Malongs, batik shirts, and sarongs are among the items that Cebuanos and even tourists look for in every Sinulog street fair in Cebu City.
And so it is not a surprise why traders from Zamboanga City would always join yearly Cebu’s Sinulog fair.
This year’s Sinulog street fair opened last December 1, 2007 and will end on January 31, 2008. The stalls have been put up in front of Abellana National High School along Osmeña Boulevard.
Zamboanga trader Eidderf John Ignacio, who has a stall at the Sinulog fair, said joining the activity has become their tradition. “Every year, mu-apil gyud mi. (Every year, we always join),” he said.
According to Ignacio, they have also tried joining other festivals like the Sandugo in Bohol and the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.
However, he added it is only in the Sinulog fair that their participation is yearly.
Ignacio said they registered with the Sinulog Foundation to join the street fair and paid P30,000 as rental fee for their stall. He said this amount already covers the whole duration of the fair.
The rental fee for the stalls increases yearly, said Ignacio, adding that they paid P25,000 last year.
As for their income, Ignacio described it as “okay” so far. He further explained that the peak for their sale is on Sinulog day.
“Ma-double gyud ang income ig-Sinulog day (Our income would double on the Sinulog day),” he said, noting that this is the trend every year.
He also said their daily income would range from P8,000 to P10,000. The lowest so far, he said, is P4,000.
“Pero naa gyud mi halin kada adlaw (But we always have sales every day),” added Ignacio.
Among the products displayed at their stalls are: Malongs, housedress (dusters), sarongs, robes, and batik t-shirts.
Malongs are sold at P180 while prices of housedress (dusters) range from P90 to P180 depending on the style and type of cloth.
The saleable Batik t-shirts meanwhile cost around P100, P120, and P150. Sarongs’ prices range from P130 to P180 depending on the type of cloth and design. Colorful robes are at P200 each.
Ignacio also said they usually offer for bargain their products at the last day of the street fair. “Ang tag-P90 pwede mahimo 2 for P150 (Items at P90 can be sold at 2 for P150),” he said. (JRF/Sunnex)
