A Descriptive Paper Presented to the Faculty of College of Arts and Sciences University of the Cordilleras
In Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements of the Course English 2 11:45 1:10 TTS
By
Anna Mae Catabay Gacutan December 2012
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE1 TABLE OF CONTENTS2 RESEARCH OUTLINE3 INTRODUCTION5 BODY9 Tingi in the Philippine Economy9 Filipino Character and the Beginning of Tingi11 Filipinos Current Conditions and Tingis Popularity15 The Impact of Tingi on Manufacturers17 Benefits of Tingi on Consumers20 Consumers Cost, Manufacturers Benefits23 CONCLUSION28 REFERENCES31
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RESEARCH OUTLINE
Thesis Statement: While both buyers/consumers and manufacturers believed they both benefit from tingi culture, consumers focused on maximizing their limited budget through buying tingi while manufacturers continue gaining profit due to increasing market demand.
Statement of Purpose: 1. What is the nature of tingi? 2. What Filipino character or values cause the emergence of tingi and its popularity? 3. What are the impacts of tingi to consumers and manufacturers?
I. Introduction A. The nature of tingi B. History of tingi C. Types of tingi 1. Sachet packaging 2. Pira-piraso (selling by piece) 3. Tumpok-Tumpok (selling by small pile) 4. Pahulugan (instalment)
II. Body A. Tingi in Philippine economy B. Filipino character or values that cause the beginning of tingi 1. Ancient/Indigenous Filipino character/values 2. Current Filipino character/values a. Creativity 4
b. Adaptability c. Endurance C. Filipinos current conditions causing tingis popularity 1. Decreasing purchasing power 2. Coping with the status quo 3. Thinking small perspective D. Impacts of tingi on manufacturers E. Advantages of tingi on consumers F. Disadvantages of tingi on consumers
III. Conclusion A. Summary B. Findings C. Recommendations
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INTRODUCTION
The Nature of Tingi Tingi (piecemeal) is not a new idea in the Philippines. This packaging a la Liliput has been used to target the household consumers. All over the country, each neighbourhood has sari-sari stores in every possible corner where customers can buy a pack of coffee good for one cup serving or a sachet of shampoo enough for one bath. Stalls at the wet markets also have a system of repacking in smaller quantities - one peso for a piece of tomato, three pesos for a tablespoon of pepper, etc.; every possible food item that buyers can think of, they can purchase it in smaller quantities. In fact, food items are the most popular candidates for tingi. And the list continues to grow, from toiletries (a sachet of shampoo) to school supplies (a piece of yellow pad paper) and even cell phone loads (Unlitext, Alltext20, and Sulitext10). Interestingly, tingi culture became part of Filipinos everyday life.
History of Tingi Tingi came from two words konting hingi (ask for a little amount). Based on history, konting hingi started in barter, the common form of trade back then. In this trade, 6
the exchange of goods is necessary as there is no currency available yet. During the exchange, each participating side would ask for a little bit more than the actual value of their goods. In this case, both would give a little bit more in order to create a better relationship with each other for future transactions. Then the currency was introduced together with the method of exact measurement. The goods were priced based on their sizes or weight. Because the goods were measured, those bits and pieces that were given for free as part of konting hingi, were eventually priced.
Types of Tingi There are four different types of tingi that Filipinos get across with day by day. These are the following: First is sachet packaging. These are food and non-food items that are packed in smaller sizes. The packaging material is usually made of plastic so it is very light. They are cheap to buy, ranging from Php5.00 to Php10.00. There are a variety of products to choose from; it is even harder to think of an item that is not sold in sachet in the Philippine market. Next type of tingi is pira-piraso (selling by the pieces). This method caters to both food and non-food items 7
too. Consumers can buy things by piece or two depending on their budget a stick of cigarette or a clove of garlic. These are sold in the sari-sari store and the stalls in wet markets. Then there is tumpok-tumpok (selling by the pile, another way of selling tingi. This applies to food items only like fruits, vegetables or small shrimps. The produces are arranged in small piles or tumpok and sold at affordable prices. Usually the average market goer buys these goods because it is easier to estimate the amount needed for the size of the family. Finally, the last type of tingi is pahulugan (instalment). Goods that do not fit an average family income when purchased in one big-time can now be afforded when paid in instalment. With all these details about tingi the researcher sees how the uniqueness of this culture defines the Filipino Character and values. Because of its distinctness to the Filipinos, the aim of this paper is to analyze the impacts of tingi to both consumers and manufacturers. Most Filipinos lack the capacity to purchase goods beyond their budget and tingi serves as a bridge between the consumers and the goods. And the manufacturers provide the 8
opportunity for the buyers to purchase items at a lower price and smaller size. However, looking on a different aspect, tingi may seem as only beneficial to the manufacturers alone at the consumers cost. This paper then will weigh both sides and prove that while both consumers and manufacturers believed they benefit from tingi culture, consumers focused on maximizing their limited budget through buying tingi while manufacturers continue gaining profit due to increasing market demand.
