LEYTE, Philippines – To many, a single peso might feel trivial in today’s economy, but for the vendors of Baybay City Bagsakan Public Market in Leyte, it symbolizes something far more profound: hope, and the beginning of recovery after a harrowing tragedy.
A fire tore through the marketplace around 11:30 pm on the night of September 27, leveling vendor stalls and consuming their goods. While no lives were lost, the fire erased the livelihoods of countless small business owners, leaving them with little more than the ashes of what once was.
As they sift through the remains, the vendors face the daunting challenge of rebuilding from the ground up, hoping that even the smallest change, like a peso, can make all the difference.
One of them was Nanay Arlenita, who has sold root and vegetable crops in the area since 2021. Her stall, which she relied on to support her family’s needs, is now gone, leaving her burdened with debt and an uncertain future.
“Kadtong gabi-e [sa sunog], bag-o palang mi ato nadeliveran og kamote og saging gikan Davao; amo tulo ka sako, wala nahabilin,” she recalls.
(That night, we had just received deliveries of sweet potatoes and bananas from Davao; all of which was lost.)
Nearby, Conchita Ibañez recounts her ordeal as a sudden survivor. She was asleep in her stall when the fire broke out, thinly escaping with only her life.
“Mura jud kog boang, ninggawas na way nada (I was feeling like a crazy person, running out with nothing),” she said, describing how she fled with no footwear in a panicked state. Her hard-earned money, about P19,000, along with her IDs and weighing scales, were all lost in the fire because her first instinct was to get out and save herself.
Now relocated to a makeshift kiosk in another section of the market, built from the remains, she struggles to find customers because she also lost her phone in the fire. Meanwhile, some of her produce is on the verge of spoilage.
The sudden reality of having lost it all at once pains vendors like Conchita and Nanay Arlenita, whose livelihoods hang by a thread.
Conchita is uncertain whether she and others will be allowed to sell again at the market, in hopes of relocation, or if the area will be converted for other purposes.
Nanay Arlenita, meanwhile, shares how even earning a thousand pesos has become an almost impossible challenge.
With the market site still awaiting rehabilitation, their future remains unclear. Though they have received some financial assistance and half a sack of rice each from the local government, it’s far from enough to cover their needs.
Fortunately, the students of Visayas State University (VSU) stepped up to help. Several organizations from the university organized a donation drive called “Piso mo, gasa ko (Your peso, my gift).” Launched on October 6, the drive asked for donations as modest as a peso to support those affected by the fire.
Angelo Jao, a senior linguistics student and the project representative, explained the campaign’s goal: to gather funds to help vendors like his parents, who depend on daily sales for a living.
“There were vendors who lost their main source of income,” Jao said. “As someone who grew up with parents who are also vendors, I felt deeply the gravity of the impact this fire had on their lives.”
The initiative received enthusiastic support from campus organizations, including the Tau Omega Mu (TOM) fraternity, the Ladies’ Circle, and multiple student councils, raising an initial of over P10,646 for the affected vendors.
More fundraising events like “Art for a Cause” by the Banaag Visual Arts Group and a movie screening for a cause by the SILAKBO filmmaking group further boosted donations.
In the end, the campaign identified the recipients of the aid, which was officially turned over on Friday, November 8.
“Dako kaayo ning tabang saamo, paghinay-hinay pambayad sa amo mga pinangutang, unya pambalik sa mga nawala,” said Conchita, expressing deep gratitude for the assistance brought by the donations.
(This help means so much to us; it allows us to slowly pay off our debts, and to bring back what we lost.)
Though aware of the campaign’s limitations, Jao reflected on its impact. “We knew from the start that we couldn’t help everyone, but if we can improve the lives of even one or two struggling vendors, our efforts are worth it.”
“Wa man jud mi nanginahanglan og dako o gamay kay di man jud nato mabayran noh, di naman to mubalik, pero atleast magpasalamat ko sir na ako’y gitagaan. Bisag estudyante mo, nagmalasakit mo namo. Ako ni dawaton,” said Nanay Arlenita, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes after receiving the aid.
(We don’t ask for much or little because we know nothing can fully replace what was lost, but at least, thank you for helping. Even though you’re students, you still showed us compassion. I’ll accept this. )
More than a month has passed since the fire, but with the support of the community and the collective efforts of students – no matter how small – vendors are gradually moving forward, one day at a time. For them, every peso holds weight, an important lifeline as they rebuild their shattered lives – a blessing during their time of great need. – Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024.
