A Pedal Breaks, A Lesson Begins
I was cycling to my favorite hawker center for lunch when my left foot felt odd vibrations. As I pedaled slowly, I sensed trouble—and sure enough, my folding bike’s pedal snapped off, clattering onto the road. I glanced back, tempted to buy a new bike with better quality. But that urge to “buy new” hit me hard: it’s why we struggle to embrace a repair culture. When brand-new stuff is so cheap, fixing things feels like a bad deal. In the Philippines, this mindset is growing, and it’s changing us.
The E-Commerce Boom
E-commerce giants like Shopee, Lazada, Temu, and TikTok Shop fuel our craving for cheap goods. With 68% of young Filipinos hooked on Shopee, spending Php1,000–3,000 every six months, we’re buying clothes, gadgets, and trinkets at lightning speed. Temu’s 90% discounts and TikTok’s #ShopeeBudol ads make it too easy to click “add to cart.” But these Chinese goods often break fast, piling up in landfills. Our beaches choke on plastic, our wallets shrink, and I’m left wondering: am I wasting my time chasing deals that don’t last?
Questioning What Matters
This cycle of buying clashes with my search for purpose. I don’t want to live just to consume. I fear regretting a life spent scrolling for the next big thing. A YouTube documentary opened my eyes to Japan’s “mottainai” philosophy—valuing what you have by repairing it—and Europe’s repair cafés, where neighbors fix clothes and bikes together. These communities save money, cut waste, and build pride. Japan treats repair like an art; Europe’s “right to repair” laws make it practical. Why can’t we bring this to the Philippines?
A Repair Culture for Us
We Filipinos are resourceful. Lolas repurpose old jars, kuyas fix jeepneys with whatever’s handy—our “diskarte” mindset is perfect for a repair economy. Imagine barangay repair fairs where we learn to mend phones or patch clothes, or “suki” ties with local fixers instead of faceless apps. Repairing could create jobs, reduce waste, and spark pride in what lasts. For me, it feels like time well spent—a step toward the meaning I’m chasing, away from the emptiness of endless hauls.
Facing the Cheap Goods Challenge
But it’s hard when Shopee’s flash sales scream “buy now!” and Temu’s prices make fixing seem pointless. Cheap goods flood our markets, and we lack Japan’s repair networks or Europe’s policies. It’s tempting to replace instead of repair—my broken pedal almost had me browsing Lazada. Yet, I believe we can shift. Our ingenuity, rooted in community and resourcefulness, gives us a head start. We just need to act, starting with small, intentional choices.
Small Steps, Big Impact
I’m fixing my bike’s pedal, not buying a new one. It’s cheaper and feels like a small victory. We can start with repair workshops in communities or teach kids fixing skills in schools. Policies, like Thailand’s proposed taxes on low-quality imports, could nudge us toward repair. These steps tap our Filipino spirit. Repair isn’t just about stuff—it’s about choosing purpose over impulse, community over carts. It’s a way to live that honors our planet and our time.
Let’s Make Repair Our Budol
I’m done with Shopee hauls that burden our environment and my wallet. Repairing is my new path, and I hope you’ll join me. Skip one Temu deal; mend something instead. Host a repair day with friends or visit a local fixer. What’s one thing you’ll repair to make our Philippines better? Let’s make “fix it” our new budol—a movement for a stronger, more meaningful future.
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