MASANTOL -- During special occasions like All Saints' Day, many Filipinos come up with businesses in response to the seasonal demands of people.
This weekend, flowers and candle vendors have popped up near memorial parks and cemeteries, and along major roads to cater to the needs of people who would like to remember their departed loved ones.
But aside from selling flowers, candles and street food, pedicab driving also became an instant job hit in a flooded memorial park in the town.
According to Lito Yabut, one of the pedicab drivers, they serve people from the cemetery's entrance up to the graves of their relatives to light candles and offer prayers.
"Marami kasi iyong ayaw lumusong sa baha dahil marumi siyempre, kaya sasakay na lang sila sa amin para makapag-ilaw sila sa mga nitso," he said.
(Many do not want to wade through flooded areas because it is dirty, so they ride with us so they can light candles near the tombs.)
Yabut said the rate ranges from P20 to P30 for about 100-meter distance, depending on the length of the stay of customers or the number of passengers on the tombs.
"Minsan kasi nagpapaiwan yung iba para makapagdasal muna at makipagkwentuhan sa ibang kamag-anak, pero iyong iba nagpapahintay na," he said.
(Sometimes, we don't stay long because some of them would pray and talk with their relatives, while others let us wait for them.)
Yabut said he averaged P200 earning per day since Wednesday, October 30, but is expecting a bigger income Friday, November 1, with the influx of people.
"May mga iba na naki-una na simula nung Miyerkules para hindi makisabay sa dami ng tao, tapos hanggang November 2 hanggang November 3 pa siguro may mga bibisita pa," he added.