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BODY
Tingi in Philippine economy Tingi, for Filipinos, is the very smallest degree of retail (Joaquin, 2004). This unique Filipino culture astonishes foreigners in the Philippines because, perhaps, this is the only country in the world where people buy and sell in pieces. Almost every Filipino buys tingi. In fact, the 2012 data from Nestle, a company known for selling food items, states that 40% of their products are sold in tingi. This shows an undeniable presence of tingi in the Philippines creating a relationship between the consumers and manufacturers. This relationship continuously grows, leading to the emergence of two types of economy which Filipinos are known for, the sachet economy and informal economy. Because these economies is what a typical Filipino usually get to experience daily, it is good then to describe each type. A sachet economy is a form of marketing where goods are sold in smaller quantities (Romero, 2004). Orders come bit by bit as these goods, which are usually sold in bulk, are packed in smaller portions. Big manufacturers such as Procter and Gamble (Tide, Downy, Safeguard) and Robina Foods (Lucky Me Noodles, C2 Green Tea) to name a few, 10
participate in this form of economy. A recent study from Synovate Global Omnibus (provide description) revealed that 90% of Filipinos buy items in sachet sizes, including non- food goods such as shampoo(90%), toothpaste (47%) and detergent (13%) (2005). And the former Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas shares the same view. In 2004, he said that because of sachet economy, Philippines have become one of the worlds biggest markets for goods sold in tingi, earning itself the nickname, the sachet economy. Aside from being the sachet economy, tingi, is also a part of the informal economy. According to Sicat (2011), The informal economy is a collective term for many low-productivity transactions in the economy. The prices of services and the rules of doing business transactions are not governed by rules determined by law and public policy. The transactions happen through personal dealing among participants. There is a small amount of products and it is still divided in smallest portion possible for easy disposal.
In an informal economy, the manner of doing business is outside the laws governing the country. A more common term used is underground economy. For example, if Mang 11
Berting decides to sell the fruits of his mango tree, he just needs to place a sign at his gate stating what he is selling (mango) and how much would it cost. It is informal since he doesnt need to rent for a pwesto (space) in order for him to sell. And he can skip paying taxes too unlike his large stores counterpart thus, making his business outside the law. In this informal selling of goods, tingi culture can also be observed. Aside from being the sachet economy for big companies who follow the regulations stated by the Philippine Laws, tingi culture is a part of informal economy. Heres how: Those who cannot find a livelihood as part of the organized economic activities often end up as participants in this low income sector (Reyes, 2000). The vendors of tumpok ng kamatis (pile of tomatoes) or a piece of atis became merchants selling, without restrictions, marketable produce in smaller quantities so that the buyers can afford them.
