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ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Before the concrete and steel wreckage overtook Barangay Balibago here, Elsa Angcao, 50, and her husband, Joey Angcao, 48, spent most of their days—and many nights—at a small sari-sari (variety) store they operated in front of the construction site.
The couple’s tiny stall, positioned near a post in front of the construction site, resembled a simple guardhouse with a square frame and a makeshift roof made of tarpaulins. It served construction workers and nearby residents alike.
They sold everyday necessities, such as instant noodles, eggs, cigarettes and snacks, keeping the small corner store active around the clock. For years, the stall functioned not only as their source of income but also as their second home.
At night, the couple would often sleep inside the stall on a small wooden cot, using the same space where they worked, with tarpaulins serving as protection from the cold and dew.
