Pinay band singer in Singapore now selling daing na bangus online

An OFW who used to work as a band singer in Singapore is now selling daing na bangus online to earn some income amid the community quarantine.

According to Nico Waje's report on "24 Oras," Charise Vinuya's job contract, which was supposed to be for six months, was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

When she returned home in the country, she still held out hope that the situation will improve sooner rather than later.

"First wave po ubusan muna ng ipon. Kasi nandudun ka sa thinking na, ah baka matapos din. Baka after ng ilang buwan e ok na din siya," she said.

When the lockdown stretched into five months with no sign of going back to normal in the near future, Charise knew she had to find another means of livelihood.

She applied for jobs online and even put some of her money into a cosmetics business, but the venture did not work out.

Her fortunes changed when she talked to one of her bandmates, who has been selling daing na bangus and encouraged her to do the same.

"Meron akong last na pera nun, [sabi ko] parang, 'Ano nang gagawin ko dito?" she said. "Dapat may puntahan 'tong maayos, dapat may puntahan 'tong maganda."

Heeding her friend's advice, Charise got her supply of daing from Malabon and began selling it online. It was a hit, netting her around P15,000 per month.

"Hindi ganun kalaki 'yung kinikita ko. Maibalik man lang ng kahit konti, parang umikot man lang 'yung pera ko na hindi lang siya puro palabas," she said.

She advised others to continue pushing forward despite the health crisis.

"Dapat lagi tayong may Plan B. Kung di umubra 'yung Plan B, dapat may Plan C hanggang Z," she said. "Ok lang na magpahinga pero wag kang susuko." —MGP, GMA News