zagu’s finest shakes will be there to be of good help to you.

If perhaps your taste buds are looking for something to have about, durian candies, yemahs, fruits, junk foods, burgers, and sandwiches will surely do the trick. What makes these bazaars great is that they serve foods from breakfast to supper.

See? These stalls are a one-way package for satisfaction and delight.
Bags, mats, toys, t-shirts, bangles, accessories and the like are also found hanging on the corners and displayed on tables. Choosing your stuffs in accord with your desire is the main thing in dealing with these creative and cool souvenirs.

Speaking of souvenir items, one can choose from a variety of products displayed in a stall named Produkto DavNor, a Pasalubong Center run by the Provincial Government. It showcases all the home-made products of Davao del Norte, like food stuffs and handicrafts made out of local raw materials.

Moreover, Jocelyn Butalid, a souvenir vendor, also is very appreciative of del Rosario’s effort in giving them the opportunity to set up their business in such a big event. She and her husband have been doing the same business for over 13 years and it’s their first time to be a part of an occasion such as this.

Both of them and all other vendors admitted that their profit here is bigger compared to their regular business in their respective stations. A consolidation of all the sales earned by the vendors on the first day of the Davraa Meet alone totaled to P99,700.

Indeed to some, these lowly tiangges might be an eye sore on the streets. But to the small entrepreneurs, they find this job noble enough since this is the only means for now to sustain the needs of their families.

(Editor's Note: Writer is a 4th year high school student of Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas.)
Erick Jan Sagot