The “Daily life” on local markets

and other outlets

Meet the people

One of the possible locations to meet the people of the Philippines and to discover parts of the daily life of many Filipinos,  is the market. The local markets in a big city or regional town are most of the time crowded and colourful. The sellers, young or older, will welcome foreigners in their stall.

They are always prepared for a friendly talk, even if you don’t buy. 

The Philippines is one of the developing countries where the sellers don’t molest a foreigner in

an attempt to sell. Most of the Filipinos speak English rather good, so,

communication is not a problem. 

	Fish Market in Ormoc City Ormoc City is one of the two bigger regional cities on the island of Leyte in the center part of the Philippines (the Visayas). If you don’t want to buy a fish, no problem. Do you want to take a picture, of course! “Mabuhay”, your welcome!   Image: © E.C. de Schoolmeester
Just an outlet in Cebu City Cebu City on the island Cebu, is one of the few big cities in the Philippines. The urban area of Cebu City counts many sections, each with their own markets. Most known is the Carbon Market, the colorful and crowded market in the old, downtown part of Cebu City. Image: Website Nisikori, © Hiroyuki & Kunchan

Click the thumbnails to enlarge the picture
Fruit stall	All kinds of products	Local restaurant	Rice in different qualities	Local restaurant	Fried bananas

Employment on local markets

and other outlets

The service sector offers many possibilities to earn money

Paid jobs in the modern and bigger companies in the services sector and industrial sector or not wide spread. On the contrary. There is a enormous lack of jobs for those (young) persons who are graduated or who have a training in a specific direction.

Regular income

For those who live in the urban areas like Metro Manila, Cebu City and Davao City and regional towns, the service sector offers good possibilities to have a regular income. More than 40 % of the working people find a job in one of the services, especially in the small family restaurants, the transportation sector and retail trade.

Picture: Fried Bananas, nice and cheap!

Image: Website Nisikori, © Hiroyuki & Kunchan

The local markets and cheap products

The trade on the local markets and alongside streets in the open air or outlets in covered sale-buildings, offer a lot of possibilities for many families. Many families developed their own small business. Most of these small businesses are not officially registered. They form the “informal service sector”. One other most important advantage of this informal sector of the economy is, that the prices of products and in general all the services, are rather cheap if compared to the price level in the formal shops, restaurants and other officially registered business.

fishmarket in Ormoc City

The local markets are attractive for many tourists. There is a lot to see, to hear, to smell and especially a lot to eat or to buy for a very moderate price. Markets in the Philippines are in many respects quite different from the markets in the USA or European countries.

Outlets for dried fish, meat and cigarettes

Selling dried fish on the market in Ormoc City

Click on the pictures to enlarge
Dried fish - market in Ormoc City, Leyte Dried fish - market in Ormoc City, Leyte
Seller in Cebu City
Selling cigarettes, cafe powder, chocolate, candies, per piece, sac or packet (Cebu City)

Part of the meatmarket in Ormoc City

Pictures: © E. C. de Schoolmeester / D. de Schoolmeester