An alleged photo showing the borrowing requirements of a neighborhood or a “sari-sari” store gained traction online after being compared to the requirements for running for public office.
On September 4, a viral content page shared an Instagram Story originally posted by photographer Kiko Martinez.
The story featured a photo of a handwritten list on cardboard, detailing what the store requires from customers who want to buy now, pay later.
“Requirements para maka-utang ng bilihin,” the carton reads.
It listed the following requirements for borrowers:
- Barangay Clearance
- Police Clearance
- NBI Clearance
- Birth Certificate
- 1×1 picture of a full-body shot
- Marriage Certificate or Marriage Contract (if married)
- Cenomar or Certificate of No Marriage (if single)
- Family Picture
- 3 valid government-issued IDs
- COE or Certificate of Employment
The sari-sari store also included an unusual but “very important” requirement for the borrower: “three pieces of hair.”
The humorous list caught the attention of Martinez, who posted the image with the caption: “Buti pa ito, madami requirements. ‘Yung pagtakbo sa pagka-politiko, hay nako, jusko!”
The account that reshared the post on X (formerly Twitter) also highlighted the quirky “last” requirement, the need for hair, which sparked laughs and commentary online.
“‘Yung last talaga eh,” it said, hinting at the “sari-sari” store potentially hexing borrowers who fail to pay back their dues.
yung last talaga eh pic.twitter.com/jXPNyh5NFm
— kabulastugan (@kblstgn) September 4, 2025
In the Philippines, it is common for people to go to their neighborhood sari-sari stores to buy the things they need, but in “buy now, pay later” scheme if they lack funds at that time.
This everyday borrowing culture sparked online humor when the viral post compared the detailed borrowing requirements of a sari-sari store to the surprisingly simple qualifications for running for public office.
Under the Philippine Constitution, those seeking national positions, such as president, vice president, senators, district representatives and party-list nominees, are only required to be:
- Natural-born citizens
- Registered voters
- Able to read and write
- Residents of the Philippines for a specified period
- Of a certain minimum age, depending on the position
The qualifications for local positions, such as governors, mayors, city councilors, barangay captains, and even Bangsamoro Parliament Members, are largely similar, with minor differences depending on the level of office.
In contrast, the private sector often demands far more stringent requirements for employment. Job seekers usually need to submit multiple documents, such as police and NBI clearances, medical certificates, tax records, diplomas, and other government-issued documents just to qualify for a role.
