Modern business today thrives on the commercial instrument of credit. By proper spaced payment, an item can have by a buyer from the creditor who sells the desired items. The spaced payment is known as instalment or “hulugan”, the amount depends on the arrangements usually on the paying capacity of the buyer or customer.
Long before the Pacific War, buying by instalments on many items was not common. People had to save to buy any item beyond his capability. But saving money was an elusive as a dream many could not save for one reason or another.
Raul Tumabas, a young man of vision, felt that if he could sell many personal items to employees at reasonable instalment plan, he would be in a big business. So, with little borrowed capital from his parents and sisters, he went into instalment business. Raul’s target is the many fixed salaried employees in and out of the government.
During those times, the currency was stable at two pesos to the dollar, and the minimum was thirty pesos a month, and a peso a day for manual hands. Prices of prime commodities were low, and so for the many personal needs. A pair of tailor-made Wigan Khaki pants cost two fifty, West Point khaki is three pesos and denims (maong), one eighty pesos only. Electric streetcar ride was five centavos per zone and eight centavos for two zones. A zone was from Pritil to Azcaraga (now Recto) or to Gagalangin (still part of Tondo).
So Raul Tumabas plunged into his business by making arrangement with stores and distributors. His capital was a back-up in case he could not collect payment in order to maintain his credit standing in the stores.
“How about a suit of linen drill from Ireland, Gene, take your pick”, offered Raul to one of the employee he knew in high school. He shows Gene, a set of samples to choose his ware.
“I will take this Ambassador Brand suit”, Gene would remark after scanning the samples.
After the terms had been agreed with no down payment, in a day or two, the five yards of linen drill would be delivered. Payments would fall on the fifteenth and end of the month.
Aside from suiting materials which many employees would go for as suits were common wear then, Raul also offered shorting materials. Gandara shoes, blankets, watches from Switzerland (Bulova, Gruen, etc.) US made Hamilton, Elgin and many more. After an item had been paid for, most likely, the employee would order again another item. Many employees also would pay for the tailoring via instalment way either for the shirt or suit or pair of pants.
“Gene, this is your last instalment for the linen-drill, would you like to get a sport coat? I have here samples of woollen materials from England and Australia”? Mr. Tumabas asked as he made notes in his black book.
“I will take this checker green wool”, Gene would say, so, another order for Raul.
So Raul on paydays would go from office to office and delivers orders, and would make the collections for their instalments. His name and face were so popular, and he would always meet people he knew anywhere he went. One time, Raul courted a woman he got acquainted with, and when he went to her house, Raul found out that her father was one of his customer via the instalment route. He did not marry the girl.
“Raul, you have expanded your business”, an employee in the National Assembly joked him.
“Well, I grow little by little as you people help me in this business”, replied Raul as he invited the customer to a cup of coffee in the building canteen.
Raul does not stock goods. If an order was made, he would go to the clothing stores in San Vicente or Divisoria, or the shoe stores in Gandara Street a block away from San Vicente. He will see to it that he paid his creditors on time to maintain his credibility. During those years, his buyers were religious in their payments and the in ability to pay an instalment was due to some unavoidable circumstances.
Soon Raul had assistants making deliveries, and much later, he had a model T-Ford that he got second hand (the word used car was not commonly used then.) His income must have been quiet substantial for his legion of satisfied customers increased by leaps and bounds. Reports said that he was able to buy a big residential house and lot in Tondo, and other real estates in various locations.
“I admire you Raul”, Tirso, another customer said when the he made an order for a brilliante linen drill suit. Your business had expanded and you’re the same Raul that I met before.
“Friends are worth more than money, Tirso”, Raul would remark. “I can not take my money in the grave, but at least, if you have friends, they will bury you somewhere”, chuckle Raul as he made some notes in his scarred black book.
Then the Pacific War came, offices, government and private closed up. Raul’s receivables were fantastically big, as well as his debt from his many distributors. His money in the bank that he did not disclose was likewise frozen. To his comfort, the stores did not press on his account in view of the emergency. All his customers lost their jobs, many of them evacuated to the provinces, while others were called to the military service. Others just disappeared.
During the occupation period, Raul could not resume his business due to the uncertainty of the country. He tried buy and sell but also failed. Like the many former employees who were his customers, Raul became a plain “fence setter” waiting his time on non-productive pursuits. He was income-less and had to sell some of his properties to tide over the economic situation.
“Hello Raul” greeted a former customer at the corner of Carriedo and Rizal Avenue, the hang out for buy and sell merchants, both honest and dishonest.
“It’s you Gene, how’s life?” greeted Raul as the two went inside a restaurant and ordered batangas coffee.
“I am staying in the province, I can’t afford to live in the city and have no income at all” expressed Gene.
I don’t have a province to go my folks are from the city. They both passed away. I am staying with my sisters and still bachelor, narrated Raul.
“Are you still staying in Intramuros as you used to?” inquired Gene as he sipped his coffee noisily as it was hot.
“We left Walled city when my parents died. We are staying in a house I bought in Tondo which I let my married sister use when I was with my folks in Walled city” replied Raul.
“What are your plans after the war?” emitted Gene as he gulped the last drop of his coffee.
“If I survive, I plan to go to big time merchandising, like what I used to do, but I will put up a corporation with branches all over the country”, reflected Raul as he paid for the two cups of coffee.
“I have to go Raul; I do not have plans for the future. All I can think of now is how to survive the period, and plan tomorrow when the war is over. The situation is too critical right now. As the Italian used to sing”Que Sera, Sera” which means what will be will be”, Gene ended leaving Raul still seated on the table in thought.
Incidentally, Raul did not survive the war. During the first week of February 1945, he went to visit a relative in Walled city and that same day, the enemy troop sealed the Walls and he became one of the many victims for the atrocities therein.
“Raul was a very imaginative man in business, full of vain and vigour to succeed. When that success was within his grasp, the Pacific ware prevented him from realizing his cherished dream”, articulated Gene who survived the war and when learned that the inimitable “instalment man” did not survive the war.