With the climate getting worse, Filipino restaurants have started to adapt
While the idea of climate change has been meeting a lot of resistance in the West, it’s not so hard to convince people in the Philippines that the weather is getting worse, as we take the brunt of its extremes. If we’re not dealing with the harsh sun in the summer, we’re braving bad storms and flooding that paralyze our streets at best and wipe out entire places at the absolute worst. Lately, it seems like storms that haven’t even been super typhoon level deal considerable damage.
Although our country’s position at the mouth of the Pacific has made us a regular stop for typhoons since time immemorial, the weather getting more extreme has forced businesses to adapt even further. It’s not just a little rain that could dampen the flow of business anymore—these days, storms keeping people at home can spell the difference between an establishment’s life and death. People can’t just go out; deliveries can be shut down too, resulting in very little profits for days at a time.
“Rebel Bakehouse has not experienced that many closures [due to bad weather],” says co-owner Donna Aldana. “In our experience, deciding on store closures is easy for us since the safety and security of our team and patrons are our priority.”
Some business owners are growing to be more compassionate when times like these strike, especially as a lot of establishments or workplaces still refuse to have workers stay home. For example, local bakery Rebel Bakehouse doesn’t have a problem with shutting down for the day when conditions make it dangerous for everyone—staff and customers alike—to come in.
“Rebel Bakehouse has not experienced that many closures [due to bad weather],” says co-owner Donna Aldana. “In our experience, deciding on store closures is easy for us since the safety and security of our team and patrons are our priority. Also, we trust and support the team’s call to open or ultimately close a branch due to severe weather conditions.”
The good thing is more business owners are growing aware of when they shouldn’t force being open when the circumstances are bad. Restaurants like Tittos Latin BBQ and Brew echo this sentiment, refusing to risk any more than they have to.
“The decision is not hard to make,” says Winslow Co, Tittos’ marketing director. “The communication between the whole team is very strong, so we collect the sentiments and decide about it immediately. I think this type of decision concerning the rainy season is natural to us Filipinos.”
“The communication between the whole team is very strong, so we collect the sentiments and decide about it immediately. I think this type of decision concerning the rainy season is natural to us Filipinos,” says Winslow Co, Tittos’ marketing director.
Social media also makes it easy for everyone to communicate about operations. “We try our best to communicate it as early as possible; our landlord and delivery partners help us in making sure that our customers won’t be confused about our operating times during heavy rains,” adds Co.
Weatherproofing the business
Being in a tropical country that sees a lot of rain and storms, it would be foolish for anyone with a business to not prepare for extreme weather. Aside from being flexible enough to figure out exactly what to do on rainy days, one also has to make sure the place and the operations are protected.
“In our current situation, yes, we do invest in infrastructure like quality building materials and preventive maintenance,” says Co. “We believe that taking good care of the equipment, roofing, exhaust, walls, storage, etc. is a sound long-term strategy. Getting good suppliers and contractors you trust goes a long way, too. They give you a lot of advice on how to take care of your restaurant and sometimes they give you good rates, too.”
It’s doubly more important in a city like Baguio—where the northernmost branch of Rebel Bakehouse is located—where cool, damp, and gloomy conditions present a different kind of challenge. Fortunately, Aldana and her partner made sure that everything is up to snuff in their location in the City of Pines.
“So far, our location and the current infrastructure has been secure enough for our current operations. Regardless of the climate and difficult weather conditions, it has been our practice to prioritize food safety through correct food handling practices and proper storage. We also have a genset to make sure that all our chillers and freezers continue to function in times of power outages,” shares Aldana. The only thing they have yet to get is an insurance policy for their special equipment.
“Ultimately, we try hard not to focus on revenue because we know that sales are low during the rainy season,” Donna Aldana adds. “We concentrate on preparing our staff for the Christmas season, which is the strongest season of the year.”
“Project NOAH has been a big help for monitoring high-risk areas. It makes it easy for us to identify our team members who are directly affected without the need for them to contact us.”
In addition to a setup that’s very much sound, Rebel Bakehouse also provides free leptospirosis prophylaxis and vitamins during the rainy season—and more importantly, emergency accommodations for those gravely affected by flooding or simply can’t travel because of the rain.
Turning rain into positives
In fact, Rebel Bakehouse manages to turn the circumstances of bad weather into something that can ultimately help the morale of the team—and with it, the performance of the business. Rainy weather during the major habagat season from June to October results in the lowest revenue in the year, so Aldana schedules company events such as team building and outings during that time.
“While it may be counterintuitive to spend more money when sales are at its lowest, we see it as an opportunity to strengthen the bond of our team and improve the skills of team members,” she says. “We also encourage them to take their paid leaves during this season so they can really rest and spend time with their families.
“Ultimately, we try hard not to focus on revenue because we know that sales are low during the rainy season,” Aldana adds. “We concentrate on preparing our staff for the Christmas season, which is the strongest season of the year.”
“I think [the bad weather] does pull your average sales down, and you might not be able to reach your targets for the month, but for us it’s more about whether all employees and stakeholders are safe and dry,” concludes Winslow Co.
And in the end, the biggest consolation, if not a benefit, an owner can enjoy during the rainy season will always be the safety of the team. It’s no good to have a team that can’t function because of the effects of the weather.
“I think [the bad weather] does pull your average sales down, and you might not be able to reach your targets for the month, but for us it’s more about whether all employees and stakeholders are safe and dry,” concludes Co. “Customers are understanding in case we are unable to open due to weather. Safety first!”