Sto. Niño vendors expect brisk business this month

CEBU, Philippines - Christmas have passed and we have greeted 2015 on New Year’s eve, but for the Cebuanos, the holidays is far from over as the month of  January ushers in a new festive mood with the upcoming Fiesta Señor this month.

And for vendors of Sto. Niño statues and velvet clothes among other religious items, January is a lucky month for business as they brace for the influx of domestic and foreign revellers coming to Cebu to join the festivities.

As early as December, traders say demand for velvet clothes and repair works on broken Sto. Niño images already started to rise.

And this is expected continue leading to the annual celebration of Sinulog, says Hayde “Basan” Amora, president of Santo Niño Sidewalk Vendors Association. Sinulog is a Cebu festival which is celebrated in January in honor of Sto. Niño.

“Kusog gyud tuod sa Enero among negosyo pero mingaw pud lagi sa laing mga buwan kay seasonal man gud among negosyo,” says Amora, who also owns a stall at the back of Basilica del Sto. Niño together with about 44 other shop owners.

Earning

Sellers of statues, capes and velvet clothes always take advantage of the Sinulog celebration to drive up their revenues, recovering from losses during the off-season when sales are down. They also offer specific elements of the Niño icon such as the crown, bastion, globe and beads and trims for cape designs.

During the festival period, vendors said devotees customarily change clothes of their Niño statues and do some repairs in them.

According to Amora, the rate for repair or repaint depends on the agreement between the customer and seller.

A small-sized velvet garment costs P100 and it can increase to as high as P1,500 for size 18 cloth. Traders explain velvet now sells at over P500 per meter, that’s why finished products are relatively priced higher.

A small wooden carved Niño sculpture sells at P200 and size 18 statue can be bought at P5,000. A small statue made of ceramics is priced a bit lower at P150.

Vendors source their Sto. Niño sculptures from suppliers in barangays Tabunok and Lawaan in Talisay City. Some also get supplies from carving factories in Cebu City's barangay Bulacao.

“Most of our buyers are still the locals and some are foreign visitors. Buyers from Manila, Davao City and Negros Oriental also come here during Sinulog,” the 51-year-old trader told The FREEMAN in Cebuano while drawing shapes for paper-made capes in his shop.

He also adds the festival period allows his family to earn not less than P20,000 as gross profits.

Small vendors claim they cannot totally determine their net earnings because they don't religiously account the expenses in the business and they usually spend the daily income to buy raw materials.

The Amora family has been engaged in such enterprise since 1980, originally selling along Osmeña Boulevard near the Basilica. Today, all Niño traders are situated in concrete stalls along D. Jakosalem Street, just at the back of the Church.

The Amoras started the business with a capital of P30,000 which they spent to buy raw materials and for operational expenses. The man shares: “Dako-dako gyud og puhonan ning negosyoha kay nagkamahal man pud ang raw materials. Karon tingali, magkinahanglan ka og P50,000 para makasugod.”

Street traders pay two alcabala fees -- a sales tax -- to the city government (P20) and barangay hall (P10) every day. Members of SNSVA also give a P5 contribution for the association’s fund raising.

“Nahimo na gyud ni namong kasaligan nga source of income ba,” the Cebuano said when asked why they have stayed long in such a small business.

Small traders, however, express they have always struggled to make ends meet during the months that follow January because only few customers avail their services and buy their products.

in-demand

While repair works are mostly in-demand during Sinulog, the sidewalk sellers describe the sales of Niño images as not “very brisk” during this time, saying most customers buy them after the festival.

“Mas daghan ang magpa-ayo sa ilang mga Sto. Niño image kay pangandam ni nila para sa kapiyestahan sa Senyor,” shares stall owner Lilian Abad, 37, adding most also prepare for the customary Hubo ritual (undressing of the Sto. Niño image) which happens five days after the Grand Sinulog Parade.

Her 28-year-old sister, Marcia, feels positive the festival will again bring them good income as her family believes the Holy Child has been supporting them in the business.

The woman shares the peak season usually generates P30,000 revenues for them with the condition that they fast track finishing the job orders and producing velvet clothes.

“When you work fast, you will really more. So, that’s what we do,” she said in local dialect. (FREEMAN)