The craze of collecting ornamental plants as a hobby or business has somehow helped senior couple to survive the odds brought about by the quarantine restrictions on the elderly.

When enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) started in March, the senior citizen couple – Rosie, 71 and Edgardo Galido, 65 – lost their income from selling barbeque or grilled pork and chicken as they were barred by the local government from selling street foods in the vicinity of the Tanay Public Market. As street vendors for the past 15 years, they now turn to selling ornamental plants on the roadside to survive the pandemic.

“Simula po nang pagbawalan kaming magtinda ng barbeque sa palengke, nawalan na po kami ng panggastos sa araw-araw at pangbayad sa utang namin,  na ibinabayad din namin sa bill ng tubig at kuryente (Since we were barred from selling grilled food at the market, we lost our source of income for our daily expenses and for paying our debts which we also use to pay for the water and electricity bill),“ Rosie told Manila Bulletin.

Having a knowledge on propagating and selling bougainvillea prior to getting into “ihaw-ihaw” (grilled food) business, the couple started propagating a few plants and cut flowers which they previously asked from friends for free, until the time that the plant craze started when most of the places were locked down.

The couple started selling their homegrown plants near their house just a few steps away from the shoulder of Manila East Road in Barangay Hulo in Pililla, Rizal, which is about a hundred meters away from the Pililla-Tanay boundary arch.         

From as low as P35 to as high as P500 to P1,000, the ornamental plants that they are selling are affordable compared to the pricey plants being sold by their neighbors who also have their own plant stands on the side of the highway.

Rosie said that the earnings they get from selling plants are just minimal compared to what they used to earn from selling grilled food on stick prior to the pandemic.

“May mga araw na ang benta lang namin sa isang araw ay P35 lang, minsan P200 lang (There were times that we only sold P35 pesos in a day, sometimes P200 only),” Rosie said.

She also said that the low sales of their plant business could be because of the stiff competition among the plant sellers who are also their neighbors.

“Noong nag-umpisa kami sa pagtitinda ng halaman, iilan lang kami. Pero dumami ang mga nagtitinda dahil dumami din ang mga bumibili ng halaman. Lahat sila ay mga kapit-bahay din namin (When we first started selling plants, we were just few. But the sellers grew in number as buyers also increased. They are all our neighbors here),” Rosie said.

Edgardo, who is a Born-Again preacher in their community, said their faith in God has made them even stronger during these difficult times.

As his eyesight is failing due to cataract, Edgardo, who was also a former tricycle driver, is the one left at home to attend to their small sari-sari (variety) store.

Rosie said she hopes that government agencies or those from the private sector can help and guide them in their livelihood by providing additional capital.

A fan of Willie Revillame, Rosie said she could only wish that the GMA television personality could visit their place so that she and her neighbors could benefit from his charitable acts.

“Hindi kasi maayos ang TV namin kaya hindi ako nakakapanood ng programa ni Kuya Wil at hindi ko rin siya makontak kasi wala kaming cellphone (Our TV is not working well that is why I can’t watch the program of Kuya Wil and I also don’t have a cellphone to contact him), Rosie said.

But even if no one would help them, the couple said they will continue to fight on since they believe that God is always at their side “through thick and thin.”