PH: The Shouting Vendors

"Pintos, Mani, Chicharon, Itlog!", they repeatedly shout to the passengers in the bus terminal.

You usually see shouting vendors in many, if not all, bus terminals in the Philippines. They sell variety of Philippine delicacies and home-made products . In other perspective, I see them as promoters of our traditional Filipino favorites that preserve our culture.

They are only small-time businessmen in the country whose capital is undeniably small and limited. In return, they also earn very little despite the fact that they persistently do extra effort to sell their products by shouting for more than the regular working hours.

"Pintos, Mani, Chicharon, Itlog!", they repeatedly shout to the passengers in the bus terminal.

I cannot help but overhear something from the shouts of these vendors. They sounded like a cry of small children asking for food to feed their empty stomachs. Then I realized, they have their own families that depend on them. So I smiled and said, "Ate, mopalit ko og Pintos (Maam, I will buy a pintos)."

So, when you encounter these shouting vendors in the Philippines, please do not get annoyed by them and please do not just ignore them. Instead, grab a penny or two to buy their goods and let their shouts and cries be heard.