ST.

MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

THE OLDEST STORE IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY:

WADHUS QUALITY STORE 1940-2019

For Partial Fulfillment for the Project of

HISTORY 1N
TF 10:30-12:00NN

Arthur C. Lapura
Student of History 1N

Pantaleon L. Negparanon Jr.

HISTORY 1N Instructor
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Cover Page i
Table of Contents ii

Chapter
1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 BODY OF RESEARCH 3
Data Gathering Procedure 3
Research Setting 4

3 CONCLUSION 7

4 PRIMARY SCOPE 9
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A business will always be the foundation of one’s community. It may be a

mall, corporation, or retail store; the contribution itself builds up the

foundation of the economy.

For decades, the Philippines has been the home to some of the Indian

immigrants, and through the years, they have established communities,

formed business networks, and built a strong bond with Filipinos. Upon their

arrival, they sought to engage in any forms of works and businesses and

establish various enterprises, particularly in the metropolitans to generate

income. Furthermore, Indians were also known for their micro-financing

business called the “paybsiks” or “five-six”. The five-six lending institution of

the Hindus (Indians) became so popular because of the Filipino debt culture.

The Indians’ economic interest and continuous generation of income are

ensured as long as Filipinos tend to loan finances from them. On the other

hand, they are not only known for their micro-lending activities; some of them

are also engaged in large-scale businesses and other ventures in wholesaling

and retail business. Directly or indirectly, Indian establishments and

businesses help the Philippine economy. It is worth mentioning that the Indian

businesses are not only concentrated in Manila but are also found in various

cities in the Philippines. One of these is Cagayan de Oro City, a booming and

rising city in Northern Mindanao.

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Presently, Cagayan de Oro is a highly urbanized city because of the

industries and investments that poured in the area. In return, it was developed

and is now considered as one of the commercially stable cities in the country.

Despite this development, Wadhu’s Quality Store, the oldest retail

establishment located at the corner of Pabayo and J.R Borja Street, is still

prominent in Cagayan de Oro City. The store was established by an Indian

immigrant Wadhu Dharamdas Uttamchandani Sr. It is one of the many

flourishing Indian enterprises in the country, and it continues to offer quality

watches and services.

The study hopes to trace and explore the significance of the store in the

locality of Cagayan de Oro. The store is still running at its best despite the

challenges it faced during its early years up to World War II. Today, Wadhu’s

Quality Store continues to serve the city’s growing public with its quality goods

and services. The store has already withstood many challenges before, and its

management is confident that it will continuously serve the public in years to

come.
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CHAPTER II

. BODY OF RESEARCH

Since the research paper is solely relaying on narratives of the

employees, the customers, and the owners of the establishment, the

researchers made use of the Qualitative Descriptive Method. The primary

research tool that was utilized by the researcher was semi- structured

interview. The oral history of the business was obtained through interviews

with prominent residents who are knowledgeable with the subject matter.

Furthermore, the data will justify the history of the topic being studied.

In the study, interviews were utilized to gather data. The researcher were

able to interview the owners of the store, some of their employees. The

interviews were recorded, transcribe and later analyzed.

2.1 Data Gathering Procedure

During the early stages of the study, the researchers gathered data that

are related to the subject of the study. Likewise, through the use of internet,

the researcher were able to gather articles and books to further supplement the

study.

The researchers also made use of on-line sources such as Portable

Document Format (PDF) files, articles, and journals that are accessible and
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legally published by authors. Furthermore, to enrich the study, the researcher

collected some materials from the Iligan City Public Library.

To obtain information about the subject of the study, the researcher sent

letters to the store owner and management. This was done in order to access

the necessary documents and records and to the conduct interview. The

researcher prepared semi-structure questionnaires to be administered to the

store employees, and owners of the establishment.

In the course of the interviews, the researcher used the vernacular/

Cebuano, Filipino, and English languages to elicit information.

To further supplement whatever information gathered, the researchers

were allowed by the store owners to have access in the pertinent records

needed to enrich the study.

Moreover, the researchers used camera and cell phone for

documentation during interviews to maintain authenticity of the study.

2.2 Research Setting

The Wadhu Quality Store is located in Cagayan de Oro city, Misamis

Oriental. The city is the economic driver of Northern Mindanao (Region X)

whose economic growth continues to progress. Its Gross Regional Domestic

Product (GRDP) improved to 7.2% which is equivalent to PhP270.0 billion in

2014, from 5.3% growth in 2013. This was largely due to the acceleration of the

industrial and services sectors which rose by 8.0% and 9.0%, respectively.
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Agriculture grew at a steady rate of 3.2% and contributed 23.4% to the region’s

economy. Nationwide, Region X ranked fifth in per capita GRDP.

