"Sari-saring sari-sari store"

Episode on April 17, 2008 Thursday night after Saksi A different kind of store Retail as a marketing strategy may not exactly be a uniquely indigenous concept, but its local incarnation – the “sari-sari store," is still truly Pinoy. Today, “sari-sari stores" continue to be common fixtures in every Filipino neighborhood – be it in impoverished or affluent communities. But just like any manifestation of local cultural identity, "sari-sari stores" continue to evolve. From “sari-sari on-bike" in Makati City, to “hila hila stores" in Vitas, Tondo, to a floating “sari-sari store" in the Artex Compound in Malabon, the localized version of the convenience store is certainly colorful. Miriam Quiambao tries her hand on some of the more difficult ways of retailing products Filipino-style. She encounters various kinds of “sari-sari stores," some with such diverse products that they sell contraceptives and even coffins! Talk about convenience. "Tindahan ni Juan " It may have at least partly evolved from Chinese trading practices, but “sari-sari stores" soon became completely and totally Filipino. Instead of just being a means to trade goods, “sari-sari stores" also double as a nerve center of social life in some Pinoy communities. Joaquin Valdes visits the only “sari-sari store" in Sitio Sampaloc, a far flung town surrounded by mountain ranges in Oriental Mindoro. He joins the owner, Gina, on one of her trips to the town center to re-stock her products, which means miles and miles of walking and even crossing a river just to satisfy her clientele. But “sari-sari stores" function as a place to socialize as well even in the city. Joaquin then visits Brgy. Balingasa in Balintawak, where there seems to be “sari-sari stores" everywhere, and joins the neighborhood in having fun in their favorite “sari-sari store." "Tingi, tinda, lista" Some Filipinos are so dependent on their neighborhood “sari-sari stores" that even if they can afford to shop at high-end retail shops, they still prefer to buy their daily needs from their neighborhood “sari-sari store." But is this apparent dependence on “sari-sari stores" a good or a bad thing? Some say “sari-sari stores" are bad news for it has consequently encouraged the “lista" culture, wherein the average Pinoy gets into debt by borrowing beyond their means. Some say it could be a good thing because it supposedly triggers small-scale consumer-driven economic activity. 100% Pinoy conducts a social experiment to determine the impact of a “sari-sari store" in a typical Pinoy community. We also calculate how many actually paid for products they got from the store and how many opted to just have it listed on their credit.

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Kakaibang tindahan Saan ka man magpunta sa Pilipinas, makakakita ka ng sari-sari store – sa mahirap mang lugar o sa mga alta de sociedad na komunidad, bahagi na ng kulturang Pinoy ang tindahang ito. Pero kung dati-rati, mga tao ang pumupunta sa karaniwang sari-sari store, ibang istilo na ang pagbebenta ng mga may-ari nito ngayon! Sa Makati, de-bisikleta ang mga sari-sari store na nag-iikot sa siyudad, sa Tundo, de-hila naman ang gimik para raw mas lumaki ang kita! Samantalang sa Artex Compound sa Malabon, kung saan palaging may baha, “floating sari-sari store" ang kanilang solusyon para ‘di mabawasan ang kita. Susubukan ni Miriam Quiambao ang iba’t ibang mahihirap pero nakatutuwang paraan ng mga Pinoy sa pagtitinda. Madidiskubre niya rin na may mga sari-sari store kung saan mabibili maging mga kakaibang bagay tulad ng condom at kabaong! Tindahan ni Juan Sinasabing kung gusto mong malaman ang mga tsismis at pangyayari sa isang baranggay, isang lugar lang ang dapat mong puntahan – ang sari-sari store! Pupuntahan ni Joaquin Valdez ang Brgy. Balingasa sa Balintawak kung saan dikit-dikit ang mga sari-sari store na naging sentro na rin ng buhay ng buong komunidad! Tambayan, inuman, videoke center at kung ano-ano pang libangan ang makikita nyo rito! Bibisitahin din ni Joaquin ang Oriental Mindoro para makita ang kaisa-isang sari-sari store sa Sitio Sampaloc, na napalilibutan ng bundok! Ang may-ari ng tindahan na si Gina, kinakailangan pang maglakad ng milya-milya at tumawid sa isang ilog para lang mamalengke dahil napakalayo ng kanilang sityo sa bayan. Tingi, tinda at lista Kahit pa tinaguriang “mall rats" ang mga Pinoy, hindi pa rin matatanggal sa kultura natin ang pamimili sa “sari-sari store" dahil sa mga maliliit na tindahang ito, nakakapagpalista at nakakautang pa rin tayo. Pero mabuting kaugalian ba ang pinapairal nito? May nagsasabing maling asal ang nililinang ng mga sari-sari store sa pagpapautang dahil kadalasan, hindi na raw ito nababayaran! Masisisi mo nga ba ang mga mahihirap kung hindi nila kayang magbayad ng utang sa sari-sari store kada buwan? Isang eksperimento ang gagawin ng 100% Pinoy para alamin ang epekto at pagbabagong dala ng sari-sari store sa isang komunidad. Aalamin natin kung alin ang mas maraming nakuha ng may-ari ng tindahan sa loob ng isang araw: tubo o pautang? Panoorin ang sari-saring kuwento tungkol sa “Sari-saring Sari-sari Store" ngayong Huwebes ng hatinggabi sa 100% Pinoy.