
A Tale of Two Food Stalls
EARLY in the morning, Tiya Sinang is already up and about in her carinderia. She ladles servings of various menu items onto plastic plates before handing them to customers with a smile.
She is grateful.
It was getting harder to keep her business afloat, much less pay her bills. Due to her husband’s passing, there were many times when she had no idea how to pull through.
Thankfully, she was never alone.
A screech breaks her out from her thoughts. It was Aling Bebang.
In all her years, Tiya Sinang has never managed to find anyone more exasperating. Since day one, Aling Bebang has been there in a similar food stall next to hers, bickering all the while.
She gripes, "The salt is missing! Did you take it?"
Tiya Sinang rolls her eyes. Still, she does her best to appease