01/05/2026
: Labor Day on Duty
As the country marked Labor Day on May 1, daily work continued in downtown Tacloban City and the city’s public market. Construction workers, vendors, and fisherfolk remained on duty throughout the day as commercial activity continued in different parts of the city center.
At an active construction site, workers continued carrying steel bars, preparing materials, and working on the structure despite the holiday. Construction activity remained visible alongside busy streets and nearby establishments in the downtown area.
Inside the public market, vendors arranged vegetables, fruits, and other goods while customers moved through narrow market aisles purchasing supplies. Porters transported boxes and products between stalls as market operations continued throughout the day.
In the seafood section, fisherfolk and fish vendors displayed freshly caught fish for sale. Containers filled with seafood lined the market area as buyers inspected products and negotiated prices with sellers.
The streets surrounding the market also remained active with workers and residents moving between stores, transport terminals, and market sections. Labor Day activities in Tacloban showed that despite the national holiday, many workers continued their regular duties in construction sites, market stalls, and fishing-related work.
For many Filipino workers earning daily or minimum wages, taking a day off from work is often difficult because income is needed for food, transportation, bills, and other household expenses. While Labor Day is meant to recognize the contribution of workers, many are unable to fully observe the holiday because missing work may also mean losing income for the day.
The continued presence of workers in Tacloban’s construction sites and public market reflects the financial realities faced by many ordinary Filipinos and ongoing discussions about wages, cost of living, and working conditions in the country.
Photos By: Myke Catilogo
