ASIDE from candies, what can a person buy out of P5 that is somewhat heavy in the stomach?
Try the native bibingka. At P5, it can satisfy one's appetite at the same time give that feeling of fullness.
Ester L. Payla, 49, is a bibingka maker who sells her product along the highway in Manticao town in Misamis Oriental, her hometown.
Since 2000, "Ester's Bibingka" has been selling like hotcakes along the Manticao highway, with travelers as her frequent buyers.
And because of Payla's delicious bibingka, she was chosen to represent Manticao to the annual "Salo Tabo sa Kapitolyo" at the Provincial Capitol grounds where she displayed her famous native food since Monday during the agricultural and tourism fair's opening.
"Ester's Bibingka" was picked out by the local government unit of Manticao to represent the One Town-One Product (OTOP) of the municipality.
A booth was set up where Payla displayed her bibingka and all other agricultural products of Manticao.
For as low as P5, anyone can taste Payla's bibingka, which is made from rice and peanut with cheese as topping.
Payla said what makes her bibingka unique is the special ingredient she uses - a softdrink - to make it more delicious.
"Selling bibingka is my bread and butter before my husband went abroad. I started the business with P500 as starting capital," she said.
Due to hard work and discipline, she said she was able to survive and raise her four children despite the difficult times.
Now that she is earning well and her husband has a good source of income as an overseas Filipino worker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Payla said she had tried to maintain a low lifestyle while encouraging her nieces and nephews to work hard and not to depend on anybody.
"I make it a point to teach them how to catch fish rather than asking so they will know the value of hard-earned money," Payla said.
At the Salo Tabo, Payla said she produced 14,025 pieces of bibingka out of around 165 kilos of rice, giving her an estimated earnings of P70,125 from Monday until Thursday.
Out of the earnings, however, she said she would share about half to the Manticao Bakers Association which provided the ingredients and shouldered all other expenses.
But the income is still counting as the Salo Tabo will end on Friday.
With her success in the business, Payla said earning money is very easy as long as "you have the determination, perseverance and discipline."
"Even if my family can afford a decent life, I will not stop making bibingka for the rest of my life," she shares.