It was Friday when I went to the market with Mama. As I've mentioned before, the schedule for "Tiangge-an" was every Friday and Sunday. During our visit last Friday, everything is still the same as what I remembered. The products were on the ground, arranged carefully by the sellers. Some use boxes to put their products, especially food, while some use a mat or plastic. It's kinda messy, actually, and sometimes you can step on their products on the ground because of how disorganized everything in here before.
But then, during our visit again on Sunday, everything changed, and I am so glad with this kind of arrangement. It kind of surprised me too because it happened so fast. But still, I'm glad with this development. With this kind of arrangement going around in here, it would be easier now compared to before, when we experienced traffic because of the small pathway while the products of some sellers were almost eating all the path.
We are actually curious if there's a rent fee here. And because Mama is kind of a Marites, lol, she asked one of the sellers about it. So we learned that they had to pay 60 pesos or $1.03 for it per day. They were provided too with this stainless rack here, which I think is really a good deal for them. And they only need to rent it for two days, which are Friday and Sunday, so I think it's not bad. We just noticed that some of the katutubo, or a tribe that visits and sells their crops here, is not present.
They are called Mangyans, by the way, and some of them sell their products a little cheaper compared to others and fresher too. They often sell some root crops like cassava, camote, and taro, and even peanuts and ginger. Maybe they find the price expensive, and it's not like they transport a large amount of crops. And you know they bring them here in the capital from the mountains, so that's another expense for them. I hope, though, that they can find a solution and can still sell their crops in here.
Anyways, this is what it looks like now here. They really change everything here. And I think the sellers really decreased in number. Maybe some sellers find the rental fee too heavy on their pocket. Also, the "Kakanin" sellers are at the back now. Kakanin sellers actually have their table even before because they can't really just put their food on the ground, no? Lol. But anyways, yeah, they're at the back now, and I didn't see all of them, some are absent, sadly.
And yep, you can still see a few sellers where their products were still on the ground. But I think that's because the stainless rack is not enough for all of them. And I really wish more sellers would come here again soon, once everything is settled. With the new arrangements, I think it won't be enough to accommodate all of the sellers here. But I hope they also do something about that.
Anyways, it surely is enjoyable now to shop in here. This is what I bagged after a minute of strolling in the market. Fresh sweet potato leaves, calamansi to make the special dip for my boiled green leafy vegetables, and this purple sweet potato. It's a happy shopping time yeah ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭
Lead Image Edited in Canva.