A sea of people and vehicles fill the roads of Crossing, Calamba. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, the throng never seems to dissipate. People go to whatever commitment they have on that day, whether for work, school or casual meetings. Rows and rows of shopping malls, fastfood chains and commercial buildings occupy the side of the highway. Standing among these towering establishments is a small humble stall filled with various brands of newspapers ready for sale. In the midst of the noisy surroundings, a peaceful and unobtrusive man sits behind this stall. As a child who grew up familiar with the crowded streets of Crossing, I have always wondered just who the old man operating the business of selling newspapers was.
Mel Binay, a sixty-seven year old man, sells newspapers as well as cigarettes and candies by the side of J. Alcasid Building near McDonald’s. His position beside an electrical pole and a fire hydrant seems to obscure the little booth he set up. On the contrary, people who are not busy enough take time to stop by his stall to buy cigarettes – these are mainly security guards taking their breaks, or to read and buy newspapers. During the first few minutes of talking with Mang Mel, we asked him if it was okay to interview him and he apologized for only being able to show and tell that he sells newspapers.
He sells a variety of newspapers from tabloids like Abante, Tiktik and Bulgar to the likes of Manilla Bulletin and the Philippine Star. A small table filled with newspapers is set up within his area along with a large umbrella with the brand of Globe printed on it that serves as the roof. Two strings with tabloids hanging with the aid of clothespins can be found by the left and right side of the pole of the umbrella. Three prayers with the image of Jesus Christ attached using clothespins completes the layout of his small stall. He sits behind the table and patiently waits for possible customers. He starts his day by getting the newspapers “sa may-ari” (his supplier) at 4:30 in the morning. At this time, people with night shifts are just starting to be let out from work and people with daytime shifts are just starting to wake up. Mang Mel, however, has already set up his stall and is already waiting for customers.
Mang Mel didn’t start off as a man who sold newspapers. He was a man who worked abroad to provide for his family. He worked in Saudi Arabia as a contract worker for a year before going back home to the Philippines in order to attend to his mother’s funeral. He wanted to continue working abroad but when he found out that he and his co-workers will be asked to switch companies, he quit. The new company would be in Riyadh but he decided not to pursue it because the management is different. Therefore, he settled with living in the Philippines.
Now, he sells newspapers in order to support himself. He doesn’t see his family anymore, they don’t even talk. His spouse lives in the far region of Bicol with no means of communication with him. Originally from Batangas, he moved out to Calamba in 1984.
Even though he lives in Saimsim, he chose to sell newspapers in Crossing since more people can recognize him there. He tried to sell in Saimsim but “hindi mabili sa Saimsim”, as Mang Mel said. This is his fourth spot after the first one burned down along the old marketplace, the second one in another place in Crossing did not become recognized and the third one did not sell profit. Newspaper can be sold anywhere but he doesn’t mind the competition that he has in Crossing. Although he tells that it is hard considering this is his only means of living, he also says “iisa lang naman kami ng kinukuhanan eh” so he doesn’t really resent that fact.
Mang Mel has been selling at that spot since 2010. He has grown accustomed to the busy life in Crossing and in return, the people in Crossing has grown accustomed to him. The police did not kick him out since they already know him and even buy cigarettes from him during their breaks. The guards near that area and his “suki sa dyaryo” became his friends and they would have the occasional talk whenever they have the time. In over eight years of doing his job, he noticed major changes that happened in Crossing. Mang Mel pointed out the overpass that circles around the intersection and the massive buildings that weren’t there before.
If he were to choose another job, he wouldn’t change from selling newspapers. “Gustuhin ko mang magpalit ng paninda ko, hindi ako makakapagaplit. Syempre, puhunan din ang kailangan.” Mang Mel stated that since he is already a senior citizen, it is hard to get jobs that needs manual labor such as those in factories. There was a change in the number of newspapers that he sold back when he first started as compared to now. “Hindi kagaya noong ako’y bagong nagbebenta dito, umuubos akong 70 piraso na ganitong maliliit. Ngayon, ang 30 pieces, hindi ko pa maubos,” he tells. His profit declined because those who frequently bought from him had changed jobs or transferred to another place.
Among the newspapers that he sells, he said that Pilipino Star Ngayon and Bulgar are mostly bought since it doesn’t contain malice unlike other tabloids that have girls in bikinis as the front cover. Manilla Bulletin also sells a lot. When asked why these newspapers are bought more, he tells that people mostly want to read about “showbiz”. Other than his suki, people with office jobs and students also buy his newspapers. He doesn’t mind who buys from him so long as he earns profit. “Minsan sa pagbebenta ko, minsan mabenta, malakas magbenta, mahina, ganoon. Kung mahina, wala naman akong magagawa pagka mahina ang bentahan. Okay lang kapag talagang malakas, nagkakaroon ako ng kaunting kita. Pero kapag mahina, wala.” At the very least, he earns three pesos from each newspaper that he is able to sell.
“Kumita lang ako ng kaunti, okay na ‘yon. Magaling na kaysa mga sasama sa mga barkada, magnanakaw ka, sasama ka sa mga nagshashabu, mas magaling na itong ganito.” Eight years of selling newspapers has been the norm for Mang Mel. He doesn’t see himself selling other things nor doing another besides selling newspapers. The gigantic buildings have no say to the small stall of a man whose experience is louder than the busy streets of Crossing.
