Carbon Market in Cebu City, Philippines is the hub of business where buyers and sellers meet. A majority of people sell their products at wholesale prices, making it an ideal place for small business owners to retail their items at a lower price. I personally love visiting this place when I have some extra time and money since it has a lot to offer. You can find almost everything here at a budget-friendly price. Although, I prefer visiting it during midnight or early morning when I get off work since it's not hot to wander around and helps me relieve stress. The place is bustling with people, vehicles, and a lot of noise. However, it's fascinating to meet different people and hear their stories.
Come with me today as I walk around Carbon Market - Cebu City, Philippines.
The Carbon Market has greatly improved since the local government upgraded the area. Before the improvements, it was known to be unsafe due to snatchers lurking around. Despite the previous reputation, I have been able to visit the market almost every week without any problems. The Carbon Market used to be dirty and smelly, but now it is spotless and well-organized. Huge thanks to the local government for keeping the area clean and safe to walk around.
To be completely honest, I love walking around Carbon Market during my free time or after work. The place is full of surprises, and you can find almost anything at half the price compared to malls and groceries. Exploring the area is an enjoyable experience as you get to see a wide variety of products. Personally, I prefer walking around Carbon Market at night when the sun is down. It's much cooler and more comfortable to explore the market during those hours.
My Carbon Buddy Struck A Pose At The Vegetable Stalls
Right after we hopped off the jeepney, we were greeted by a bustling group of vegetable vendors at Carbon Market, their vegatable stalls are located across from the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City, Philippines. These tireless workers hawk moringa oleifera, lemongrass, sweet potato tops, and other verdant leafy greens at incredibly affordable prices. Despite laboring through the night, these dedicated individuals will continue to toil until nightfall, just to make ends meet. With the rising cost of living, everyone must find a way to survive.
As I was making my way towards the entrance of the Carbon Market, I noticed a man selling cigarettes and candies. Even though he was wandering around the market trying to sell his products, not many people seemed interested in what he had to offer. Walking around Carbon Market and seeing all these hustling people serves as a reminder that not everyone has the luxury of an easy life. Many people struggle every day just to make ends meet. While we all know that smoking is detrimental to our health and the environment, it's important to remember that there are still people who rely on it for their livelihood, like the man I saw. Selling cigarettes and candies is his way of providing for his family and surviving. Life can be harsh, but we must acknowledge that reality.
As I was strolling around, I noticed a vendor selling lansones fruit for 40 pesos per kilo and mangosteen fruit for 40 pesos. Although the price of the grapes was not displayed, I decided not to disturb the tired vendor by asking. It made me contemplate the challenges faced by people who work tirelessly to make ends meet. I hope the vendor's children are doing well in school and appreciate their father's hard work. Selling fruits at such low prices while sacrificing rest and sleep is undoubtedly challenging. I wish him all the best and hope he sells all his fruits.
On the first look at the picture, the man seems to be arguing and starting to get into a fight. But no, he is calling customers to eat in their stall. It was such a bustle! He was so loud! He was calling everyone and inviting everyone to eat in their stall. He was convincing enough, though, so we decided to try.
SWEET STICKY COCONUT AND GINGER RICE PAIRED WITH HOT TABLEA
The man in the photo is selling sticky coconut and ginger rice paired with hot tablea drink. You can choose between two varieties of sugar they provide for free— brown sugar and muscovado sugar, depending on your preferred level of sweetness. The rice and hot tablea drink are sold separately for 10 pesos each. Sticky rice and a hot tablea drink make a perfect breakfast combination. It would be even better with mangoes, but we'll enjoy it nonetheless.
We strolled around the bustling Carbon Market, observing people carrying their purchases, many of which were bought in bulk. The market was teeming with activity even though it was early in the morning. The photos we took captured the frenetic energy of the market. While our purpose was to thrift shop, we couldn't find the color we needed and ended up exploring the market instead.
While walking around the streets, I stumbled upon a vendor selling Lansones and Rambutan. The vendor was selling both for 50 pesos per kilogram, which I found to be very cheap. Being a fan of Lansones, I decided to buy 1 kilogram. However, as I passed by earlier a man selling lansones for 40 pesos, I didn't bought from him because I don’t want to disturb him as he was sleeping.
While walking around, I came across a woman selling glutinous cakes and other Filipino delicacies. As a fan of these types of snacks, I couldn't resist and purchased nilusak a sweet treat made of mashed bananas and coconut tidbits. It was the perfect snack to enjoy while we were walking around Carbon Market, and I only paid 35 pesos for a pack of four pieces. You could choose any delicacy for 3 pieces for one hundred pesos.