Filipino Character and the Beginning of Tingi Determining the Filipino character/values in the past and today helps identifying the cause of tingis emergence. Historically, tingi is part of the Filipinos indigenous character/values. According to Nick Joaquin, (2004), the value of thinking small from our indigenous 12
roots started the tingi culture. During the indigenous era, before the Philippines was colonized by Spaniards and Americans, ancient Filipinos lived in a small community or balangay consisting of 30 families. The communities aim is to provide the basic needs of its members like food, water and shelter. And with such small number, it became easier to manage the resources and live by the indigenous perspective of kumuha lang ng kayang ubusin (take only what you can consume). The Filipino ancestors then would hunt only for their family and communities consumption. For example, three pieces of fish or a bunch of banana was enough for a family of five, therefore when they gather food; they wouldnt take more than that amount. This was the indigenous practice that gave rise to the culture of tingi. No one takes more than what they can consume because everyones aim was to satisfy the physiological needs of the individual and the community as a whole. However, when the Filipinos were colonized by Spaniards and Americans, they were introduced to foreign perspective of tubo or profit and sobra-sobra or excessive. Currency and trading arrived and the Filipinos aim was no longer to supply the basic needs, it was to gain profit. Nevertheless, the indigenous practice of consuming in tingi remained despite the change of perspective. 13
Together with the indigenous Filipino value system, current Filipino character also helped in establishing the culture of tingi. These are creativity, adaptability and endurance, which are also considered as Filipino Strengths (Enriquez, 1987). Adaptability is the great capacity to adjust to circumstances. In the current economic situation of the Philippines, 90% of the population belongs below the middle class, the class D and E (A upper income; B upper- middle income; C low-middle income; D low income; E subsistence market). These are the members of the population whose income is Php20, 000 per month or lower. This means that most Filipinos with their limited budget, buying tingi is their way to adapt and to satisfy their basic needs. One Aling Maria, who earns Php150.00 a day, would only buy those items that fit that amount. Therefore, in order for her to buy the most possible variation for her money, she would adjust and purchase food and non-food items in sachet to guarantee her familys survival for that day. Creativity is another current Filipino character that built the culture of tingi. Filipinos showcase this through improvisation. This can be observed in sari-sari stores and wet markets all around the Philippines. When a sari-sari store owner buys a gallon of cooking oil, he/she would find 14
a way of disposing the product instantly. So he/she would divide the cooking oil in smaller portions allowing his/her customers to have a cup for Php5.00. One can notice this creativity in wet markets too. Vendors would separate 2 kilos of onions and sell them in tumpok-tumpok or pira- piraso. Dividing large items in smaller quantities would guarantee that these items are abot-kaya (affordable) therefore more customers have the capacity to buy them. And more customers mean more profit. When Filipinos make do what is available in the environment, this is endurance, another current Filipino character that maintained the existence of tingi. This character is depicted through the ability to survive amidst the current impoverish status of the Philippine economy. In this economy, aside from having majority of the population that lives on a limited or most of the time insufficient budget, the prices of commodities increased over the years. Faced with this crisis, Filipinos budget their money to maximize the items it can buy (Aldaba, 2011). Tingi culture does make available a variety of necessities in smaller amounts to fit a typical Filipino budget. And together with the value of creativity and adaptability, endurance helps the Filipinos carry on and survive the current situations they come upon. 15
Filipinos Current Conditions Causing Tingis Popularity The presence of sachets and tetra packs is inevitable to the local market. Coffee, toothpaste, sugar - these are sold at large supermarkets down to the sari-sari store. Items like the fabric conditioner that were before sold in their standard sizes can now be purchase in sachets. Every imaginable product there is are now fast becoming sachet- driven because more and more consumers continue patronizing these tingi items. The result of the survey conducted by Synovate agrees to this; the most successful product that gained popularity in consumers in terms of TV product placements were hair products that can be purchased in sachet. No wonder why Loreal, a known regular-sized and expensive shampoo, commenced on micro-repacking just this year. With this significant increase in the success of tingi on consumers, this paper would not only determine the Filipino character causing the surfacing of tingi but also the current Filipino conditions that were responsible for the tingis fame. There are three factors responsible for the consumers obvious preference of buying tingi. First, is the decreasing purchasing power of the class D and E consumers. Economies like the Philippines adopt a sachet 16
economy because of the inability to allocate more money for the regular sized items (Lingbaon, 2011). In a country where majority of the population is below the middle class, people buy tingi because their household budget is limited. They live by the day, this means they only purchase what they can consume or sometimes even less since that is the most that their budget can afford or simply pagbili ng ayon sa makakaya. For instance, if Mang Pedro earns Php200 per day for his family of five, buying a 200 ml bottle of shampoo is illogical. It would eat up almost half of his budget and his family will not only need shampoo for the rest of the day. He still needs to allot money for food, transportation, and bills, expenses that are more necessary than a regular sized shampoo. He will then find a way of spending his Php200 in such a way that all his family needs are met. Those she will select the smartest choice, that is, to buy in tingi. Not only that this option will meet his family needs in smaller portions, but also might allow him to even set aside a little something for savings. Another current Filipino situation is tingi as a mechanism in coping with the status quo. The prevailing status quo in the Philippines is to live like the middle class or even higher. Buying in sachet then is a good coping strategy; it provides a taste of a middle class 17
life, only in smaller sizes. Cosmetics, birth control products, and medicines which are expensive in their regular sizes and can only be acquired by the middle class and higher, are sold in tingi offering the lower class a glimpse of the status quo. Tingi culture allows the lower class to experience what it feels to be prosperous once in a while. And lastly, the thinking small perspective contributing to tingis growing popularity. According to Nick Joaquin, The difference is greater than between having and not having; the difference is in the way of thinking. (2004). He means that scarcity of budget or poverty is not the cause of tingis fame in the Philippine market. It is because Filipinos are accustomed to thinking small, of thinking petty. What may have affected this perspective is the indigenous habit of the Filipinos. Going back to history, everything operated in a micro-scale - the nipa hut, the barangay, the miniature artifacts. Hence, now, Filipinos buy small and sell small and the cycle continues.
