Saturday, October 13, 2007 Men on ‘stationary bikes’ sharpen blades
ON Colon Street, Cebu City the old meets new. There, vendors of cellular phone accessories co-exist with people who make a living with age-old skills, like the men who sharpen knives, scissors and nippers.
The mambabaid stands out in the crowded sidewalks of Colon because of his distinctive equipment –a converted bicycle which has a circular sharpening stone (bairan) attached to what used to be the handle bar. The sharpening stone is attached to the foot pedals of the bike with a chain such that when the mambabaid pedals he turns the stone.
When he is working, the mambabaid looks like he is exercising on a stationary bike —and making money at the same time.
A pair of cuticle nippers or scissors costs P20 to sharpen.
Sharpening is a livelihood embraced by several Cebuanos. With a starting investment of P3,000 to P4,000 and a small spot on the sidewalk, one can start a business.
The mambabaids have been in Colon for more than 10 years. As such, people go to Colon when they need a bladed instrument sharpened.
Jenny Torres, a regular customer, believes that the service fee of the mambabaid is reasonable. She commends them for their efficiency and reliability.
Dindo Tabuada, a mambabaid for about 13 years, said he used to watch his older brother sharpening nippers. He decided to practice on the skill, which later became his primary source of income that sustains his family’s basic needs and the education of his six children.
Tabuada lamented, though, that while he and other mambabaids are only making a honest living, they are often hurt by the law. Since many mambabaid operate without permits, their equipment are confiscated by authorities.
Tabuada said he hopes the government would consider their plight as well. (Darlene Winfrid Dayoc, contributor, Saint Theresa’s College)