Figure 1: Map of Cagayan de Oro City and its Nearby Cities and Municipalities
(Source: Google Maps)

Figure 2: The Location of Wadhu’s Quality Store located in the corner of

Pabayo Street and J.R Borja St. (Source: Google Maps)

The province of Misamis Oriental is a place located along the northern

coast of the Mindanao Island. It is bounded on the north by Macajalar Bay,

Iligan Bay on the west, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte on the south and
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southwest, and on the east, Agusan Del Norte. Located at the northern coast of

Mindanao is Cagayan de Oro City (CDO), the capital of Misamis Oriental. CDO

is known as “The Gateway to Northern Mindanao” mainly because of its

geographical location and reliable transportation facilities; it is considered as

catch basin in the Northern part of Mindanao. It has an accessible land

transportation which connects the road of Iligan, Bukidnon, and Davao; air

transportation since Languindingan airport is located in one of the

municipality of Cagayan de Oro City; and sea transportation since the place is

located along the Coast of Mindanao Island.

The main public transportation systems within the City are metered

taxis, jeepneys with fixed routes, and motorelas within Poblacion. There are

also a couple of river taxis that ply down to the Cagayan de Oro River for both

locals and tourists.

Cagayan de Oro does not receive an even amount of rainfall throughout

the year. The driest months are March and April while August and September

are the wettest months. The rainy or wet season lasts from June until

November with the relatively drier seasons lasting from December until May.

The city lies outside the typhoon belt but is affected by the Inter-Tropical

Convergence Zone.
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CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION

The following conclusions were drawn from the findings of the

researchers. This study was able to survey the history of Wadhu’s Quality Store

from 1963 to 2016. Eventually, the researchers uncovered that Wadhu’s

Quality Store was able to withstand the challenges that it faced.

The store was able to survive and provide the people with quality goods

and services. Additionally, its impact to Cagayan de Oro City is not just in

terms of their longevity and quality goods and services but in their ethics,

location, and treatment of the people as well. They allow “Hangyo” and have a

policy that whoever enters Wadhu’s Quality Store, he or she should be

respected and not discriminated regardless of his or her status.

Moreover, their location in J.R Borja-Pabayo Street became one of the

reasons why the store is known. There are a lot of passersby along the retail

store. They are mostly students who report to their schools at City Central in

Cagayan de Oro City and at Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High

School (MOGHCHS,) Also, the area near the store became a waiting place for

“Jeepneys” bound to cogon market.

The Wadhus are not only recognized for them being Wadhu’s Quality

Store owners or supervisors. They are also known for their natural engagement

with other people. They helped the people when a fire occurred on the streets

of J.R Borja- Pabayo St. The Wadhus aided the fire victims through financial
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assistance. Not only that, the Wadhus also personally visited the fire victims to

check their well-being. This is only one of the many instances that proved the

kindness of the Wadhus. Furthermore, people who knew the Wadhus would

always state that should one of the Wadhus run for government position in

CDO, he or she would will surely win – especially, Wadhu “Dodong” Jr..

Wadhu’s Quality Store may have a small impact to the economy of

Cagayan de Oro as a whole, yet the retail store has its own significance and

trademark despite the changes and the stiff competition when it comes to retail

business in Cagayan de Oro. The store is making its own history and legacy in

Cagayan de Oro in which everyone would remember and pass on from one

generation to the other.

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CHAPTER IV

PRIMARY SCOPE

I. Photos of Wadhu’s Quality Store, Wadhu Sr. and Wadhu Jr.,

Present location and physical store of Wadhu’s Quality Store,

J.R Borja- Pabayo Street, Cagayan de Oro City
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1937’s Wadhu’s Quality Store 1931’s Cash Register owned and located by Wadhu’s
Quality Store

Wadhu Dharamdas Uttamchandani Sr.

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Wadhu Jr. “Dodong”, taken on October 2, 2019

II. Photo’s of the Researcher and the Informants

The researcher, Lapura interviewed the informants on October 2, 2019

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Sir Kenny Pata interviewed on Sir Mario Suganob interviewed on

October 2, 2019 October 2, 2019

Ma’am Ethyl Salard and Ma’am Anna Oan interviewed on

October 2, 2019