Christmas season draws family business novelty

Christmas is a season to be merry as Christians commemorate the coming of the King Jesus Christ, it brings cheers to weary hearts, and delights the kids and the kids at heart, it is also the season where the less fortunate escape the complexities of daily life and feel the essence and bliss that Christmas may bring.

Despite the undeniable economic turmoil affecting the lives of everybody, especially the hard hit majority living below the poverty line, Filipinos have this keen sense of determination to commemorate this special occasion by making the most out of the meager income that we earn.

Mr. & Mrs. Allan Sanchez, from Mantalongon Barili, proves to be one of these Filipino families who treasure the importance of every occasion of the year most specially the Yuletide season in spite the burgeoning financial constraints.

Allan Sanchez, a 47- year old furniture company worker in Lilo-an who earns only P750 a week, confessed that regardless of economic difficulties derived from the lack of sufficient income, he nevertheless spare a fraction of his income to celebrate the occasion with his family.

He often would set aside P500 for a simple Noche Buena preparation for his family. He said this is the only Christmas gift he can give his family.

Meanwhile, his wife Marivic, 46 years-old and a mother of two, Almarie 22, and John Alvic 26, helps her husband by selling "Puto't Sikwati" at the Mantalongon Parish church during the Misa de Gallo.

A P500 capital can already generate an ample return of investments for the family.

"Kani nga negosyo makatabang gayud namo kay kada tuig man mi mamaligya para makakwarta, hilabina sa panahon sa Pasko. Gipili ni namo nga negosyo kay kami raman sa among pamilya ang naninda ani sa amoang dapit. Wala koy kakompetensya." Marivic said. (This kind of business really helps financially us during this season of the year especially that we are the only family selling this kind of delicacy every Christmas, we have no competitors to worry about.)

Marivic said as early as now, she already starts preparing her utensils in cooking the "puto maya" and chocolate drink, locally known as "sikwate" or "tabliya" since "Simbang Gabi" will start by the 16th of December.

The Sanchez family never missed a Christmas celebration without a Noche Buena, the main reason why they work hand-in-hand just to be able to prepare a simple salo-salo for the family.

This is just one of the simple businesses occurring in this special season where people venture into it driven by the determination to provide happiness and share a sumptuous meal with their families during this yuletide season.