The Neighborhood Sari-Sari Store

In almost every barangay in the Philippines, there is at least one sari-sari store. "Sari-sari" means "various" or "assorted," which describes the many kinds of goods these small stores sell. A typical sari-sari store is attached to the front of the owner's house and sells items such as rice, canned goods, soap, cooking oil, snacks, and mobile phone load. One special feature of the sari-sari store is that it sells products in small amounts. Customers can buy a single sachet of shampoo, a few pieces of candy, or one stick of cigarette. This practice, sometimes called "tingi," allows families with limited daily budgets to buy only what they need for the day. Some store owners also allow trusted neighbors to buy on credit, writing down the amount in a notebook to be paid on payday. For many families, running a sari-sari store is an important source of extra income. For the community, it is a convenient place to buy necessities and to catch up on the latest neighborhood news.