It's a little mom-and-pop-type convenience store, owned by Cora and Ne Ne, that sits on the corner of the main road going north and south along the western coast of Cebu Island, and the little mountain road going up to Emelie's house and beyond. Cora is Emelie's cousin. Ne Ne is a relative as well. The place is usually busy, as it serves the mountain people coming to town or going home, who want load (minutes) for their cell phones, cigarettes, beer and pop and other sundries.
The store is in the front part of an old, wooden house, close to the street. The front is opened up with a half-wall going from ground level up to about 4 feet and a wooden counter on the top of it. Customers rest an elbow on the counter to order, quench their thirst, smoke or have a snack while chatting with the owners or other customers. Cigarettes can bought one at a time for a peso - about two and a half cents. Lighters hang down from the ceiling on strings over the counter. Its not unusual to see a small child standing on tiptoes, pulling herself up with one hand, while holding a peso in the other, waiting patiently to buy a piece of candy from one of the candy jars.
There are always a few folks sitting on the weathered old bench out front to watch the traffic go by, or wait for a habal habal (motorcyle-taxi) driver to take them back up the mountain.
Relatives and friends who come down from the mountain often hang out in the common room of the house and chat with whomever is there. They are always invited to eat when its meal time. Emelie and I have eaten there several times. There are a couple of bamboo couches where you can relax, get a massage from Cora's sister, Fe, drink beer, chat or take a nap. Done them all, myself. More than once.
If you find yourself standing around, you might be buying something one moment and waiting on customers the next. It's hard to know who is an employee and who is just helping out for the moment. Girlie works at the store on Tuesdays. Josephine comes with her baby when she's needed. Emelie's sister, Jane, helps when she's there, carrying her little girl, Mimi, in her arms. Any of the other relatives will lend a hand when they happen to be hanging out. It gets a little crowded at times, but Filipinos, even if they might bump into one another in close quarters, are never guilty of stepping on toes. Just part of their culture: never offend, if you can help it.