E-bikes are the newest transportation means in Carbon Market, with a minimum fare of 15 pesos. They are becoming increasingly popular and there are many of them roaming around. However, some E-bikes have Bluetooth speakers playing at the back, causing a lot of noise while passing through the streets and adding to the bustle of the market. Despite the noise, E-bikes are convenient because they are not bulky and can easily pass by, reducing traffic congestion in the area.
As I was strolling around, a man on a motorcycle caught my eye. He had ingeniously attached a box at the back of his motorcyle to hold all the items he had purchased from the market. Despite having limited resources, he managed to be creative and resourceful. He secured the box with a sturdy rope to prevent it from falling off and arranged all his goods inside. This man's creativity is a testament to the Filipino's ingenuity and resourcefulness. Not everyone can afford a car or even a motorcycle, which is why people have to find other means to transport their belongings. While most people rely on public transportation or private vehicles, this man's artistic mindset allowed him to come up with a practical solution.
Well, on our way out of the Carbon Market because we got tired walking all around and was not able to thrift shop because the color of the shirt I needed isn’t available, we got tired and decided to go home and catch a jeepney, I overheard this woman asking the vendor to lower the price of the dried fish. They seemed to be negotiating with the vendor; she was selling it for 200 pesos, and the woman asked if they could buy it for 150 pesos instead. I was just listening to them and had a realization in mind hearing them. I understand that it is tough because everything is expensive with the inflation and everything. We are looking for means to save, especially on the things we buy for groceries and food, but let us not forget that these vendors have a family to feed as well. It is okay if we try to ask them to lower their price or if they could give us a discount. For me, I think it’s unappropriate to demand a price because they are doing business. But why is that when people go to malls and groceries even when the prices are high, they do not negotiate, they do not ask for a discount? But rather, buy it no matter how expensive it is. But when people go to markets, people tend to ask for a lower price, which is sometimes unreasonable because we must not forget that they are here for a living. Not for charity. Selling is their means of living, and by asking for a discount, almost half the price, we are not helping them; we are adding to their burden. My point is that we must always support local vendors and our local business people, and we must not forget that they are doing business; it's their means of getting a living. There's nothing wrong with negotiating, but let us not tend to be demanding. Let us put ourselves on their shoes.
We then rode a jeepney and headed home. I got tired walking around Carbon Market Cebu City, Phippines. What a walk around the market. I got tired but I enjoyed it. While I was on the jeepney, I had so much realizations :
❤︎ Life can be challenging, and not everyone is fortunate enough to live comfortably. Many people work tirelessly just to make ends meet and provide for their families. Witnessing the struggles of others can make us grateful for the work and life we have now. It's a reminder that we should never take our blessings for granted.
❤︎ As buyers, it's important to be mindful of the products we purchase. We should always opt for fresh and unblemished items and thoroughly inspect them for any marks or signs of spoilage. Additionally, it's wise to exercise caution and compare prices among different vendors to ensure we're getting the best deal possible.
❤︎ This is a friendly reminder to support local vendors and businesses whenever possible. Instead of buying imported groceries, consider purchasing fruits and vegetables from your nearby local market. This will not only help small business owners like them but also ensure that the products we buy are fresh.
❤︎ Sometimes, I also tend to buy not because I need the product. Yet, it is because I am petty of the vendor. If I see an older woman selling a broom on the market, especially at night time or early morning where they are not supposed to be here, they are supposed to be at home relaxing due to their age, and I know to myself that I don't need that much because I still have a broom at home, but the vendor, that's an older woman trying to sell things, I get so much petty. I buy from those old woman and vendors who are old. That is what I do. I know it's not practical buying things you don't need that much, but when I petty the vendor, I will indeed buy. Just my own little way of helping them. A little act of kindness won’t hurt.
❤︎ In essence, it's about being grateful for what we have in life. We should appreciate that we're not out there hustling day and night, selling our wares on the streets or in the market. We're fortunate to have a more comfortable life and a job that's a little better than what others have. It's important to always be grateful for life and remember that no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how it tests our patience and resilience, we must remain faithful and steadfast in the face of adversity.
Thanks for reading my blog about me walking and wandering around Carbon Market in Cebu City, Philippines. Although there is much more to explore in the market, I hope you enjoyed what I shared. Since I had just finished work, I didn't have the energy to walk around some more, but maybe I'll show you more of Carbon Market in the future. After a 15-minute jeepney ride, I arrived home and went straight to bed. Ciao!