Isolated sachets within Pamarawan Island
Beyond the modernity displayed by the Malolos City, hidden is the 264 ha coastal community of Pamarawan that fosters an environment limited of accessing the mainland, which gave birth to the prevalence of sari-sari stores in the area as a way of coping to the continuous demand of the people for basic and instant necessities which will not be possible to do if the residents rely only on way of accessing such products through travelling by boat.
Upon entering Pamarawan Island, along with the countless of sachet product residues scattered and stuck on certain areas in the location, lines of sari-sari stores across the street will be noticeable. One of the biggest among them is owned by the family of 35-year-old Marjorie Naluz Narag, that has been operating for 10 years already.
According to Marjorie's observation, tingi or sachet products is a hit among approximately 5,000 residents in Pamarawan due to their limited income, as most of the people in the island lives a humble life that heavily relies on fishing as their main source of living.
"Bina-budget kasi nila 'yung pera, kasi hindi naman gano'n kalaki 'yung kinikita nila sa baklad [way of fishing], kaya 'yung kinikita nila sa baklad, iniinot-inot lang nila para kahit papaano may maitabi pa sila," she said, explaining the reason behind the continuous support of the people for sachet and tingi.
Moreover, Marjorie herself as a consumer admitted her preference for small versions over bulk products, and rate their family's usage of sachets 9 out of 10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the maximum.
"Mas nakakatipid kami kapag naka-sachet lang talaga, kumbaga hindi siya matatapon kasi kung konti lang 'yung bibilhin mo, isang gamit lang okay na," Marjorie explained on why they heavily relies on sachet products, given that they are also living far from mainland.
"Isang gamit, okay na, pwede ka na lang ulit bumili," she added.
Basically, poverty, scarce resources, and limitation on time among residents are the obvious culprits behind their continuous support on instant products come in small packs.
Covered in plastic
Given the prevalence of sachet economy and tingi culture in Pamarawan, its after effects on the island is one of the major concerns that is being considered whether it is being a help to sustain the needs of the people, or a major factor that disrupts the biodiversity within, due to plastic pollution caused by the neglect on proper waste disposal.
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"Pagkagamit niyan, tapon na lang sila nang tapon, wala man lang silang lagayan ng basura para ipunin," Rosendo Jimenez said, a fisherman, and former barangay captain runner on Pamarawan.
"Gawa nga ng mga plastic na 'yan, nagkalat na sa karagatan 'yung basura," he added, pertaining to how the lack of discipline among residents caused the waters surrounds their area polluted with plastics.
According to Rosendo Jimenez, there are garbage collectors that regularly roams around their island almost every day, however, plastic pollution still do persist.
"Hindi sila mga aral para ang basura nila, ipunin nila, ilagay sa sako," he reasoned in line with the environmental problem they are facing in the island.
It is undeniable how tingi is relevant in the lives of modern islanders like Pamaraweños, for them that lives a few kilometers from the mainland, and jobs are mostly limited on fishing, sachet products are more convenient and practical to take.
Nonetheless, if the way of coping in life means destroying the living space itself, the worthiness of the culture to be applied remains questionable.