Vendors claim of decline in sales this Sinulog 2014

CEBU, Philippines - While the weather yesterday was not as bad as expected based on earlier forecasts that predicted possible rain showers, vendors  of popular items during the Sinulog still believe if the weather would have been better, they would have had better sales.

Gemma Salveda, 53, has been selling Sto. Niño relics for 10 years now. But she told The Freeman yesterday that compared to the previous year, most of them had lower sales.

“Kung ingon ani bagyo-bagyo wala kaayoy kita. Pero kung ting-init dako-dako gyud ang kita,” Salveda said.

She added though that the demand for repaint, repair and change of new clothes for Sto. Niño relics is still in demand.

 But while she said that she has been working on making dresses for Sto. Niño relics all-year-round, there still was no change on ber earnings.

“Tanan katoliko duna gyud nay imahe ni Sto. Niño pero kasagaran magpa-ilis na lang labi na sa hubo na Sto. Niño, dili kaayo kusog ang imahe,” she said.

Lorna Guiñares, 38, has been in the business for three years and shared the same sentiments as Salveda.

“Para man gud nila duna nay sentimental value maong bisan ug dunay buak mao lang gihapon ilang dad-on pero ipa-repair na lang pareha anang papintal unya pa-ilis ug sinina,” she said in an interview.

The cost for repair and repaint of relics range from P150 to P5,000, depending on the size of the statue while new clothes for a Sto. Niño relic cost from P150 to P3,500.

Some stall and street vendors also reported a decrease in sales during yesterday’s Sinulog Grand celebration, as compared to the previous year.

According to Jonathan Llanito, a water vendor, his income this year is much lower than the past years.

He explained that the weather has a big effect on their kind of business. “Wa man gud miinit kay naa may bagyo di pareho last year nga init maong nanginahanglan gyud ang tawo ug tubig,”said Llanito.

Dalia Gabotan, a pungko-pungko vendor said her income decreased since she noticed that there were lesser people that joined this year’s festivities.— Ria Mae Y. Booc, Michael Braga, Mechelle P. Florita and Arian Sweden Mae C. Cosmiano, May Miasco /ATO