The balloon maker
By Alex Socorro
@Alexandoy (65308)
Cainta, Philippines
October 14, 2019 6:29pm CST
Eric is actually a balloon artist - he makes figures using balloons. He is a mainstay in a classy hotel as an entertainer of sorts to the dining customers in the restaurant. He said that he is not paid except for the free meals. His earnings come mainly from the tips of the customers. We gave him 200 pesos ($4) for his service of creating several balloon figures for us. The old woman in the nearby table gave him 500 pesos. I think Eric earns good money there.
15 people like this
13 responses
@Deepizzaguy (102970)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
15 Oct 19
Balloon makers are really very talented performers.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
15 Oct 19
@rakski @letranknight2015 @rsa101 but according to @Alexandoy this balloonmaker "earns a minimum of 2,000 pesos per day ($40)" from tips. so even if he only gets free meals from the hotel, isn't that huge already? by the way, alex, does he work every day at the hotel?
3 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
He earns a minimum of 2,000 pesos per day ($40).
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
@hereandthere yes every day. He earns an average of that amount.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
15 Oct 19
I see but I think that kind of earning is really hard depending on the generosity of the guests in that hotel. I think the hotel should give him at least something for entertaining the guests there. The free meal is not good enough for this man.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
15 Oct 19
@Alexandoy Yes but I think the hotel has many guest there to really make him not complain of doing his job there.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
I agree. A salay or living allowance.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
@rsa101 sometimes he looks overloaded with requests for balloon figures.
1 person likes this
@youless (112507)
• Guangzhou, China
16 Oct 19
@Alexandoy It is better for the hotels to pay them basic salary monthly.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
16 Oct 19
Maybe that will be the arrangement soon.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
You are right. Sometimes big and sometimes small tip.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
Maybe the guy will be hired by the hotel soon.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
16 Oct 19
I will know when I go back there.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
But the balloons are the long ones.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
15 Oct 19
@Alexandoy Still balloons and made me smile.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
@CarolDM me too, I love to look at balloons.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180900)
• United States
15 Oct 19
That is quite an elaborate balloon hat there.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
15 Oct 19
I hope he makes a lot of tips the guy is good.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51969)
• Philippines
15 Oct 19
Guys like this deserves increase of salary, he can't live by that means unless he's a millionaire of sorts.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
15 Oct 19
He has a good talent in making those.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
I watched him do the figures. It takes time but his hands were quick.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Oct 19
When I ws a kid my mom knew a guy that did balloon work
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
They are artists because it is not easy to create something from those elongated balloons.
@Starkinds (32712)
• India
15 Oct 19
I am a die hard fan of balloons and balloon is the always a best part of my decoration
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
15 Oct 19
You are like my sister. She always buys balloons when there is an occasion.
