society
Hustle and bustle. Libertad Public Market patrons and vendors spend some time on the streets buying and peddling for a living.
THE INFINITE CHAINS OF OUR BEING FOR A BETTER LIVING WORDS BY ALEA JEN VILLAHERMOSA PHOTOS BY RAEVERLY ELENA RAMIREZ
Walking down a street, hearing the non-stop questions of street vendors asking if one would want an apple or an orange, seeing the splashing of murky grey waters as vehicles pass, and smelling the scent of sweat filling the air – a place where it is unpleasant to the senses – has been a normal part of our everyday routine. The busy streets of Libertad South Market, Bacolod City, reflect the continuous struggle of its people – a home for laborers. And, sometimes, it feels heart-warming to understand that most people still strive to survive a day-to-day life despite the painful struggles. In a year, people often work for 8 to 10 months while others would have to work all year round; they are the non-seasonal workers. Have you ever thought of how it would feel to work during Christmas day or New Year’s Eve? Doleful, it is. DIFFERENT FIGURES, SAME WEIGHT Hunger, disease, and lack of employment are rotten fruits to the society. A study published by the Asian Development Bank states that the causes of poverty include high inflation during the crisis period, weakness in employment generation, and the quality of jobs generated.
1 Tolentine Star truth as it happens
Amidst the poverty, Filipinos still uphold resilience and hard work – the policeman securing everyone’s safety, the jeepney driver completing routes for the whole day, the vendors selling until nighttime. They may have different faces to show yet it is the will to go on that connects their fates in life. WHEELS OF TIME Trisikad rides are a relief to frustrating times of walking not-so-far destinations. As the drivers’ services are a holy grail for passengers, their continuous patronage is also the drivers’ blessings. Jaype Clavecillas, a trisikad driver for 12 years, stations near Mang Inasal-Libertad with his fellow trisikad drivers. The bicycle he drives is worn-out that it cranks and the handles show slight rusting. In his long years of working, Manong Jaype has almost encountered every personality. The most common is a stingy passenger which he often lets them slide. Huya runs in his veins that he does not ask for more payment and is unable to say no to them. As a father of two elementary students and a husband of a part-timer in a local hotel, Manong Jaype bashfully shares the burden and bliss of raising a family. The hours between four
