thediaryofayoungman:

10 QUESTIONS FOR A CHRISTMAS DECOR VENDOR

Christmas is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate it is by putting decorations around the house and just feel the positive atmosphere that Christmas has to offer.

Meet MANG DANILO and his son MARLON, a family of Christmas decor vendors at Quiapo.

QUESTION 1: Bakit niyo po naisipan magbenta ng Christmas decors? Mayroon po ba na kwento sa likod nito? (Why did you decide to sell Christmas decors? Is there a story behind your decision?)

MANG DANILO: Birthday kasi ng anak ko sa December 25, kaya naisipan namin magbenta ng Christmas decors. Bali, tuwing simula ng October, nagbebenta na kami dito sa Quiapo. Gusto kasi ito ng anak namin. Napapasaya namin siya sa pagbebenta ng mga ito. (My son’s birthday is on December 25, that is why we decided to sell Christmas decors. Every start of October, we start to sell decors here at Quiapo. This is what my son wanted and this is what makes him happy.)

QUESTION 2: Kayo po ba ang gumagawa ng mga decor na ibinibenta ninyo? (Are you the ones creating the decors that you are selling?)

MANG DANILO: ‘Yung iba lamang, katulad ng parol. Pero ‘yung iba, may pinagkukunan kami nito. (We make lanterns and sell them. For other decors, we have a supplier.)

QUESTION 3: Totoo po bang hindi safe ang mga Christmas lights na ibinibenta dito? (Is it true that Christmas lights that are being sold here are not safe to use?)

MANG DANILO: Kapag mura ang isang bagay, hindi naman ibig sabihin hindi ito ligtas o nakakapagduda ito. Safe ang mga ibinibenta ko. Ayaw ko ipahamak ang mga mamimili sa mga ibinibenta kong gamit. (If one item is cheap, it does not guarantee that it isn’t safe to use. What I sell is safe. I don’t want to jeopardize the lives of my customers through what I sell.)

QUESTION 4: Ano po ba ang kailangan hanapin ng mga mamimili upang malaman nila na safe ang kanilang nabiling Christmas lights? (What do the customers need to search for in order for them to be signified that the set of Christmas lights that they bought is safe?)

MANG DANILO: Dapat may ICC and PC sticker. Dapat din makapal ang wire at hindi ‘yung sobrang nipis at maaring matunaw kapag uminit ang Christmas lights. (There should be ICC or PC marks and the wire of the lights should be able to protect the wire from heat.)

QUESTION 5: Sa tingin niyo po, bakit maaga ang pasko ng mga Pilipino? (In your opinion, why do you think that the Filipinos celebrate Christmas early?)

MANG DANILO: Malakas kasi ang values nating mga Pilipino at lahat tayo nasasabik magPasko dahil dito nabubuo at naipapakita kung gaano katatag ang isang pamilya. (The Filipinos practice values and most of us are excited to celebrate Christmas since it is the season where strong family ties are visible.)

QUESTION 6: Magkaano po ang kita ninyo sa isang araw? (How much do you earn in a day?)

MANG DANILO: Nasa dalawang libo hanggang tatlong libo. Iyon ay tuwing malayo pa ang pasko. Pero kapag December na, malakas ang benta. (Around P2,000 to P3,000 pesos before Christmas season. During December, sales are above the roof.)

QUESTION 7: Mahirap po ba magbenta dito sa Quiapo? (Is it difficult to sell here at Quiapo?)

MANG DANILO: Sa simula, mahihilo ka sa dami ng tao pero masasanay ka rin. (At first, you will get dizzy with the number of people around here but you’ll get used to it.)

QUESTION 8: Kapag hindi po Christmas season, ano po ang binibenta ninyo? (What do sell if it is not Christmas?)

MANG DANILO: Mga prutas, damit. ‘Yung mga kadalasang makikita mo dito sa Quiapo. (Fruits, clothes. The ones that you typically see here at Quiapo.)

QUESTION 9: Ano po ang pangarap ninyo sa buhay? (What is your absolute dream or goal in life?)

MANG DANILO: Ang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang anak ko. (For my son to be able to finish school.)

QUESTION 10: Ano po ang mensahe ninyo sa mga magbabasa ng interview na ito? (What is your message to the readers of this interview?)

MANG DANILO: Kung ano ang inilaan sa atin, gamitin natin ito ng mabuti. (To whatever that has been given to us, we must use it wisely.)