Door-to-door selling

CEBU, Philippines - Soria who is fondly called "Kuya Wally" by his regular customers also roams around the street corners in barangays San Nicolas and Sawang Calero—aside from Pasil—bringing with him a handy ice box of more or less 300 pieces of ice candies a day.

The humid summer weather might put his health at risk seeing him walking under the sun, but he said he just never fail to wear a cap and a long sleeved shirts and drink a lot of water to protect himself from possible health problems.

"Lahi ra man gud kung magpuyo ra ka sa balay kay mas dako man og halin kung mosuroy gyud ka," he noted. "Especially karon kay pwerteng inita hapit tanang tawo aside sa akong mga suki maagian nako mopalit gyud."

Fortunately, he could sell all his ice candies everyday to his customers who are mostly children, students, senior citizens and the "tambays." At the end of the day, he could bring home more or less P600 as profit.

He sells his ice candy at P6 for avocado and buko flavors and P10 for salad flavor. He usually prepare a variety of flavors every two days.

The Soria family produces diverse flavors such as mango, buko, avocado, salad, cookies and cream, guyabano, mango float, and ube.

Her wife Janice B. Soria, 27,and his brother helps him in making around 450 pieces of ice candies every two days, selling seven days a week from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m.

"Unya ako gyud mangunay pamaligya sa mga balay-balay," he noted. "Kay dugang na sa gasto kung magsuhol pa ta sa mamaligya."

Although he hires at least two individuals to sell his other ice candies to other nearby barangays, paying them P2 for each candy they can sell.

Soria, who is a father of three, added they make sure they could produce and sell more ice candies during the hot days because the demand is always expected to rise.  

However, the business still continues throughout the year not just during summer.  (FREEMAN)