It’s been a tough five months for everyone around the world, with recent SWS survey saying 22 million Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. In a world of doom and gloom, many brave Pinoys refused to take things sitting down.
I haven’t had work since March. My husband to offer “Pasabuy” services around our village, where people can ask him to buy things for them and he’ll just charge for our services.
When my husband was called back again to work, he told me that I should take over his “Pasabuy” hustle, sayang, as we already had a lot of customers. Using my small e-bike, I’ve taken over his job. I do everything—pay my neighbors’ bills for Meralco, pay my neighbors’ water bills. Kahit ano, ok lang. All I want is to do my share of helping our family.—Rhona Calapis
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I was a seafarer before and as we all know the cruise line industry is one of the hardest hit. So now I’ve decided to become a rice dealer. I’m also the driver and the delivery girl. Kayod Marino just to survive and help the economy. Let’s support local rice!—Jennifer Ganda
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I wasn’t able to finish my seafarer contract last April because we were asked to go home. I used the last salary I received to buy yarns for crocheting. A friend asked me to make a carpet. I did that for one month. The money I earned I used to pay for my insurance, and bills at home. Now I am accepting orders, and I have pending items until September. I post online to get more customers. I’m just grateful that nobody in my family has gotten sick.—Rosalie Anollado
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My work contract was due for renewal last week of March, but we were let go because of the pandemic. Since then, I’ve been hustling for freelance video editing jobs left and right. With God’s mercy I have survived and have even been able to save up. I’m doing a lot better than when I had a fulltime job. I also sell computer items for extra income. I now earn thrice what I earned when I had my fulltime job. I make an extra effort to do better because I realize how lucky I am to still score work.—Rephael Mendoza
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I presell any product. I browse the FB buy and sell groups, check the needs of those who are looking for items, look for suppliers, and then sell the item to client with additional profit. Then I remit payment to seller. I get about P10 to P15 per transaction. I saved my profit and was able to buy the items for cheaper myself, as I have money to buy direct from the market. This means bigger profit, plus I get to charge delivery of P20 to P50. And then I saved up my profits and I registered to be a dealer for GCash, Paymaya, CoinsPH, e-load, bills payment, and Pera Padala. There are so many ways to earn even if you have zero capital. All you need is FB and free data.—Jonelle Albuna
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My husband was a tricycle driver and I was a homebased medical transcriptionist. Because of the recession in the US, and because of the lockdown, both of us had to supplement by selling vegetables, chicken, and fish during the community quarantine to our neighbors. We also sold baked goods. When my oven malfunctioned, I shifted to selling kakanin, which you only need stove top for, and used clothes. Fighting lang tayo.—Amy Rosel
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It’s been six months since my husband was called to service as a seafarer, so I thought, since plantitos and plantitas are now the rage, why don’t we do cement pots? At first my mother was hesitant because she didn’t feel that it would sell. Now we can’t keep up with orders, ’yung tipong we need two weeks lead time because we’re overwhelmed with orders.—Ruby Jane Lara
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I started a small community school of 50 pupils. My husband lost his job in March, even before the lockdown. Our savings went to constructing the second floor of our school as we applied to have Grade 1 students. We lost our savings, we lost our income. I cried at night, but I cannot give up because of my two children. So I really made an effort to keep up with the educational trends. I now offer online tutorials and continue to operate the school, even when it’s just my niece and I running it. I’m the teacher, she takes care of IT concerns. I have 17 pupils now. I still cry at night, but I refuse to give up.—Hazel Pesino
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Two months short before my pet shop turned two years in the market, the lockdown was implemented nationwide. I used to have a fulltime work-from-home job as field support, and now I don’t have those many calls. My pet shop before lockdown barely broke even, but I was just happy because I really am a dog and cat lover. I have 11 dogs, 11 cats, kois, and birds too. When lockdown happened, I had to rely on the pet shop, as it was considered essential business. Fortunately, my pet shop business is doing great this time. Suddenly, we now have a delivery service and we can’t even keep up. Since I need more help with my pet shop, I let my colleagues who lost their job help me out and work with me. They do the deliveries, and they get to keep everything they earn. They were able to save from their tips and salary, and used the money to start their own businesses. I’m grateful that not only did I survive, I was even able to help.—Revor Revil
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Before the pandemic, I was the one working, handling special children, and my husband was a househusband. I no longer am able to work with them. We don’t have any other resources so we sold food online. My husband cooks and delivers while I do the packing. Sometimes I have rare instances when I can do teletherapy. From the profits of these we pay our bills, buy our food. We’ve completely given up on any luho.—Ydrah Otrip
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I was a sales manager. When Covid-19 struck, our income and incentives were never the same. At present, our work schedule is skeletal. I have two days off a week. Beginning May, I have been a Grabfood delivery rider on my days off and after office work, so I can add to my income and cover up for what I have lost. I do a minimum of six deliveries, about five hours, which is equal to minimum wage.—Mik Lacson
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Before pandemic, gardening was just a hobby. I planted flowers and other ornamental plants including vegetables, herb, and spices. I have limited space since I live in apartment but it did not stop me from growing my own food in a container. When lockdown started, I got worried, until a friend of mine convinced me to sell some of my plants. By mid May, the business boomed. I can’t keep up. Now my ornamental plants and herbs have become a serious business. And I’m not only limited to plants but I am also now selling garden soil and pots. From hobby to business, our plants helped us survive.—Dove L’ Amorie
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This pandemic made my kids young entrepreneurs. They started with a P1,000 capital, selling basic items within our village, until they expanded to other villages. They now have a revolving capital of P200,000. They’ve been able to buy two e-bikes worth P55,000 each. Tiyaga lang talaga sa pag deliver at pag post ng paninda nila. Their profits also take care of our meals.—Gian Abrigo