Mr. D.I.Y | Back in Business

It’s been a full month, but recovery really takes time. Mr. D.I.Y. is one of the local establishments in Davao Oriental that took a while to reopen. Because the way the store was built, the contractor they hired cut corners on some parts of the facility, and it was a good thing that the posts that made up the foundation of the building were not compromised, and the last time it was seen being repaired was in late October. The early morning weather was not that bad, but towards the last quarter of the year, Davao Oriental has its ‘rainy season’ with most of the Mindanao region experiencing the same weather, as most people in this area are spending the Holidays with this kind of frequent downpour towards the start of the year.

Caravan Pop Up | Night Market Finds

When you hear pop-up stores, they are shops that do not have a permanent location. Mostly, a small business that only exists online or simply has the business for a season, since they might have an actual day job. It’s been a common practice that most pop-up shops in the modern day are a table set-up inside a shopping centre or an event they are participating in year in and year out. But there are pop-up caravans that travel all over the region through rural areas that participate to be part of the town fiesta. Some of them don’t even carry named brands or licensed products. Like most stores in the province, they sell affordable items ranging from housewares, tools and even some random toys for kids to play with.

LC Department Store | Biggest Retail in Baganga

The term “Mom & Pop Shop” is an American term for a small and independent business, typically family-owned and operated. These stores are a contrast with the larger chain or big-box stores. In some parts of any remote place, there would be one or two competing stores with similar content. Sometimes, they are mistaken for what you expect in a store. But they are more likely to be a home improvement shop. Basically, they are like the Mr. D.I.Y. or your typical department store and hardware all rolled into one to cater to a small town community. The name LC Department Store is one, but the very few who have a sort of foothold in the business within the municipal town of Baganga in Davao Oriental.

Davao Oriental | When the Day Did Not Stand Still

The day started with slightly muggy weather, and it wasn’t the usual bright and sunny disposition while getting ready to leave to head out to the municipal town of Baganga for an early morning supply run. It’s Friday, and people are getting up to start their day before the weekend happens with the usual routine. Personally, the day seems slow, and something was a bit off as I saw the grey sky, and the sun wasn’t as bright as usual. Traveling from Kinablangan to Baganga, 40 minutes to almost an hour away, just to go on a supply run. Nothing was happening on the road while we headed to our destination. This day seemed so strange that I did not totally ignore it, but this morning does not have the usual feel to it.

Mr. D.I.Y | The Affordable Option

Living in a rural area has its perks. Still, it also presents some challenges, particularly in terms of accessibility, as not everything is readily available when compared to life in a big city. It’s where you have access to everything. The town life is different, and it is slower than you’d expect. But when it’s time for a supply run, it becomes exciting. Too excited that you forget you have a tight schedule and a limited budget. It’s been a while since the last visit to Mr. D.I.Y. earlier this month. The morning was a lot of things, and this was our last stop before heading back. The budget was gone, though window shopping was enough to check what they had.

Mr. D.I.Y. | New Retail Store in Baganga

There have been several home improvement shops that can only be found inside a department store or in a shopping centre. However, there’s one that is slowly becoming a well-known company, catering not only to home improvement but also offering a wide selection of diverse products ranging from household items to hardware. They also cater to a younger demographic with their school items. Clearly, for a modern store to become relevant across a diverse range of products, it is not only offering high-quality products, but also has to be affordable. Also, they have to be accessible anywhere else in the world and even to regional areas that no one has ever been to, as not everyone has a store like Mr. D.I.Y. which opened recently.

Post-Pablo Tragedy More Need Help.

03.14.2013 – It’s been months since the tragedy that has fallen to typhoon Pablo last December 2012. The news break out towards the event has been in the news since its rainfall that lost lives in Mindanao. The news kept pouring and media was there to keep everyone updated on the recent events and development on the continued effort to help those who were caught by the storm. It’s been past three months and the developments have slowly and steadily died down to obscurity. But there are actually help happening behind the scenes it just needs the right update to let everyone know about it.

A New Year Away From Manila.

01.01.2011 - Bright morning was quite welcoming, but the truth of the matter is that it was raining when midnight struck twelve. I went back to the house from Grandma's crib, where we celebrated the New Year. It is the first time to spend the New Year not in Metro Manila. Perhaps, these might be some of the firsts to expereince it soemwhere else. Taking care of nine-year-old Filpino-Norwegian cousin while being caught in this rain season is something else, which losing balance in the mud and gain a huge scratch on my foot. Of course, spending it in the privince where the roads are not 100% concrete with most of the rough road is insane. But that's kind of life around going back to this small town that hardly seen in the map. Jump after the cut...