Business in the Philippines

There are businesses that are not as common in the USA as in the Philippines.   There are other combinations that would not immediately be thought of as going together.

One thread that you will see in my blog posts is how the Philippine mindset is to repair, reuse, or use for parts to fix something else.   The concept of just throwing an item away and buying a new one without exhausting all possibilities seems mostly non-existent.

Today I would like to note three businesses, saving the best for last.

The first one that I would like to share is one I saw in the town of Sindangan where they go for marketing and other needs for the children’s home.  It advertised a barbershop and dental work.   I guess it depends on which chair you sit in.   I would not have thought of those going together.   I am very sorry, I do not seem to be able to locate the picture of the sign for this establishment.

I will have to say that in the early days of the USA, the barbers were also who you turned to do for medical needs, specifically bleeding when that was considered a cure for most things.   I am told that is why the traditional barber pole has the red stripes down it, to signify bleeding.

The next one is not quite as much of a stretch of imagination.  Watch and shoe repair. I would not have thought that those two have much in common as far as tools and technics but anyone with diverse skills has that much more of an opportunity for income.

Here is the picture of the watch and shoe repair.

Saving the best for last, the vulcanizing business.   I only half-jokingly told one of my friends that no matter where you had a flat tire, you were within coasting distance to the vulcanizing shop.

It is a method of hot patching tubeless tires. Done right, it seems to be a very successful method.  Done wrong, it can get exciting.

This picture is a vulcanizing shop on the National Highway not far from where we turn to go the children’s home.

I only have a couple videos since I had camera problems and the only ones I have are ones that I had uploaded before it quit working.

Peter White has a YouTube page with a number of excellent video of the Philippines.  He is located more in the central portion of the country but the images are very nearly identical.   He has kindly given permission to use this video clip.   I am sure you will enjoy seeing it.