Vendadoras de Hermita: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Filipino Mothers as Street Vendors along Ermita, Manila

Abstract

Ermita is one of the busiest districts in Manila, being the center of commercial buildings, schools, tourist attractions, and various government offices. With the business opportunities it possesses, the streets of Ermita are buzzing with street vendors from one side to the other. Being a street vendor is challenging enough with the risks and dangers that come with it because of clearing operations. But what makes Ermita a viable place for street vending for these mothers? Employing a phenomenological research design, this study looks into the lives of mothers who are working as street vendors, the issues, challenges, and coping strategies they employ in their daily lives, and the effect of street vending on their family dynamics. The six sets of data gathered from the semi-structured one-on-one interviews were thematically analyzed. A framework highly inspired by the Theory of Intersectionality was used to surface the common themes in the lived experiences of the street vendors who are also mothers, particularly on their Personal Contextual Factors, Systemic Factors, Cultural dimensions, and Relationality with their families. Findings revealed that street vending had been passed on to generations of these street mothers. Moreover, Ermita as a place for street vending presents multiple benefits to these mothers due to its close proximity to their residences, tourist attractions, academic institutions, and offices. However, findings also present the major challenges they face such as clearing operations, financial concerns, and work-life balance. Several notable recommendations that the study provided are the programs the government could execute to assist the street vendors in their businesses, the inclusion and integration of the street vendors in policymaking, and future recommendations for a longitudinal study.