by Shanadine Doria
The one month extension request of tenants and vendors of ongoing Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition still up for approval by the Baguio City Council, head organizer of Baguio Blooms said during the joint forum of Ugnayan and Kapihan sa Baguio at the Baguio Convention Center, February 12.
In an interview, tenants expressed dismay over their decreasing sales during the exposition due to the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak.
Lany Rose Ocon, one of the tenants of Baguio Blooms, pointed out that many tenants chose to pull out from the event due to slack sales. “Matumal ang sales, kaya marami ang nag-aalisan,” Ocon said.
She also emphasized that exhibitors only clings to the hope of being prioritized in one of the stall slots in the upcoming Session Road in Bloom as one of the promised perks of being a tenant of the Baguio Blooms event.
The lady negotiates with the vendor about the price of the money tree.
Mary Lou Galiste, head organizer of Baguio Blooms and Session Road in Bloom, reiterated that their request to extend the exhibition is still up for approval by the city council.
Galiste noted that if their request will be granted, tenants will have a chance to sell until April 15 without additional rental fee to recover their investment.
“Hindi tayo maniningil ng additional fees (for the extension)… (It’s) our help for their support, for their decision to stay because in the past days mababa talaga ang sales,” Galiste said.
(We will not collect additional fees (for the extension)… It’s our help for their support, for their decision to stay because in the past days, the sales are really low).
On the other hand, some tenants remained optimistic despite the loss and believed that there are still chances to regain their investment.
“Sa amin, hindi laging maulan sa pera kaya kailangan mo talaga ng tiyaga. Malay mo this month or week may papasok na mga event dito sa Convention so makakabawi kami (ng sales). Tiyaga lang talaga,” Joy, Baguio Blooms vendor, stated.
The woman in pink checks out the plant that are on sale during the Baguio Blooms Exposition at the Baguio Convention Center, February 13.
(We believe that money is not always abundant that’s why we need to persevere. Maybe this month or week, an event will happen here in Convention we can recover (our sales). Only perseverance.)
Galiste said that their committee disseminated 300 application forms for Baguio Blooms but only 62 tenants pushed through the event due to nCoV scare.
The Council session regarding the extension will happen on Monday, February 17, at the Baguio City Hall.
Edited by Joemariequeen Del Rosario
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