By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Far Eastern University (FEU) students initiated an online shopping site ‘PiyuMart’ in light of the student-led concessionaires’ dissolution for FEU’s 96th Founding Anniversary Week launched yesterday, February 7. 

All student-owned business operations were canceled last-minute as failure to present a business permit.

Only the sponsors occupied booths on the campus grounds compared to last year. 

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, one of PiyuMart’s proponents second-year Business Administration student Josh Miguel Tagle shared the goals of creating the website.

“Nilagay namin 'yung accounts ng each and every seller do’n sa website, and then, sila na ‘yung mag-uusap after that. (We added the accounts of each and every seller on the website, and then, they will be the one to talk after that),” he explained.

PiyuMart is an online platform that aims to gather all Tamaraw sellers to display their products.

Several FEU students reeled over the sudden cessation of concessionaires after weeks of preparation.

The PiyuMart proponent stressed that the concessionaire applicants spent capital and labor for materials to set up the booth and restock.

“We’re trying to unite all student entrepreneurs na affected by the situation para hindi masayang ‘yung merchandise nila (so their merchandise would not be wasted),” Tagle said.

Following the recent controversy of barring students from selling in Pavillion 1 and Lerma Street, students hoped to secure a booth.

Moreover, Tagle shared that the application for his business FIL ARC also got rejected despite having a business permit.

FEU students drew flak upon the organizers of the event for not announcing the requirements earlier. 

“Sana like maayos or more systematic ‘yung pag-ga-gather ng student concessionaires that they should tell in advance na dapat may permit talaga (I hope that the gathering of student concessionaires would be organized or more systematic that they should tell in advance that there should really be a permit),” Tagle urged.

FEU Advocate has reached out to FEU Central Student Organization but is still awaiting response as of writing.

Additionally, FEU Congress is making a resolution to legitimize student entrepreneurs to sell inside the campus.

(Photo by FEU Advocate/Ralph Mari Castro)