Delivering dreams: How gig work empowers Dumaguete father’s family
For a decade, John Ray Palateo worked as a security guard. While this job helped him bring food to the table, it was not enough to make ends meet for his family of three.
The 37-year-old resident of Dumaguete was able to turn his fate around when he switched to gig work. In April 2021, he started working as a food delivery rider, bringing with him the determination to improve his earning potential. Beyond just surviving the day-to-day, John Ray wanted to have a better life.
He realized the dream was possible on his very first day of work. The proud father of a 14-year-old kid recalled earning more than twice the minimum wage after making just 13 food deliveries. At that moment, John Ray knew he could make a decent living out of this.
The Dumaguete rider is one of the many Filipinos who have chosen to do gig work to earn additional income. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, approximately 9.9 million Filipinos have side hustles, representing around 22 percent of the total employed population of 44 million.
Among these freelancers, about 1.7 million or 17 percent find livelihood opportunities through online platforms such as ride-hailing, courier services, and on-demand food delivery, while others work remotely such as virtual assistants and video editors. Securing job opportunities through online platforms is a trend that aligns with the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) initiatives to expand digital jobs and strengthen the country’s online workforce.
Gig workers’ spending habits
In a study by global market research firm Ipsos, 52 percent of the surveyed Filipino gig workers are motivated to do extra work so they can support the financial needs of their families. Some 40 percent, meanwhile, are saving their earnings for major purchases.
This dedication is perfectly mirrored by John Ray–his wife and daughter are the driving force behind every delivery. “Tuloy lang. Kasi may pamilya tayong naghihintay sa bahay. Kaya tuloy-tuloy lang,” he says. (I just keep going. Because I have a family waiting at home. That’s why I carry on.)
This newfound income stability quickly transformed his family’s life. He began with small joys, like affording his daughter’s favorite fast-food meal, but soon progressed to major investments that would have been impossible in his previous job: a new television, a sound system, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a printer for his daughter’s school needs. He even bought two motorcycles, one for his work and another for his wife.
The pinnacle of his success, however, is the plot of land he was able to buy with his earnings, where his family’s permanent home will soon stand.
“Masayang masaya ako kasi naibigay ko na sa pamilya ko yung ginhawa,” John Ray says. (“I’m very happy because I’ve been able to give my family comfort.)
Earning potential
The Ipsos research reveals that most Filipino gig workers earn well above the minimum wage, with 55 percent reporting monthly earnings between ₱15,001 and ₱50,000, and over 70 percent making more than Metro Manila’s baseline of ₱13,545 per month.
This shows that gig work can provide good income, but it also varies—46 percent of workers see their earnings change by 10 percent to 30 percent each month. The respondents understand that it occurs as part of the trade-off for having the freedom to choose when and how much they work. In short, the gig workers’ earnings are tied to how much work they are willing to do in a day.
According to the study, 61 percent of freelancers work part-time while the remainder do it full-time. Full-time freelancers often spend over 40 hours a week on gig work, while part-timers typically take on gigs in the evenings after their primary jobs or during weekends.
Like other gig workers, John Ray’s cash inflow also changes. “Minsan, matumal. Minsan, malakas,” he explains. (Sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it’s busy.)
But he recognizes that demand for food deliveries can also shift from day to day, affecting his earnings. Still, he is grateful that his work is a stable source of revenue stream for him and his family.
Building for the future
Along with 59 percent of the respondents, the Dumaguete rider sees gig work as a viable long-term career option and not just a temporary side hustle.
The respondents, after all, gain a sense of financial independence and control over their future, which are strong motivators for staying.
For John Ray, he knows his work as a food delivery rider will allow him to save for his family’s future home. This optimism is pushing him every day to persevere and stay motivated, with the hope of fulfilling this dream within three years.
“Iniingatan ko talaga yung trabaho ko. ‘Yan ang hanapbuhay namin,” the food delivery rider concludes. (I really take care of my job—it’s our family’s livelihood.)
Ipsos surveyed 1,500 gig workers in the country for the study.
