THE city's oldest retail store has survived the changing times and continues to offer affordable items and employment opportunities.
Set up by the prominent Chinese-Filipino Lao clan, the TiongSan chain has been standing strong for 76 years, proving local business thrives.
Jasper Lao Golangco of TiongSan said, “We just set out, (and) sell what people need make and sure people come back and make sure nobody give cheaper than us.”
Golangco, now at the helm of the business, belongs to the third generation of the family but recalls their grandfather who has provided decent jobs to employees and needs of the community.
“We did set out to do business and be good citizens. We are doing it and love the city and take care of the city how do you do that? Provide decent employment. A lot of people who come from TiongSan move to other places and at the end of the day from here, they found opportunity,” Golangco added.
TiongSan over the years has boosted small businesses in the city through the annual Diskwento Caravan, fostering partnership between the private and public sector and provide quality households grocery and school supplies.
The caravan urges business to directly grant consumer access to reasonably-priced goods and commodities.
“As you can see we are not expanding outside of our neighborhoods. Why, because ito lang ang gusto naming alagaan na lugar. If there is one thing that we can truly be proud is this is not meant to shoot at other establishment’s pero hindi po tayo gahaman,” said Golangco.
Golangco said the continuing existence of the local retail store lies genuinely on the community where they continue to give back.
“If we get it lower, we will sell it a lower price,” adding providing low prices of goods for consumers give local retail store an example to local stores making consumer satisfaction achievable.
“We’re fully local company, paying taxes locally, kami dapat ang pasasalamat kami ay nagnegosyo, sinuwerte, nagbigay at sinuklian,” he disclosed.
“Not too long ago, I was also asked if TiongSan will one day sell out to the bigger boys because all over the country we see a lot of supermarket operations being snapped up by a lot of the bigger boys. Sabi ko, firstly, it was not my decision to make because I am only a very tiny part of this big family, but if me and my brothers were also here if given a choice we will not sell out.”
Today, TiongSan maintains branches in the city’s central business district and La Trinidad in Benguet extending basic needs at an achievable price.