Pawnshopper's guide to Las Piñas

"Success cannot be achieved through pure luck...you have to work for it."
- Mayor Nene Aguilar (http://www.geocities.com/laspinascity/?20071)

This is why Las Piñas City has something for those BOTH out of LUCK and, sadly, out of WORK:
Pawnshops!

I can't really guide you through the pawnshop business in the city; however, I can incoherently comment about the pawnshops in this blog.

Of all the pawnshop-names I tried to recall, I think the only two I can remember are: Cebuana Lhullier and Tambunting. Lovely names, I think. They sound luxurious and EXOTIC. "Loo-wee-leeyay" or "Loo-leeyay" or "Lul-yer" (I think that's how different caucasians (or white people) pronounce it. How do I pronounce it? maybe "Lu-wi-yerr/Lu-li-yerr". Extra r's are intended); "Tahm-Buhn-Ting" or "Tahm-Boon-ting".

I honestly don't really know how pawnshops work. I think it is something like this:

1. A person needs money. Let's name the person Brownie. (so that there will be no gender discrimination)
2. Brownie doesn't have money but has a golden Seiko Diamond Wristwatch from Saudi.
3. Brownie lets a pawnshop woman/man "borrow" or "take care" of the Arabian Watch first.
4. Brownie receives amount of money according to the "careful" calculations of the pawnshop man/woman.

*Now here comes my question on how they know "the amount of money they'll give to Brownie". Do you know how? haha. Maybe they study it in college. *

5. Brownie promises to pay, with an agreed upon interest, to get the watch back.
6. Brownie finally pays after marrying and having 2 children.
7. At gunpoint, Brownie gets the watch back from the enraged pawnshop woman/man.
Summary: Brownie loses watch for a time and tries to find work/more money to get the watch back. Pawnshop makes money. (yehey!)

I really look up to the one who first thought of the pawnshop business. It's slick, Pinoy, shiny and legal sometimes.

Yet, I think the multitude of pawnshops in Las Piñas are the manifestation of SLOW employment, LACK of employment, or even LAZINESS for employment. I have no research to back this up.

Got no job? Got no watch or anything to pawn? Got no money? Oh well, someday the answer would be "No-- I've got a job. I've got a watch I can pawn or not. I've got money. Why? Because of Mayor Nene's beautiful words!"

"Success cannot be achieved through pure luck...you have to work for it."
- Mayor Nene Aguilar (http://www.geocities.com/laspinascity/?20071)

Yup. If jobs and money become scarcer, pawnshops would be as common as SEVEN-ELEVENs. They'll start selling hotdogs and slurpies too. Sarap!

Exercises (2pts.)

Problems: Show complete solutions. Label final answers.

1. Ruby has a toy puppy. She pawns it for 300 pesos. The pawnperson gives her 5-peso coins, 1-peso coins, and 2-peso coins. The pawnperson, being a kind gentleman, informed her that the ratio of the 5,1 and 2-peso coins are 18:7:5, respectively. Should Ruby believe the pawnperson or confirm the ratio by computing herself? Why? Prove your answer. (1pt.)

2. Totoy is crying. He pawned his girlfriend's necklace for 5000php and got dumped afterwards because 5000php is not the true value of the necklace. His girlfriend received the necklace from her grandmother when she (girlfriend) was just 5 years old. The original value was 3000php. The antique value of the necklace increased 55 php per month. Totoy's girlfriend will be 43% the age of her grandmother 76 years from now. What should be the value of the necklace now? (1pt.)

Try to solve it on your own before looking at the answers! (c:
Answers:

for # 1
Proof:

statements; reasons

1. 2-peso coins are obsolete; 1. Philippine Law

2. The pawnperson is a scammer; 2. Because he used obsolete coins

3. Ruby shouldn't believe him; 3. Because he is a scammer

for #2

Why should he bother solving? Totoy got dumped by his girl already. :(

*Please type your score with your comment. haha!