Encounters behind the counter
MANILA, Philippines - Maybe it’s a side effect of Generation Me’s sense of urgency, with its constant prodding to have us keep doing more, that learned earnestness eventually lands us an internship or a job; or maybe it isn’t — but it’s about time we do away with the cynicism when it comes to being a working student. With shops that cater to the sort of lifestyle that we represent making their way to mainstream consciousness, an incentive greater than making some extra cash is ponied up for us — that of feeling that we’re part of something we can truly identify with, that of instant gratification. These, in themselves, are also crucial indicators of our times.
Young Star rounds up a group of young, enterprising kids who, given a bit of a leeway in their class schedules, clock in less time on Facebook and more time at work. Academic personas are traded up for shop girl and boy personalities — well versed in the art of sales talk and armed with persuasive charisma. And whether it’s to earn, do something better with their time, or to get a head start in the labor force, it isn’t about working to live or living to work. It’s being able to afford that youthful indifference to employment that’s the best part. — With interviews by Manica Tiglao
Lara Facto, 19
Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5
Assumption College
Favorite Product: “Brixton Hats, because even when you’re just wearing simple clothes, when you wear one of their fedoras you end up looking chic.”
Customer-serviced: “Here in Greyone we really treat our customers as friends, and sometimes, they give us food! Instead of giving a tip, they give us food. Sometimes people hit on us too, but maybe they just misunderstand our friendliness.”
What I’ve learned: “I learned to be makapal ang mukha. And to do the visual merchandising and cashier work. And suggestive selling, but that comes with critical thinking, too. Saying that the stocks are limited always works.”
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Marianna Gaston, 20
Trilogy Boutique, Legaspi Village
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
Favorite Product: “I love the Alternative Apparel shirts!”
What are you looking forward to: “Networking. Meeting people, and just seeing what it’s like. Because the reason why I also did this was I wanted to see what the retail industry was like, because I want to eventually get into that.”
What I hope to learn: “I guess I’ll earn a lot more experience in comparison to a lot of people who’ll apply for jobs after they graduate, so I’m hoping it’ll be easier for me.”
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Ice Betia, 21
Skitzo, The Collective
De La Salle University
Favorite Product: “I’d have to say the beanies. Because they’re fun and are costumes in themselves. And most of the Star Wars paraphernalia, because I’m a big Star Wars geek.”
Customer-serviced: “There was this one other weird guy who came in and mistook me doing my job as wanting to be his friend. He kept me company at the store, and he even came back the week after to show me his poetry. There was also this one time that there was this party at B-Side and two white guys came in here and wore the Superman and Spider-Man costumes, and then made an entire lap around The Collective. I was just like, ‘You better not sweat in that!’”
What I’ve learned: “It’s great being around The Collective, people are such characters. Because it’s so low-key here, you get to meet a lot of people from different walks of life.”
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Bea Osmeña, 20
Black Book at The Collective
Ateneo de Manila University
Favorite product: “My favorite product is the waterpipe. It’s an art piece — that’s why I really like it, and I think it’s beautiful. I like the artist’s work — it’s very detailed. He does it all by hand, but if you look at it closely, it’s so exact.”
Customer-serviced: “I think every encounter is different, and interesting in its own way. You meet people in stores, and they start talking to you and you find out really cool things about them — like oh, you’re a DJ in the UK, or you model in some far-off country. Lots of our customers are really interesting, and The interesting thing about working here is finding things out about them.
What I’ve learned: “School’s important, it’s always great to have an education, but as long as you want something, you can just go ahead and get it.”
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Toby Panlilio, 20
Crazy Eddie’s at The Collective
Enderun Colleges
Favorite product: “I like the plaid button-downs. The brand is Crazy Eddie’s, it’s all designed by Euric, the store owner.”
Customer-serviced: “During the opening, that’s when everyone first came in, so I was like, ‘Whoa, so this is how it works pala.’”
What I’ve learned: “I learned about fashion from Euric, and store management from Angela.”
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Mykee Alvero, 20
Longboards Manila at The Collective
Ateneo de Manila University
Favorite product: “Right now I like the downhill boards. In the last two years, there’s been a shift in the trend. From just cruising around, people have started racing.”
Customer-serviced: “One day I was running the store by myself, and this guy who was maybe 45 years old who’s been skating since he was 10, showing me all these pictures he had from the ‘70s when he was a kid. It was pretty interesting to me, seeing someone who was 30 years older than me, still skating, with white hair and everything — and he’s still at it.”
What I’ve learned: “I actually learn more from people who come in. Every time I meet people, I pick up something new.”
