CONCEPCION, Tarlac — In a province where street vendors must scream over the roar of passenger vehicles to make a sale, the most famous peanuts in town sell themselves in absolute silence. For more than twenty years, a humble stall at the Concepcion Public Market has outpaced every roadside competitor, relying not on loud calls but on the legendary, perfectly preserved flavor of “Maning Concepcion.”
“Tiyaga lang basta may kinikita ka paunti-unti, tuloy lang ang negosyo,” a 60-year-old peanut vendor said.
For sexagenarian Felicidad Ramos, these words have guided more than two decades of selling peanuts at the Concepcion Public Market. Together with her husband, 65-year-old Ramon Ramos, she continues to operate the business that has supported their family for years.
The couple, who lives in Barangay Alfonso, Concepcion, Tarlac, has been selling peanuts since 2002. Before entering the business, Felicidad earned a living by selling bananaque. She later shifted to selling peanuts, a livelihood they have continued from the same location at the Concepcion Public Market ever since.
Every day, the couple opens their stall from 7 AM until 10 PM, serving customers who regularly visit the market.
On the secret behind their loyal customers, Felicidad said the ingredients and preparation of their peanuts have kept people coming back through the years.
“Dinarayo kami dahil sa sangkap na meron kami,” she said.
She explained that many customers only see the finished product without knowing the preparation behind it.
“Akala nila piniprito agad yung binibili nila pero hindi nila alam na marami pang proseso, dahil nilalaga pa ito,” she revealed.
The process has remained the same through the years and, according to Felicidad, it is one of the reasons customers continue to return.
On good days, the couple earns around P5,000, while P3,000 is considered their lowest daily income.
“Walang puhunan sa pagbebenta; utang, bayad. Swertehan lang,” she said.
Despite the uncertainties of running a small business, the income from selling peanuts has enabled the couple to improve their lives.
“Nakabili kami ng bahay at lupa dahil sa pagbebenta lang ng mani,” Felicidad shared.
The business also allowed them to raise their four children. One of them finished college and now works as a team head for a company in Mindoro, an achievement Felicidad said was made possible through the livelihood they built from selling peanuts.
As demand increased over the years, there were days when the couple cooked as much as 40 kilos of peanuts to meet customer demand.
Even after 23 years in business, Felicidad said they have no plans of retiring.
“Hindi kami hihinto kasi kaya pa naman namin. Kung hindi na namin kaya, doon na kami hihinto,” she continued.
For the Ramos couple, selling peanuts has become more than a source of income. It has provided a home for their family, supported their children’s education, and allowed them to continue making an honest living.
More than two decades after they first began selling peanuts, the couple continues to welcome customers from the same stall at the Concepcion Public Market. While many businesses have changed through the years, they remain committed to the livelihood that has sustained their family and earned the trust of customers who continue to return. Photos by Joseph Mendoza
