On days for paying tribute to the dead, the entrepreneurial spirit of some young Boholanos comes alive.

Carrying the tools of their trade—tatters, paint and brush—children like grade four pupil Carl Ryan Tuya roam cemeteries offering their cleaning and lettering services to visitors paying tribute and offering prayers to departed loved ones.

For Tuya, the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days are chances to make profit, which he claims would be chipped in to his family’s rice allocation.

The annual business for the Booy Elementary School pupil started as early as Wednesday, October 28.

He said that he charges a negotiable amount to paint on the inscription and design of epitaphs at Victoria Memorial Park.

As of Monday, Tuya was able to raise P50 for painting on faded lettering.

Tuya is not lone “practitioner”. There are several other “lettering and cleaning” boys who stroll cemeteries in Tagbilaran City hoping to make meager income.

Some of the children offer to clean tombs and tiles for P20, and sometimes are willing to take whatever their “client” offers.

For a larger fee, others apply a fresh coat of paint on structures inside the cemetery.

Meanwhile, children who are not in tune with their artistic side opt to stay outside the cemetery and offer to guard parked motorcycles. (Rey Tutas)

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