Events host loses gigs due to quarantine, gets back on feet thanks to online live selling

An events host who lost her gigs due to the coronavirus pandemic has gotten back on her feet thanks to online live selling.

According to Bernadette Reyes' report on "24 Oras," Angel Castro has been hosting events since she was 18 years old and it has been her main livelihood for seven years.

With the lockdown extended and events getting cancelled, however, she had to find another way to support her family as their breadwinner.

"Nag-June na, nag-July na, hindi pa rin po kami nakakabalik," she said. "Sabi ko po kailangan talaga na magkaroon kami ng panibagong ng resource ng source of income po namin."

Angel used the money she originally allotted for the amortization of her car to buy ukay-ukay bags to sell, but the venture unfortunately did not work out.

"Napalugi lang po siya kasi nahirapan po akong ibenta gawa ng marami pong may damage, talaga pong parang super used na po 'yung mga bags na 'yun," she said.

But she tried again, this time buying brand new bags. She also doubled down on the marketing, using her skills as a host to promote her products via online live selling.

It worked like magic, and now she has loyal customers who buy wholesale. Some buyers are even from Visayas and Mindanao.

Now earning P3,000 to P6,000 for every sack of bags sold, Angel said people should not underestimate their ability to bounce back from hardships.

"Kung anuman po 'yung mga nawala po sa atin dahil po sa pandemic kayang-kaya po natin 'yun makuha ulit o baka mas higit pa po yung maibalik sa atin," she said. —MGP, GMA News