“Saan aabot ang twenty pesos mo?”
That is one of the most popularized Filipino statements of all time. Whether this statement be a joke or an unserious connotation, it is indeed a wonder up to this day "What can we buy with a twenty peso bill?"
Almost every semester, businesses within and around Aklan State University-Main Campus are open for the service of the students and teachers.
Located near the College of Education; in between the plantation area of Pomelo trees, stands the newly opened Kiosko Grill, which joined the thriving businesses—traditional ready-to-eat meals—that are offered in carinderias or also called “turo-turo” at ASU.
Edward Retiro, 46, whom the carinderia was entrusted to by John Deric Suganob, the owner of Kiosko and his college friend, managed Kiosko.
As the dawn breaks, along with five (5) other service crews, Retiro prepares seven (7) to eight (8) variety of ‘ulam’ recipes every day that ranges from the price of 8.00 pesos (per stick of barbecue) to 35.00 pesos, from Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
This allure the 19-year-old, Jhanilla Dalida, a 2nd-year student in Bachelor of Secondary Education.
“Sulit imaw kasi budget-friendly do mga foods. Swak sa mga nagtitipid era na students, tas refreshing man kasi mahangin. Ag kung taga CTE student, madya advantage kasi no need na maglakad [nang] malayo.”
(It’s worth the price since the foods are budget-friendly. Suitable for those students that are in their ‘saving’ era, it [Kiosko Grill] is also refreshing because the place is windy. And if you're a CTE student, you have the advantage because you don't have to walk far to find a place to eat.)
According to Statistica, in 2021, the Philippines' food service industry generated revenues amounting to 8.37 billion U.S. dollars and was projected to rise by 12 percent to 9.36 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2022—from street stalls and small roadside eateries or carinderia to fine dining restaurants—one of the highest tax generators in the country.
“Yung target naman namin dito, para yung mga estudyante, makamura sa pagkain, kahit yung estudyante na walang pera— can not afford to buy our foods, pwede namang sabihin nila 'wala kaming pambili,” said Retiro. (Our target here is for the students to save money when buying food. Even those students that don't have money— can not afford to buy our foods, they can just tell 'I don’t have money.')
Regardless of being new on the rise and having their fixed low price, Kiosko Grill remains dedicated to helping students as they consider asking them if hesitant, of what they can only afford so that prices can be adjusted to their liking.
“[Kung] incidentally na walang pera, nakalimutan yung pera. Basta ang importante ang makatulong. Hindi lang yung kumita, ang importante yung makatulong sa mga estudyante,” he added.
([If] incidentally they don’t have money, [or] forgot to bring money. What’s important is to help. Not just to have profits, helping the students is what is important.)
For the service of ASUians, by the once was ASUians, Kiosko indeed fills the hungry bellies and the struggling pockets of every student, staff, and faculty.
And so, the next time someone asked "What can we buy with a twenty peso bill?" we now have an answer.
"Sa Kiosko, aabot ang 20 pesos mo. ASU's eang sa kanami!"
Comments