The Impact of Tingi on Manufacturers 18
In the Philippines, its unique retail structure has fuelled to move toward smallness (Chua, 2005). Sari-sari stores account for nearly 90% of the countrys total retail outlet. The presence of both the sachet economy and the informal economy can be seen from large supermarkets down to the neighbouring sari-sari store. And these retail outlets continue to grow carrying ubiquitous sachets and bits and pieces. With such growth, tingi made two major impacts on manufacturers: It provided the manufacturers a wider market and increased in profit. Heres how. Tingi culture provided the manufacturers a wider market. The 2011 AC Nielsen survey results agreed to this. Based on the result, lower class earning less than Php20, 000 a month which comprises 80% of the population, would buy on a need basis, mostly in small-sized packs. Adding on this pool of regular customer is the middle class. Despite having the capacity to purchase in bulk, 100% of them purchase tingi too for other reasons. This swelling in population of tingis buyers created a larger opportunity for the manufacturers to market their products. Having a wider market now leads to profit, another effect of tingi on manufacturers. At first glance, one can say that bulk sized item offer more profit than sachets, that, makes more sense. However, though it is true that 19
Filipinos in class D and E or the lower class buys in smaller volumes, their huge number compensates for it. Also, much less consumers buy products in their accustomed sizes because they (the products) became unaffordable due to constant price increase. So, the manufacturers brought the products back within the reach of the consumer budget through tingi sizes. This was the manufacturers way of making possible the consumers continues access to commonly used products during times of economic stress (Romero, 2004). To maintain the flow of revenue, millions of manufacturers budget are spent on advertising in mass media like newspapers, billboards, radio and television. This increase in profit impact on manufacturers is proven by data from Unilever and Procter & Gamble (P & G), two of the major producers of goods in the Philippines. According to Unilevers Vice-President for Corporate Planning Chito Macapagal, 70% of their sales were from sachet market. Thats 70% of Php30 billion, or Php21 billion pesos three years ago. And their rate increases every year. And P & experience the same trend. According to their 2009 data released on Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Vol.23, 100% of their products are marketed in sachet contributing to 60% of their total income for that 20
year. In just their shampoo business alone, 68% of their sales were generated by sachet (Sy-Changco, 2011). According to P&Gs Marketing Manager Nicole Villarojo: For the company, sachet marketing has become a point of parity or standard that all players have to conform to in this country. Decades of its presence in the country have evolved a system of approval and execution of the local office recommendations to the headquarters to adjust to the local markets, especially the bigger D and E class. In a wider market equipped with advertising strategies, manufacturers continue to cater their customers needs through sachet marketing. It is through sachet marketing that they can be assured of continues customer loyalty and profit.
