It’s Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time for the world to hold a pity party for the miserable member of the human race, the Single Woman.
And if one’s age is already out in the calendar, she is then referred to as an ‘old maid.’ These type of women do not want to be in a loving, committed relationship. They are as well the ones who are in a panic mode. The ones who are panicking with the thought that they’ll be left with no one but themselves.
Single ladies, according to most people, have no one to blame for their lack of other half—but themselves because they are just too damn picky. And most people would think that being one is extremely miserable- really miserable.
It feels worse not having someone to curl up to while watching a movie or spend holidays alone with plenty of foods around you and no one to share it with. In fact, no matter where you go or what you do you are still by yourself, unless you bring a friend along who is by the way adds up to your budget unless he/she is nice enough to shoulder the expenses while spending time with you during a sale in a shopping mall or a concert of your fave band.
But I think otherwise. Well, I’m here to tell you that we single ladies are no more, nor less, miserable than the rest of the people.Perhaps, it’s just not easy to meet Mr. Right, or even Mr. Pretty OK. And yes, I’m taking it base on my experience.
Just like any other stories of that sort, being single also has bunches of reasons why to love it. And I actually enumerated a few out of a thousand. You can go out and flirt as much as your heart desires, without a worry in the world. You don’t have to worry about somebody who might nag you when you’re late on your date or can’t make time to be with him. And most importantly, no more arguments about things you can’t explain.
Well, there really is no right or wrong answer to the question: ’Which is better- being single or taken?’
Some people simply enjoy the single life while others would prefer a life with somebody to share it with- be it temporary or for a lifetime. Some might be crying into their solitary wine glass because they don’t have a partner. While others think that they are better off with a so-so man than none at all. And still there are some who are enjoying the life of their own. I mean, a relationship to oneself. No attachment. No commitment. Nothing. Just her and her alone.
But I think to live is to choose. In my own world for instance, I’m a single lady by choice. I don’t have any concrete reason for staying single for more than a decade. Perhaps, the most rational statement that I could give is I’m still on the process of preparing myself to be with somebody whom I believe deserves my full love and attention at the right place and at the right time. Maybe not now, but sooner or later I know he’ll come.















Let’s Do Some Math
Anvie, my partner, and I were assigned to interview some vendors of native delicacies whom we easily spotted along the side of the market entrance.
They are mostly married women whose ages, according to my estimation, would range from mid-40s to late 60s. They were sitting in the sidewalk with their ‘bilao/s’ placed exactly on the concrete path.
http://photos.the-protagonist.net
The first question that instantly popped out from my head was ” Are these sidewalk vendors legal?” And when asked, they gave me a big yes for an answer.
Contrary to what most people think, they are absolutely legal since they’re paying for a small sheet of paper known as ‘arkabala.’
This ‘arkabala’ which costs five pesos per vendor, regardless of how many items one has, gives them the right to sell through their extensions.
Moreover, to secure a space in the market, these sidewalk vendors also pay 66 pesos every Saturday for the rent of each table located inside the public market.
Mrs. Rosario Miyak, president of the Bread Section, where all native product vendors belong, pointed out that they don’t necessarily have to occupy the tables that they rented. These tables are just an assurance that they will not be kicked out from the market, unless they have unsettled accounts in the Municipal Treasurer.
If we look at it in either a daily or weekly basis, we may say that the payments are not that heavy. But if we try to calculate the total for the whole month, definitely,a 404 pesos is a big deduction from the vendors’ earnings. Especially in the case of native product vendors who can barely earn a hundred per day as what they’ve confessed. Mind you, there is also a 1 500 pesos payment that all vendors pay annually for business permit, medical examination, barangay clearance and all other documents. Apparently, all these eat a large portion of the vendors’ earnings.
But just like what Mrs. Miyak said, “Ano pa maubra namon?” They are left with no choice but to abide municipal rules although it may mean lower income.
Perhaps, it’s far better than losing their entire business. Besides, as what the vendors,themselves, said they are quite satisfy with the facilities that the municipality offers to them and with the kind of treatment they receive from the officers.
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on January 18, 2010 at 5:04 pm Leave a CommentTags: arkabala, Blogging, Commentary, public market, vendors