Friday, December 22, 2006 Downtown night market opens
BEFORE there were malls in Cebu, people flocked to Carbon Market, and of course, Manalili St.
But the myriad of Filipino Chinese stores, offering items from footwear to reusable sacks along the short stretch of road, saw how the number of customers dwindled since the 80s.
The advent of aircon-ditioned supermarkets and warehouses offering goods at wholesale prices made Manalili, with adjacent roads like Progreso and Lincoln, a ghost of its former self.
But along with new lamps and fresh faces came a glimmer of hope offered with the start of the Manalili night market yesterday.
“Unta pinaagi aning atong gibuhat mobalik ang mga tawo sa Carbon (I hope this will make people go back to Carbon),” said a nostalgic Jeff Go, whose family owns Go Em Lay Sons Co. Ltd.
Revitalizing
He said that while they do not directly benefit from the night market, as they only buy and sell assorted sacks, he sees the project as a way of revitalizing Carbon Market.
While before the stores close shop by 6 p.m., they now open their doors to the public up to the wee hours of the morning.
And with over 80 shops in the area, a discriminating buyer can actually find far cheaper goods compared to those offered in malls.
Novelty items, ready to wear clothes, herbal and Chinese medicines, and even nails, could be found in Manalili stores, which Cebuanos thronged in droves even before the Second World War.
Decors
A wide variety of Christmas decors in all colors, glittering lights, and items to serve as gifts are likewise offered in almost all stores.
And lined just by the side of the road are vegetables and other produce not only from the mountain barangays of Cebu City but from the different Cebu towns as well.
“Mas maayo dinhi kay gawas nga mas barato, mas daghan ma’g kapili-an ang mga tawo (Not only are products here cheaper, there are also more choices),” said Cebu Market Vendors Development Corporation’s Doris Dacua.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama, chairman of the United Multi-sectoral Coordinating Council of Cebu City (UMC4), hopes that the night market will entice the people back to downtown Cebu.
“I hope they will come back and see what Manalili, with the night market, can offer,” he said.
William Gue, owner of general merchandise store Weitong Commercial, said they could cash in on the sleeping habit of the new generation.
He said that while before folks sleep and wake up early, the youth today sleeps late and goes out of bed only when the sun has long crossed the sky.
Better security
“Hilig man gud manuroy ug daghang kasuroyan. Mohapit na lang pud sila sa Manalili (They love to hang out and they have a lot of places to go to but they can just go to Manalili to check us out),” he said while signaling for one of his salesladies to attend to a lady poring over his Christmas decors.
Rama said not all will experience brisk sales but he said he is keeping his fingers crossed. But with better security offered by strategically stationed barangay tanods and policemen, he sees Manalili as an alternative to malls. (RHM)
