by Lan Daval
SHORT LETHAL PUNCHES – Politics Philippines style is a game played by the moneyed and the powerful through dubious means if only to ensure their perpetuity in power. Political leaders of both the struggling leadership and the blabber-mouthed opposition really have to change their ways. Unless they change their bad habits people do not see great changes in the near future.
CHEAPER CONSUMER ECONOMY – A rapidly changing economy is making the higher and fabulous lifestyle available only to the filthy rich and more of Toronto’s affluent population. Even with the rising cost of living in the city of Toronto, Canada’s biggest and most progressive city, and recently rated as one of the world’s most expensive cities, small spenders and medium income families still have the option on how to spend their hard-earned money wisely.
They are willing to spend more on affordable and cheaper stuff, notably on food. But where can you find a much economical and delightful food, it might be asked? Where else but oin the city’s side streets? What we mean actually are the colorful and nicely painted food trucks and food carts that had been for years become a permanent feature on the streets of Toronto similar to those that can likewise be found in the big cities of the US and other well-developed countries.
Food trucks and food carts are proliferating, specifically in front of the city’s parks, famous landmarks, historical sites and towering business structures. While I was still in Toronto, I read somewhere in the pages of a leading newspaper that the food truck and food cart business had been in existence for years, owned and operated by some locals, and of course of different nationalities, notably Chinese and Indians who have already been granted citizenship sharing the business trend. Owners and operators are supported by the city government by way of extending loans intended primarily for small businesses. After years in the food truck and food cart business owners were already able to establish a market niche especially during the changing times.
But unlike here in the Philippines, Davao City for example where food street vendors conduct their trade with impunity and anywhere as they please, food truck operators in Toronto conduct their business only in designated and strategic areas where many people converge – public parks, entertainment and amusement places. Nobody is allowed to obstruct the free flow of human and vehicular traffic. Understandably enough, their target market is the middle-income bracket and ordinary working force that form part of a huge consumer audience. The cutting edge of the food truck consumer boom is in full display, probably not only in the city of Toronto but likewise in other bustling Canadian cities.
Taking one’s meal at one of the food trucks that dot designated side streets, notably along the busy Queen St. West area, is a unique experience. Aside from homegrown entries the menus in every food truck vary, ranging from burger, hotdog, pasta, sandwiches and other staple food with juices, to soft drinks and ice cream as refresher and thirst quenchers. Food truck chain operators and food cart owners are banking on this social trend: consumers’ need for a fast and cheaper food, and the end result has been a boom in the prepared food truck business.
Well, attitudes toward spending money are fast changing. The intonation nowadays for the average Canadian family as in most of the world’s middle-income populations has always been–save, save and save. People today, many affected by lesser income and lack of job opportunities, have switched to spending less and less on everything, including food. Thanks to innovative and enterprising people like the food truck and food cart owners who painstakingly strive hard to obtain success in their chosen field, and who can dish out food fast enough for small spenders at very affordable prices.
Right now, economists and business analysts see a bigger chance that the food truck boom will continue and the rising number of customers will p rovide more encouragement to the owners and operators to strive even harder because their business symbolizes a cheaper consumer economy.
