​​Laundry Shop as a business

Given the chance, I would want to have an investment such as the laundry shops. Why? Because like most people, I also wash my own linens from the undies to shirts to anything I cover myself and hang on to the wall to help make the house look better.

For me, for any business to succeed there must be a need for it. Day in and out, we change clothes from head to toe especially if you are working or have children to attend to.  

Thus, for me having a laundry business is a wise decision as you not only benefit from the business economically, but you also provide people leverage to do other things. Yes, I mean that. 

Laundry shops these days offer either you do it on your own, or the shop can do the washing for you for an extra cost, of course. You see, things like this are no longer a luxury rather than a necessity for any working individual. 

Allowing the mechanical laundry to wash for you would take an average of two hours, and once you are done--all the linens are ready to be used again as you please. However, this does not go when you hand wash your clothes as you will have to fill the laundry bin, manually rinse them, and hang the clothes that at the minimum would take an average of three or four hours or even more, depending on the bulk of your laundry. 

You see the time that anyone who can afford a P60 per kilo of laundry wash and P70 per drier, may now have the option to do other chores and fulfill other duties necessary on a weekend, that's if you are doing the chores on Saturdays and Sundays.

At the same time, it is also my belief that in everything you agree to invest your time and resources, you also commit to serving. Therefore, as a service provider, one must deliver with quality, efficiency, and consideration. That way you help thepeople and the community you serve, and in return, it gives back to you thru financial reward, and most of all, you become the local government's economic partner by providing jobs necessary. 

So, that for me is a win-win approach, sadly, it is just a thought as I don't have the resources to make it happen. 

 

INESSENTIAL TRIP

I woke up a bit earlier than usual because I will be going out that Thursday morning to collect my consultancy fee somewhere in the northern part of Manila. 

Yes, you got it right. I am doing consultancy work since January 2021, after deciding not to sign up for a contract of service writing job for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which has been my second home since March 2016. 

Because I'll be coming from home getting a Grab car was easy, in fact, it only took less than five minutes to book my ride. It was 10:30 in the morning, so I expect to be at my destination in about an hour or so. And like in my previous visits, the released of my pay envelope was short and swift, which took me roughly 15 minutes including the line at the elevator. 

Excited to go home for lunch as Honey was waiting for me, I started to book for Grab, unfortunately, the rate was too high, but I managed to get one for me although it will cost me another 10 minutes of waiting. Eventually, I lost the connection to the booked 

Grab rider. I then informed my partner about my situation, so from her end she booked another ride. After a couple of attempts from my end and to her, she succeeded. She was able to book me for a ride home with 10 minutes of waiting time again. 

As I comfortably sit in the car, I heard the Waze directing the driver in Edsa's direction, knowing that would be too far from the usual route I informed the driver that taking Edsa is not good. He replied by asking me if I know the right direction, I told him I am not from the place so I m not familiar with the turns. But I told him that from my previous rides, after taking off the exit with few turns we often end up either in Dimasalang, Lacson, or Blumentritt area. 

However, as I explained to the driver, he did not bother to slow down or to stop to check what could be our better direction instead he followed the instruction provided to him by the Waze map. But to make it more unacceptable from Edsa he made a reroute blaming the heavy traffic which to him was unbearable. 

No preventive barrier in this ride. The photo was taken by this passenger, while the car
traversed Edsa on Thursday, December 9, 2021at 12:52pm.

 

Despite the sounds he made implying that he was disgusted with our much farther and longer travel, I did not bother to make any more comment although deep inside I was fuming mad especially when we made another detour because the road is being constructed therefore it's not passable. 

Imagine me at the back of that car with low ventilation to almost none in the middle of the afternoon, and there was not even a barrier that serves as another layer of protection for a passenger like me against possible infection. I believe that it is still important and necessary that car services such as Grab should maintain and keep the standard of safety and protection that their customers deserve considering the much higher rate being charged to passengers.

Also, Grab Management must also look into the possibility of providing your drivers at least possible routes instead of allowing them to depend on Waze applications particularly during this Christmas Holidays and more and more vehicles are out in the public making traffic routes much heavier. That way, we all can avoid an INESSENTIAL TRIP that is unhealthy to our drivers, passengers, and the roads because we add to the problems due to vehicular congestion, which in essence is not only bad for the economy, and health but also for the environment.

I hope that Grab Management will look beyond the complaints and will instead provide reforms that will rectify the basics in driving especially here in Metro Manila to avoid similar incidents from happening again. 

By the way, the ride back home was booked at 12:14 pm, and I arrived at the destination at 1:57pm. 

Dispensable

Photo credit to depositphotos.com. Please check 

Life under the new normal has brought many realizations and lessons to everyone living in this period. I have family members and relatives that were afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic which fortunately recovered. While sadly, there are some friends and acquaintances who demise as they succumbed to the disease.

Truly, the year 2020, labeled as the pandemic year of the new century has forced us to rethink and evaluate our relationships, priorities, and even our way of life. Because one thing is certain from the time the pandemic has to reach us--that we are all dispensable. Thus, we should live a life that is meaningful as we do not know when our time will be up.

Stop regretting instead pick up from where you fall and appreciate every opportunity that comes your way. Try to work on your dreams instead of complaining and counting your failures as there is someone more miserable than you are.

Every day is a gift from God, so savor every waking moment with your family, loved ones, friends, or even by just being alone to do whatever makes you happy. 

Remember, not everyone is privileged and gifted to live this far. So, smile and be happy.