Hapinoy and sari-sari store owners support the World Cleanup Day global movement!

Change starts with oneself. And does cleanliness.  

This is how Hapinoy, through one of its 12 Gabay ng Hapinoy Negosyante (or “12 Guide of being a Hapinoy Negosyante”), imparts the value of cleanliness to its partner sari-sari store owners, or also called “Hapinoy Negosyante.” This seventh guide, “Pinahahalagahan ko ang aking sarili at ang aking tindahan. Ang malinis na sarili at tindahan ang siyang sumasalamin ng aking pagkatao,” zeroes in the equal weight of valuing oneself as a microentrepreneur and one’s business, and the cleanliness of both.

(This seventh guide, “I value myself and my sari-sari store. A neat self and store reflect my personality,” zeroes in the equal weight of valuing oneself as a microentrepreneur, business, and the cleanliness of both.) 

Playing a vital role in bringing goods and services closer to their communities, sari-sari store owners can also be the catalysts for sustaining cleanliness not only in their own businesses and homes but also in their neighborhoods. Hence this September, Hapinoy, showed its support to the global movement for a clean planet – the World Cleanup Day.  

Guided by this year’s World Cleanup Day theme “Show up. Clean up. Team up,” Hapinoy conducted a series of activities where sari-sari store owners can participate and support the movement. To kick off, a Facebook profile picture frame campaign was created for everyone to show their support online. Connected to this, sari-sari store owners were invited to post their before and after photos of cleaning their sari-sari stores along with their tips to maintain cleanliness in their stores. Finally, tagging their fellow sari-sari store owners to join these activities was also encouraged to promote teaming up and involving the whole community.  

“Inaayos ko ang display ng aking mga paninda: una para maganda sa mata; pangalawa, kita agad ng mamimili ang bibilihin nila at para na rin ma-check ang malapit ng ma-expire na products. Maraming lalapit na customer kung maayos at malinis ang ating tindahan,” narrated Arlene Rebullida, one of the Hapinoy Negosyante who participated in the said series of activities. For a microentrepreneur like Rebullida, customers are at the heart of the business. With this, giving them a good first impression through a neat and organized store is a must.  

(“I organize my product display: first, for the store to look good; second, for the customers to easily see the products that they will buy and for them to check the expiration dates. More customers will come if our stores are organized and tidy,” narrated Arlene Rebullida, one of the Hapinoy Negosyante who participated in the said series of activities.) 

Waste segregation can also be practiced by sari-sari store owners, as explained by Roma Tejero, one of the Hapinoy Negosyante who also joined the activity. “Ugaliing magwalis ng mga kalat sa harap at loob ng tindahan. I-segregate ang mga bio- and non-biodegradable waste. At ibenta ang maaari pang ibenta para maging pera tulad ng empty mineral bottle, empty carton, at iba pa. Nakatulong ka na sa pagbawas ng basura sa kalikasan, nagkapera ka pa,” Tejero stated.  

(“Make it a practice to sweep inside and outside the store. Segregate the bio- and non-biodegradable waste. And sell those that can still be sold like empty mineral bottles, empty cartons, and others. In this way, you helped in reducing waste and earned money at the same time,” Tejero stated.) 

Most importantly, sustainability is a key to a clean planet. This was what Mary Grace Lee, a Hapinoy Negosyante who joined the movement too, shared in her entry in Hapinoy’s series of activities. “Sa paglilinis, inaalis ko muna lahat ng naka-display. Aalisan ko ng alikabok at magsa-spray na din ako ng para sa langgam. Ginagawa ko ito upang mas maging safe ‘di lang kay suki, kung ‘di para din sa pamilya. Higit sa lahat, pinapakita ko sa apo ko kung paano ang paglilinis at maging malinis dahil gusto ko habang bata pa siya ay mamulat na siya sa pagiging malinis,” shared Lee, emphasizing the impartation of the value and practice of sustaining cleanliness to the next generation.  

(“I first remove all the displayed products when I clean. I wipe out the dust and spray to repel the ants. I do this so that the products will be safe not only for my customers but also for my family. Most importantly, I show how I clean to my grandchild and impart to her to be clean as well because I want her to be aware of valuing cleanliness while she is still young,” shared Lee, emphasizing the impartation of the value and practice of sustaining cleanliness to the next generation.) 

Through their businesses, sari-sari store owners can bring impact to their families and communities not only through the daily needs, services, and income they provide but also through their contribution and influence in achieving a sustainable and cleaner neighborhood and planet. 

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To learn more about World Cleanup Day, you may visit: https://www.worldcleanupday.org/. 
For more information about Hapinoy, you may visit: Hapinoy Facebook Page