Benefits of Tingi on Consumers From a bulk buyer stand point buying in tingi is a waste of money. Logically, buying a stick of cigarette would cost more than buying it in a pack of 20s. But for constant tingi users, it provides a better option for their tightly held budget. When the Soap and Detergent Association the Philippines was asked why sachet is a better option when in 21
fact a consumer doesnt save at all, they answered, The introduction of sachets (tingi) has made quality products that offer hygiene benefits accessible to the poorest part of the population. Their answer was implied but very clear in essence; buying sachet is clearly expensive but everyone can afford it. Indeed, a sachet economy does make available a variety of necessities (Dumlao, 2005). Thats one of the advantageous impacts of tingi culture on Filipinos and their least spending power. Tingi culture produces goods that can be divided in usable portions such as a sachet of toothpaste or four cloves of garlic which suits even the modest budget. There is another advantage of tingi culture affordability. Consumer products in their standard sizes became out of reach for most consumers (Simeon, 1999). Because of this, consumers opted to purchase items in smaller quantities and in lower prices. Besides affordability, practicality is another positive impact of tingi. This applies in two ways. First is storage. There is no need to look for storage containers or location as the product is consumed in one use (Calooy, 2011). Also, toothpastes, soaps, and shampoos that come in sachet can be easily packed when travelling. 22
Then from a potential first time user, small quantities offer a chance for product trial without committing too much from a limited budget (Dumlao, 2005). A good example of this is when consumers want to try a new brand of shampoo. Since the shampoo is in sachet, they would only spare a bit of their money, around Php4.00, for one pack, just enough for them to distinguish the brand difference. In case the newly tried shampoos result turned bad, the regret on the consumers part would be far less than if that shampoo was purchase in a larger size. That is because they just spent a little amount on sachet than if they spent a larger amount for the regular sized shampoo. Convenience is the last benefit the customer gains from tingi culture. Sari-sari stores which carry most of the basic needs of the Filipinos account for nearly 90% of the countrys total retail outlets. These outlets are present even in poorer rural areas so consumers prefer buying from them because of their accessibility. Sari-sari stores in rural areas have everything, food and non-food items even medicines can be purchased from them. Same thing happens in the cities. If urban dwellers need a piece of sanitary napkin, they will not waste their time going to supermarkets or groceries they would just simply buy from the sari-sari store across the street. 23
These advantages showcase the Filipino character strength of adaptability (Andres, 1987). Filipinos learned to attune their spending habit according to what is available. But these advantages are obvious, a point of view that is very shallow and external. While this paper do not deny the positivity that tingi culture brings on Filipinos, it is just but proper to present the costs of a tingi, a sachet heavy economy.
Consumers Cost, Manufacturers Benefits The popularity of sachet products in the Philippines is underpinned by the desire of consumer within the lowest income brackets to glance at the same products that were once available only to the well off. Consumers from class D and E can now conform to the status quo, only, in smaller quantities. Furthermore, to fuel the consumers craving for middle class items, aggressive marketing strategies are used to lure the buying public. Take a look at the advertisement of pH Care, a feminine wash. The product claims of being a basic need for women to feel fresh and comfortable daily and that washing your genitals with soap and water is not enough. A 200ml of pH Care costs Php189.00. The price is steep for class D and E. So to make 24
the product sound as a necessity and cater a wider market, pH Care is now sold in 10ml sachet at Php8.00 retail price. Unilever employed the most forceful form of advertisement: to make a product seems like a necessity to guarantee purchases and offered the product in tingi to increase its profit. From a manufacturers perspective, this is fine. It is how the marketing works, for the product to be recognized and to be sold. However, a problem rise when the manufacturers gain benefits at the cost of the consumers and the disadvantages that tingi or sachet economy gives the Filipinos far outweigh its advantages. The first disadvantage of tingi culture, particularly the sachet economy is that, the same quantity of product cost a poor individual more money than it does on a wealthy person (Tolentino, 2012). Simply because buying in tingi costs more than buying in bulk. Compare a sachet of shampoo for 10ml that has a retail price of Php5.00 and its regular-sized 200ml bottle for Php79.00. For consumers using the 10ml, they need to spend Php100.00 in order to reach the 200ml consumption. They ended up paying Php11.00 more for the same volume. It really cost a lot more to purchase in tingi than in regular size. This sachet economy from tingi culture is a vicious cycle Filipino 25
consumers have to spend for those highly expensive tingi and never get to save. (Tanyu, 2012). Secondly, tingi culture supports the profit-driven perspective of the manufacturers at the expense of the consumers (Chua, 2005). Consumers shoulder the cost of the packaging not just the product. Separating the products into smaller packages costs more money than bulk sizes. This packaging cost is passed onto the consumers. Besides the cost of individual packaging, retail display is another type of cost that is factored in to the price of the product. Manufacturer and distributors spend money not only on stragically visible display locations but also for the product to be actually carried by the store, known as listed (Dumlao, 2005). Being listed requires a fee and in todays competitive market, the display racks of each brand inside the supermarkets are made wider and more eye- catching for a fee. These costs become included in the pricing of products and the consumers unknowingly shoulder these costs. The waste product from packaging material used in sachets and items from the wet markets is another disadvantage. Since more and more of the population use sachet and plastic bags, more waste is generated. Plastic is the dominant packaging material; it is light-weight and 26
non-biodegradable. Which means it would take 1000 years or more for it to disintegrate. This continuous waste generating activity poses a greater effect on the environment. Plastic contaminates the water, blocks the drainage that prevents flood and when burned, pollutes the air. This costs the Filipinos their health in exchange of supporting tingi. Lastly, a sachet economy is a self-perpetuating cycle that is most profitable where most of the population remains poor (Tanyu, 2012). The low income class stays large in number and even widens because more member of the population experiences poverty. This creates a system for greater demand for sachet and this system is exploited by big companies that profit from tingi culture. They prefer the tingi culture, the sachet economy to stay because of revenue (Tolentino, 2012). For the consumers, tingi is a band-aid solution to patch the increasing poverty. However, what tingi fails to address is the long term solution on how to make the prices of commodities accessible to everyone, not just for the middle class and above. Tingi culture constructs an illusionary perception that Filipinos purchasing power is not limited. That they are not poor because they can still afford to buy (even in 27
smaller sizes). And that the Philippines economy is on its best condition because all their basic, and not so basic wants, are still available. By looking at tingi in a broader perspective, the disadvantages are compelling more than its benefits. This culture benefits more the corporate entities that profit from it and the consumers are on the losing end.
