was ours

By HANNAH MAYLENE EUGENIO

AWELL-WORN parking lot in the heart of Basud, Polangui, came to life as a variety of stalls and food carts filled its pathways, inundating the air with the aroma of street foods and filling the surroundings with the sound of happy chatter from the crowds. The open area was covered with warm LED lights, which illuminated the Night Market's pathways and welcomed visitors of all ages, offering them a sense of warmth in the cold of the night.

Each and very vendor has a distinct tale to tell, each as unique as their food carts. In the market’s far corner stands a takoyaki vendor named Oscar Dela Cruz Quito, he was in the middle of cutting corners as overflowing paychecks piled on top of his kitchen counter when he suddenly stumbled upon a post on Facebook about a Night Market in Polangui. Oscar, who is from Ligao, seized the opportunity to start a business at the Night Market despite the distance.

“I just started here one year ago last January, and I have this conviction that I will sell takoyaki. I was actually the first one to have a Takoyaki business here before the second one came,” Quito said who previously owned a takoyaki shop back in Ligao, but he struggled to make ends meet.

“For six months, I endured the expensive rent there. This space here, however, is my savior,” he said.

In addition to aiding them financially, the Night Market also relieved a great deal of stress from the merchants' shoulders by providing them with a stable place to stay.

“The beautiful thing about the night market is that it allows informal settlers to have a formal and a stable business.” Oscar added.

But it wasn’t always like this, vendors used to compete for space in the congested streets, squeezing themselves in between parking spaces and on sides of the road which frequently resulted to officials reprimanding them. This brings into the equation why the vendors encouraged the government to provide more spaces for small businesses all across town.

“I prefer expanding this night market to become more stable especially with our stalls to allow us not to set up our tents everyday which will only cause hassle to us. A convenient and stable place would help a lot.” Quito said.

Food is the medium that brings people closer. The Night Market became a junction, and the food stalls became stations which bridged different towns and cities together.

People from all walks of life wander through Polangui’s perpetually busy streets, brimming with hope to make a living or to simply enjoy a bite of their favorite street foods. A parking lot that was formerly empty is now full of memories and stories. ■