UAAP athlete helps family sell fish to cope with pandemic

National University libero Ricky Marcos has been helping his mother sell fish in their Cavite village to help his family cope with the financial strain caused by the pandemic.

Marcos, who is also a member of the Philippine men’s volleyball team, said his family had no income throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, and even his small savings had been gradually depleted. Their neighbor then showed the family the ropes of buying and selling fish.

Starting with a small capital, Marcos and his mother sold fresh fish at the corner of the Kapatiran Village covered court in Barangay Pasong Buaya II in Imus, Cavite.

Photo from Dennis Abrina/Rappler

Marcos recounted his experience since his family started the business last June. 

“Ito pong pagtitinda ng isda, maganda po siyang pagkakitaan. Sipag lang po; gising sa hatinggabi para mamakyaw ng isda sa fish port, tapos magtinda po dito sa lugar namin ng 6 am hanggang 9 am,” Marcos said.

(Selling fish is a good opportunity to earn. You just need to be be diligent; wake up at midnight to buy fish wholesale at the fish port, then we sell here at our place from 6 am to 9 am.)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAAP was forced to end the season and the league resumption remains uncertain. To maximize his time, Marcos said he had been helping his family earn a living. (READ: PH athletes build resilience in pandemic)

“Since wala pa naman pong practice ang Philippine team ni coach Dante Alinsunurin at NU Bulldogs, kaya po tumutulong muna ako may mama magtinda ng isda,” Marcos added.

(Since the Philippine team of coach Dante Alinsunurin and the NU Bulldogs have no scheduled practices yet, I decided to help my mother sell fish)

“For now, I am doing my self-training here in our house, conditioning, biking, running along Daang Hari road in the afternoon, because in the morning, I am with my mother and my brother to sell fish,” Marcos added in a mix of English and Filipino. 

During the pandemic, other athletes have also ventured into small businesses. 

Marcos, together with Philippine teammates Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Ran Ran Abdilla, Johnvic de Guzman, Ish Polvoroza, Kim Malabunga, Jack Kalingking, Mark Alfafara, Rex Intal, Francis Saura, Josh Umandal, Fausi Ismail, and Jessy Lopez won the silver medal in SEA Games 2019.

Photo by Michael Gatpandan/Rappler

– Rappler.com