They call her banana-cue queen

BANANA-CUE GIRL. That’s what they call Carmen (not her real name). Carmen is 19 and a single mother. She supports herself and her two-year old son by making (cooking?) banana-cue. She was a banana-cue girl even before she became a single mom. She started her business on a small spot uptown without anyone helping her.

BANANA-CUE QUEEN. As fate would have it, Carmen’s banana-cue business prospered, this time with an elder sibling in Saudi Arabia helping her. She now operates four gas stoves in as many different parts of the city. “Daghan nang nanguyab nako,” she said, laughing. “Ingon ko nila, diin man mo dihang naglisud pa ang negosyo ko?” she laughed again.

MULTICAB. Carmen now has one multicab which she uses in connection with her business. To minimize overhead expenses she drives the multicab herself.