John John wanted some Chocolates…You need to understand that ‘Chocolates’ is a collective noun in his vocabulary. He is after a small treat of some kind.
We were pleased to have him back, not that he had been physically away, but for the last three days he has been screaming around with numerous small Cousins, Nieces and Nephews, so we haven’t seen much of him. Now they have all gone and we have our ‘Only Child’ back again. It was Brother Isidro’s wedding yesterday and everyone lends a hand so relatives came from all over Mindanao, hence the numerous children around for John to play with.
The event was planned and executed in typically Philippine fashion, one which hides a lot of efficient organization beneath apparent noisy chaos. It was quite a grand affair.
So we were feeling a little indulgent towards him and Gina gave him a few small coins, about 5 Peso…I need to give you a little financial information here: $1 US gives you about 48 Pesos and $1 Australian gives about 39 Pesos… He went to the little store next door and came back with 5 packets of confectionary. “Moby Caramel Puffs, A crunchy snack dipped in real Caramel Preservative Free, No MSG” says the packet.
They are fairly small, 7 grams but the thing I can’t quite work out is how they sell them for 1 Peso each! The packaging is a modern foil pack, in full colour. The snacks themselves are quite tasty and as the package says “They melt in your Mouth” . When you consider manufacturing costs, packaging costs, distribution costs, profit margins for the manufacturer, wholesaler and retail outlet… how can you do it for 1 Peso each?
Beats me, I would have thought the packaging would have cost that much.
I am just pleased to live in a place where small coins can actually buy something!
Other things you can buy for your Peso coin:-
I piece of individually wrapped chewing gum.
1 ‘Stick’ (cigarette) …You can buy individual cigarettes at the small stores, mind you the retailer is profiteering here because you can buy a pack of 20 for 12 Peso!
1 small bread roll.
A whole range of similar treats like the Moby Puffs, sweet and savory.
A variety of individually wrapped sweets and candies.
If you are lucky enough to have a few more Pesos to spend you could buy so many other things, Packages of Shampoo, Washing Powder, Soya Sauce, Ketchup… the list is endless. Most everyday products are available in small low cost packages. They meet the market need for low price items for people with little money to spend.
If you have 30 (Peso) of them you could buy a half bottle of Tanduay Rum, perfectly drinkable, and get 2 Peso change!
Ironically these small packs would meet a demand in the West too with more and more people living alone. A supermarket shelf is likely to offer ‘Jumbo’ this and ‘Extra Large’ that but to find small size packaging can be very difficult if not impossible,
Perhaps I should start a business importing goods in small low cost sizes to the Western Singles market!
We are going to Dumaguete this week to Sea Feather and then to Borocay. We are taking the car on a fairly new Car Ferry service from Mindanao to Negros. I am sure it will stimulate lots of ideas for my next posts.
Please keep reading.
Colin and Gina in Cagayan de Organised Chaos.
