Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Small eateries losing diners
BEFORE there were fastfood outlets, students and workers of establishments in Cebu City’s old business district went to small eateries at Tabo sa Banay for affordable and tasty native dishes.
Although no longer as crowded as before, food stalls at Tabo sa Banay 1 in downtown Cebu City still attract local residents and transients who want good and affordable food.
Zenaida Amores, the president of Tabo sa Banay 1 Vendor’s Organization, said that many students and workers, as well as visitors from other provinces in the country, continue to come to the area for budget meals.
With P10 for a serving of vegetables or noodles (pansit) and P30 for a piece of pork adobo, it is not surprising that many still come to Tabo Sa Banay 1 to dine, despite the presence of nearby fastfood outlets.
Amores said Tabo sa Banay was the place to go for meals before any of the big establishments in the old business district had canteens. The line of food stalls, which occupy both sides of a street in downtown Cebu City, were established in the 1970s to cater to workers in shell craft stores nearby.
While the number of food stalls in the area may differ from the 1970s, the eateries continue to offer the same local favorites like linat-ang baka (beef soup), lansiao (stew of cow testicles and insides), adobo and pansit (stir-friend noodles).
A certain modernity has also penetrated the area, there is now an Automated Tubig Machine (ATM) that provides filtered drinking water to diners.
Amores said the food business in the area has not only helped many micro entrepreneurs earn a living, it has also provided the public an alternative place to dine in.
