The Crisis is about to Happen!

Growing up as a child of a farmer is not that easy. Maybe some of you here look at it as an advantage because for some reasons, Farming is a good source of income, especially if the land being cultivated was your own. But, on the other hand, what will happen if you are just treated as a laborer? Do you still consider it as a good source for living? How about the crops or products you have produced from it? Are you willing to give authority to the buyers to decide its price, even though they will just buy it at a low price?

Hello there fellas!👋☺️

Its been almost two days since the last time I write something about a personal matter. Lately, I was just thinking to write fictional stories but deep inside, I really wanted to share something about my concerns regarding personal issues within the family. Actually, this seemed distracting me for a couple of days now. Though I find ways to let it through, but eventually, I just can't ignore it.

Some of you here already knew that I am a daughter of a farmer, a "Tuba" Gatherer or let's just say a "Coconut Wine Maker." (Para sosyal :D) Since, I was a kid, I always saw my papa making it. The thing is, there were those times that I accompanied my papa to his coconut trees where he gathered the coconut wine. The land that we used for planting the coconut trees is owned by my grandfather. As for my mama, she was the one who chopped the "Tungog". (peelings from the "Tungog Tree") She chopped it into smaller pieces. It is use to make the wine turn to dark red in color and make it taste bitter (mapait) and better. I also drink the so-called, "Dawat", means the wine gathered directly from the coconut tree which is not yet being mixed by the "Tungog." I love drinking it because it tastes good and sweet. But if you drink too much of it, you will get drunk. Lol. :D

The one we sell for buyers are those which are already, "Bahal or Bahalina", the one that's been placed in the containers and stocked for several days, weeks, months, or even years. The price depends on how long it was stored in the container. As for ours, every two weeks the buyers came to our house to pick it up and payed the price.

As I can still remembered, when I was still in my Elementary days, the price of one container of "Tuba", ranges from Php 200 to Php 250. Its very cheap, right? When I was in High School, the price ranges from Php 250 to Php 270. When I started College, the price became higher. It ranges from Php 350 to Php 400. When I was in my third year in College, the price of it ranges to Php 400 to Php 450. Some buyers bought it within the price ranges from Php 500 to Php 550 and Php 600. At that time, the coconut wine being produced became minimal. Even though the price gets higher and higher but without the enough amount of coconut wine being produced, the income of the family still not enough for the daily necessities at home, especially because I studied in College also. That's the reason why my papa decided to worked as a Carpenter or a Mason after gathering the "Tuba" early in the morning. There were also times that they make use of the left overs from the copra (Coconut Shells) and make it into charcoal, both him and my mama. He also worked as a Truck Driver. A lot of things they worked out together to have an extra income to support the financial needs of our family, especially my needs. "One of the precious things that I really considered to be thanking of to them."

Up until now, at the age of forty-six, my papa still working as a "Tuba" gatherer. The usual time that he started his day was three o' clock in the morning. Right now, he has twenty (20) coconut tress to be climbed every morning and every after he worked in the afternoon, up until the night. He finished gathering it at 10 o' clock or 11 o' clock in the evening. Yes! That's really late. Still he needs to wake up early to finish it on time before 8 o' clock the next day because he need to attend to another work. Actually, I advised him to just make it ten (10) coconut trees, so that he can still rest for a while after. But he said that it will just a waste of time. "Sayang din daw ang Kikitain." (Hahay! Papa😑)

You know, its not easy to gather it. You need to climb the coconut tree and cut the "Bungol", the one which produces the extract or the juice, using a sharp blade, called, "Sanggot." Looking at my papa doing it, almost everyday, makes my heart pounding with nervous because I am afraid if he slips and fall, especially when it rains.

Due to this global pandemic that we have faced today, our main source of income was being affected, same is through with the buyers or owners of coconut wine stalls in our town. Our Municipal Mayor commanded them to temporarily close it to avoid physical contact, especially to those which are showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19. Drinking Tuba or coconut wine is one of the things most of the people in our town were doing. It was also considered as a way to have a bond with the others and to have fun, especially during special occasions. But as what I have said, it was being controlled by the Municipal Government. And it turns out, the coconut wine producers have much concerned about the current situation.

Last Saturday, one of our buyers came and said that they will buy our "Tuba" for only Php 350. I was so sad to heard it because, you know, we are dependent to it. But, what else we can do? They already decided to make it with that cheap price. Actually, my greater concern is for my papa because even though, he was not showing it, I felt his pain deep inside him. Even though he smiled at us, I know he was sad and tired.

What I have in mind now, "As a seller, why are we dependent to the buyers?" "Why are they the ones to decide its price?" After all, its us should decide, right? At this age, I honestly think that its unfair.

"Crises is about to Happen!" And I really don't know what will happen if sooner or later, we have to face the crises. As for now, I am still waiting for the results of my application for Teacher I position, hoping that I will be accepted and be able to teach already. As a sort of helping my mama and papa, I try to work at my best in read.cash and noise.cash platforms. Honestly, I am really thankful for this opportunity because without it, I will just still a "Palamunin" or a "Tambay" in our house.

To my mama and papa,

You may not read this one, but thank you for your sacrifices. I know you're tired, but still showing and doing your best to give a good life for us, especially for me. I will not promise anything to you, but if chances will be given by God, I will make sure to make things work out for us, for our family and for our future.❣️After which, I then be able to say to you, "Ma, Pa, Pahinga muna, Ako nang bahala!"🥲

I Love You, both. <3 <3 <3

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Lead Image edited from Pixlab and Canva

Thank you for reading fellas!

Praises be all to God!😇

_renren16💚_

09/20/2021

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