‘Peryahan’ makes comeback amid eased restrictions in Metro Manila

Native carnivals or “peryahan” in Metro Manila are slowly making a return amid eased restrictions in time for the holiday season.

Few hours before the opening, the staff and operators of a peryahan in the street of Libertad and FB Harrison in Pasay City were busy sprucing up the place after being closed for almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The operators said they started to open last Friday after being allowed by the local government unit.

“Masaya kasi kahit papaano may pang hanapbuhay na pag kulang ng perang panggastos,” operations manager Marty Cordero said in Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday.

(We are happy because we have now jobs and source of living.)

“Masaya sir, kasi po magkakaroon din po kami ng trabaho, bukod po dun marami rin pong masayang tao na napupunta dito,” basketball game operator Ismael Aguilar said.

(We are happy because aside from having jobs, we can also make people who come here happy.)

The game operators, however, assured that they are following necessary health protocols to prevent spread of COVID-19 infections.

“Nagpapasok  lang kami dito ng mga taong may vaccination card, na complete [vaccinated] po. Tapos sa mga bata naman under 12-years-old kahit walang vaccination basta may magulang na kasama at may vaccine card pwede po,” Cordero said.

(Only those with vaccination cards can enter.  Children under 12-years-old, even unvaccinated, can enter as long as they are accompanied by a vaccinated guardian.)

“Sana po magtuloy-tuloy na wala nang pandemic, fully vaccinated na po kami,” Marian Diwa, food vendor, said.

(I hope the pandemic will be over. We are all fully vaccinated.)

Meanwhile, parents and children expressed excitement at the reopening of the “peryahan.”

“Importante po kasi at least nakakalabas na sila at hindi na sila nabuburyong sa bahay. Ingat lang po,” a parent said.

(The kids are bored at home, so it's important they come out once in a while.  We make sure we are safe.)

Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 2 until December 15, according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Under Alert Level 2—the second lowest in the new alert level system—certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated) and 70% capacity outdoors.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News