RESILIENCY: FILIPINO BUSINESSES IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC

Johan Elbert M. Catabay

Filipinos have always seen the good in everything, the possibilities above all uncertainties, the
definite over all vagueness, and their advantage in every situation that is in favor of them, or even in
every situation that leads to a certain point of tribulation. For years, Filipinos have been glorified for
their resiliency and creativity during the most extraordinary and most problematic periods of their
lifetime. But despite every calamity, the Filipino people emerged victorious above everyone and
everything. For every storm, above it is the Filipino; for every earthquake, above it is a Filipino; and for
every platform that one may stand upon to be a champion of anything, everything, or even none, there
is always a Filipino who is above it.

It was the month of March when a lockdown was imposed in the Philippines as a response to
the increasing rate of infections and newly-recorded cases of COVID-19. To prevent the further spread
of the disease, all non-essential workers and a vast majority of Filipinos were required by the national
government to remain at home. Forced to remain at their abodes until this very moment, Filipino
families, like the rest of the world, were stripped of their former lives and their usual social activities
that each of them are accustomed to. For the duration of the pandemic, travel is restricted, and
precautionary measures are put up into place; people cannot eat outside, people cannot do leisure
activities, they cannot go shopping, and they cannot enjoy as a result of it. Given the fact that this
pandemic has affected the nation’s social and economic activities, businesses have suffered – many of
which are small businesses all over the country. According to Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI), that 90,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are still closed
as a result of the onslaught of this pandemic. For a while, these business owners were dependent only
to the cash aid provided by the government and nothing else. But as we know it, Filipinos are inherently
creative and resourceful. These inherent skills of the Filipino people paved way for a “new normal”; not
only for the way we live, but also for the way we do business amidst this pandemic.

Shopee, Instagram, Lazada, and Facebook - these platforms all offer opportunities to sell and to
buy necessary items that you need in the comfort of your own home. These applications paved way for
the rise of new businesses despite them not having any physical stores. In a similar way, these online-
selling platforms created an avenue for those who wanted to regain their economic stability that was
greatly affected by the pandemic. The ease of doing business online encouraged not just the
experienced business owners who lost their source of income, but also those that are inexperienced and
only wanted to sustain themselves during the pandemic. According to DTI, registration of online
businesses jumped from 1,753 in January to 75,876 in September; for these platforms are very
promising in the eyes of the Filipino people, and as a result, online businesses have skyrocketed in the
Philippines for the past few months alone.

We are not bound to glorify the resiliency of the Filipino people in times of calamity, but the rise
of online businesses during this pandemic is a testament to the prevailing Filipino spirit that endures no
matter what happens. At times, the Filipino spirit may stumble and may fall; not to be affected by the
weather of the day, but only and to always be strengthened by the climate of tomorrow.
References

https://www.gov.ph/web/city-government-of-
tabuk/policies/-/asset_publisher/piIi8KnTG7VF/content/executive-order-no-24-2020

https://www.devex.com/news/to-contain-the-spread-of-coronavirus-manila-grapples-with-lockdown-
96823

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2020-09/08/c_139351854.htm

https://www.onenews.ph/dti-about-90-000-small-businesses-have-shut-down-due-to-the-pandemic-
reopening-of-more-sectors-pushed