The reopening of the Roxas Night Market in Davao City last March 24, 2022, for many vendors and masseuses, a thorn has been pricked from their sides after hearing the news that they may return to their livelihoods that have helped them earn a living for years.
Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused lockdowns around the country including Davao City, the Roxas Night Market was home to 376 vendors composed of food, accessories, and ready-to-wear goods vendors.
In mid-March of 2020, the Roxas Night Market was suspended due to the threat of the Covid-19, which was caused by the Sars-CoV-2. At the time, many thought it was a short disruption from their usual operation but when people realized the lockdowns took a lot longer than it should, the plight of the Roxas Night Market workers began.
After over two years, the night market resumes operations. However, at least 190 vendors were taken off the roster of Roxas Night Market under Alert Level 1 because the city is only allowed to accommodate 186 vendors and at least 100 masseuses.
Marilyn Diamla is among the 186 vendors that has been luckily chosen for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market. Their stall at the night market sells juices, sago gulaman, and grilled street food like isaw.
It if weren’t for Covid-19, Diamla would have been tending to their stall in Roxas Night Market for five years already but with its closure of almost two years, selling outside of the night market, especially during the pandemic, has been difficult for her and her family.
“Katong nawala mi diri sa night market, naglisod among pangwarta kay nasanay man gud mi diri sa night market kay dugay na kaayo mi diri naga tinda (When the night market closed, it was a big blow to our livelihood. We have been selling our products at the night market for years),” Diamla said.
Diamla shared how she turned to peddling or “paglalako” to sell their goods, and even tried to start a small stall along the sidewalk of San Pedro Street. But she said her earnings can’t compare as to how beneficial the night market was for them.
“Kung mag lako-lako ka, mahadlok ka basi badlungon ka, balhin-balhin na pud ka unya lisod kaayo kung wala ka tarong na pangwarta labi na naa kay mga anak, naa kay estudyante (You worry when you peddle because you could get reprimanded or you have to transfer from one place to another.Your source of income is not stable and that’s a difficult thing especially of you children who are studying),” she said.
Now with the reopening, Diamla said she feels overwhelmed.
"Dako kaayo among pasalamat kay dako kaayo ni na tabang sa amoa, labaw na naa mi mga estudyante unya makapamayad pud mi sa among mga utang (We are grateful that the night market has reopened. It will be a big help in the studies of our children and paying our debt),” Diamla said, adding how her family turned to loans to get through the pandemic without a stable income.
The same can also be said for Jenelyn Nanini and Toto Jamora who share a fruit stand. They sell fruit delicacies like cut-up pineapple, papaya, and unripe mango sold in small plastic bags or cups with sticks.
Nanini said she had no source of income when the night market was suspended and she had to close her stall which she has managed since 2018.
She relied heavily on the help given by her sibling who had a full-time job, as well as ayuda from the city government.
Jamora, on the other hand, started selling fruits at the Roxas Night Market in 2014. When the pandemic struck, he started selling in front of his home in Piapi Boulevard. He also sold grilled bananas or maruya.
"Para maka-income lang kahit kaunti (At leastyou have a bit of an income to get by),” he said. When he and Nanini heard about the news of the night market’s reopening, Jamora and Nanini said they immediately applied to be a vendor and queued at Almendras Gym along with hundred others.
They said it took at least 15 days before they were informed whether or not they are included in the roster of vendors.
“Nalipay gani ko kay gibalitaan ko nga open na daw (I was happy when I heard the news that the night market is reopening),” Nanini said. Jamora echoed the same sentiment, “Perting lipaya namo kay diri gyod mi nasanay sa hanap-buhay na. (We are very happy to selling here again).”
According to the head of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), Angel Sumagaysay, the vendors were chosen via an open raffle system. As of date, it is not yet confirmed whether the vendors and masseuses will be shifted after a certain time. Pre-pandemic, tenants at the night market are rotated in batches to cater to others.
Davao City’s masseuses, whom you can spot in various plazas in San Pedro and Roxas Night Market, also had to strategize their source of income when the night market was temporarily closed.
For Lanelyn Saludo, this meant online selling of various goods and products she sourced from “bodegas,” since the massage business slowed down due to lack of customers, except for a few home service clients.
“Nag online seller ko atong ECQ, katong lockdown gyod. Basta maka kwarta ko. Daghan kaayo (baligya), maski unsa na lang, mga gamit sa balay. Nag diskarte na lang sad ko (I was an online seller during the lockdown. I was selling different things just to get by. I needed to find ways),” she said.
However, with the easing of restrictions and opening of malls and other establishments, Saludo said her online selling of general merchandise also slowed down.
“Mingaw na sad sya karon kay luag naman, open na baya tanan. Pwede na baya basig unsa orasa maka-adto mall, pwede na pud. Kato na time kusog siya, kay (dili makagawas ang mga tao) (The online selling slowed down but with the easing of restrictions, more people are able to go out like go to malls. During the lockdowns, it was good business because everyone was in their homes),” Saludo said, thus she returned to massage therapy.
For other masseuses, they had to endure the small income they could get for massaging very few clients at the height of the pandemic and strict Covid-19 protocols.
Josiel Masinaon, who had been a masseuse at Osmeña Park before stationing at Roxas Night Market, said she and other fellow masseuse moved their operations to Bonifacio Street.
“Lisod lagi kaayo, gamay ra pud magpahilot. Gamay ra ang customer (Very fee people were getting a massage),” Masinaon said, mentioning how the night market attracts more customers than in other places. Now with the reopening, Masinaon is glad to be busy and have regular customers every night.
“Karon nabalik ang Roxas, lipay kaayo mi. Daghan ang customer. Sa isa ka-gabii mga unom akong na-massage na tag one hour (With the Night Market, we have more customers. On one of the nights after reopening, I was able to serve six for one hour each),” Masinaon said.
On the night of its reopening, PSSC head Sumagaysay told SunStar Davao that the Roxas Night Market saw at least 5,000 people, a mix of visitors, vendors, and masseuses.
Sumagaysay said it is expected to have a high influx of people since the night market has been closed for almost two years.
Strict security measures are also being followed aside from Covid-19 protocols, to avoid untoward incidents and terrorist threats, especially after the Roxas Night Market suffered a tragedy during the bombing incident in August 2016.
At the same time, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said she understands how Dabawenyos have been patiently waiting for the reopening of the night market but she emphasized that the remaining safety protocol should be followed, particularly wearing of face masks and regular hand hygiene.
Schlosser said the Roxas Night Market is vulnerable to Covid-19 transmission, “Ako ra'y na-worry sa ilaha. Kadaghag tao (I worried for them because there were a lot of people) but in all fairness, people were wearing their masks, so that's a good thing.”
With its much-awaited reopening, these vendors and masseuses are hoping the operation of the Roxas Night Market will continue since many of them rely on the income they generate from the night market as their main livelihood.
“Muhangyo mi kay mayor na padayon lang unta ang panginabuhian diri kay kung mawala ang night market, wala gyod mi maadtuan (We ask our mayor (Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio) to allow the continued operations of the night market, our main source of livelihood. If this closes again, we have no place to go),” Diamla said. (ICM)