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CONCLUSION
Summary Stating that tingi (sachet) as the main retail trade in the Philippines is not an exaggeration. Tingi culture was present even in ancient times and has evolved overtime. It has its advantages and disadvantages on manufacturers and consumers. For manufacturers, tingi culture created a wider market. Every product became sachet driven. Because of this, increased in their revenue was guaranteed. It serves as a bridge to bring the brands in the most number of consumers. For consumers, its advantages are the following: It brings out the most positive Filipino character like creativity, adaptability and endurance. It is a mirror of how the indigenous Filipinos manage their communities and how they value every member. Also it proclaims the culture of di pagkuha ng sobra-sobra, para may matira sa iba (not to take more than what is appropriate so that others may have it too). On the other side the disadvantages includes the following: First, buying tingi is more expensive. Then, packaging material from tingi contributes to waste 29
generation. Also, the profit driven manufacturers benefit more from tingi at the costs of the consumers. Lastly, tingi culture, sachet economy in particular does not offer a long term solution to the Philippines economic problems. Tingi culture then only offers greater benefits on the manufacturers.
Findings These are the findings that the researcher found during the course of research: 1. Tingi culture portrays the indigenous culture that Filipinos inherited from their ancestors. It is a very positive culture because it inhibits the Filipinos to ask more than what they need. Instead, it teaches them to only take what they can consume so that others may enjoy it too. 2. Tingi culture allows the current positive Filipino character strengths to flourish. They use these values such as creativity, adaptability, and endurance, in order to get by. 3. However, no matter how it sounds, still the manufacturers benefit from tingi culture at the cost of their consumers.
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Recommendations The following are the recommendations for further study or application in needed context: 1. Tingi culture on manufacturers point of view should be known by the customers in order to weigh if buying tingi is beneficial for them or not. 2. Use surveys and ask a specific group about tingi and conduct a case study about their behaviour. 3. Filipinos should find ways to solve the long term problems of poverty not by giving a band-aid solution like sachet economy and not on the expense of the consumers.
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REFERENCES
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Aldaba, K. (2011). Tingi Culture Within the Status Quo. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/73664448/Tingi-Culture- Within-the-Status-Quo Calooy, R. (2011). Understanding the Filipinos Unique Micro-repacking Mentality. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www.entreprenuer.com.ph/ideas-and- oppurtunities/article/understanding-the-filipinos- unique-micro-repacking-mentality. Lingbaon, A. (2011, July). Tingi-Tingi. Retrieved November 8, 2012 from http://theabidiaries.com/201/07/about-sa- ching-saching-its-about-tingi Sicat, G. (2011, March 30).The informal economy, employment, and development. Retrieved November 2, 2012 from http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubcae goryID=66&articleID=671067 Tanyu, K. (2012, May 16). Once a month payday in the Philippines why not. Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://opinion.inquirer.net/28737/once-a-month-payday- in-the-philippines-why-not Tolentino, R. (2012, October 27). Sachet o tingi-tinging pakete ng gitnang uri. Retrieved December 2, 2012, from http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/10/27/sachet-o- tingi-tinging-pakete-ng-gitnang-uri