To wander and have a peaceful mind is what I am interested in after a very stressful week. I promised myself a reward for having a job well done in the past few weeks of struggling to finish all the needed papers works in school. I am looking forward to having a vacation in the city to meet my friends, chat, laugh, and eat with them.
Hello, my good friends on Hive! This year 2022 has been tough for us, and we hope for a better 2023. Wishing you a bountiful new year everyone!
At last, the day I longed for has finally come- the Christmas break. It started last December 16, 2022. Hoooray to me, I can finally travel to the city.
With the two weeks vacation, I had the time to go back to the narrow streets of Cebu City, thinking of the things I did here before because I used to be here, back when I was in my college days.
I was mesmerized by the changes I’ve seen in the streets. I was not able to notice that my feet brought me to the Carbon Market – the mother of all Markets. Carbon Market has a lot to offer - name it - foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, different types of decorated crafts that can be used as souvenirs, giveaways, home decorations, and the famous ukay-ukay (slightly used or pre-loved clothes) can be seen and being sold in the area.
Looking at the place, I feel like the inner child in me was crying with so much joy upon seeing the fresh fruits and vegetables I used to just watch before since I couldn’t afford to buy them, and now, I can since I worked already.
During the daytime, the Carbon Market is just a typical normal market where displays are just in their designated areas but there is a bigger difference if you come into the place at night. Yes, you can see the real picture of the carbon market. Local farmers are displaying their fruits and vegetables side by side on the streets and it is called "bagsakan" (local dialect) where the prices are very low.
As I was walking around, suddenly the rain poured so hard that I feel pity for the vendors because some of the fruits and vegetables being sold were wet. With that, the wet vegetables will get rotten easily. So, the tendency of their gain will be lessened.
Local vendors from the provinces will come to the Carbon Market to buy fruits and vegetables at a very low price. They will not mind the distance of traveling since they have a higher chance of getting bigger gains since the price of goods in the Carbon Market is quite cheaper. They will also sell the purchased goods in their town’s market and or “sari-sari “stores at home. With that, the Carbon market got its name- the mother of all markets.
If you are looking for flowers for decorations during weddings or any event, the carbon market is the best place for you. Flowers were also being displayed at the flower stalls on the ground floor of the newly constructed Carbon Market building. You will see different types of flowers being sold in the area.
On the second floor of the newly constructed building, you can see a lot of stalls of decorated crafts where you can buy souvenirs, giveaways, or home decor at a very low price. Before the construction of the building, decorated crafts and flowers were being sold at the "Freedom Park" in front of the University of San Jose Recolletos Main Campus but apparently, they are being transferred to the new building because the famous freedom park was being renovated into something new.
When hunger strikes, the place has also food stalls that sell very delicious local foods that will surely make you feel like licking your fingers to get the fullness of its taste. We tried their food, and to tell you, it's delicious. As we were eating, a child came to our table and asked if he could take our leftovers. Upon looking at the child, my heart melts especially when he shared about their family. Without any hesitation, I bought them food to eat and share.
There are lots of people in the area at night and so we need to be careful with our belongings.
Personally, my aunt introduced me to the displays of flowers, fruits, and vegetables being sold in Carbon Market during my college days. During the fiesta, and wedding events of any of our family, my aunt always volunteers to be the one to help in buying the flowers because she loves to go to Carbon Market for the low prices it offers. Usually, she will buy the flowers at Carbon Market during nighttime or dawn for prices will be lower. And it was my pleasure to be the sidekick of my aunt who used to go with her to this place.
Aside from that, Cebuano people love to visit the carbon market to look for ukay-ukay (slightly used or pre-loved clothes) – shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, trousers, shoes, bags, and many more. It is known as ukay-ukay because the term “ukay” means looking for something good to wear in the piles of so many different types of clothes that are shipped from other countries. And I am one of them. I love jackets, trousers, and shoes. For practicality, if I go to the mall there is a possibility that I can buy only a few items of these because of their higher prices. Unlike if I go to ukay-ukay I can surely purchase or buy a lot of items since it is cheaper and of good quality since most of the items are branded.
I had a great time with my friends catching up while finding something best to buy in the ukay- ukay. We found trousers and shoes and pay it at a very low price. Indeed, what a lovely day in the Carbon Market - a good place to go.
Thank you wonderful people of the hive for reading my blog. Until my next blog😊