Why we Filipinos love second hand items?

During the early days after the WWII. My grandfather told me earlier, that during that time there was absolutely nothing left from the Philippines. It was devastated.

We cannot start progresssing if there are no tools like machinery, equipment, even the people with great minds have died during the war. He must think of something so that the Philippines could stand up again - at least to survive.

So he talked to his American, European, and some Japanese close friends. He asked for a loan on their machinery, expertise, and training of Filipinos. Of course they knew my grandfather, he owned the philippines. But seeing him as a jolly person down going down as a troubled depressed individual have forced them to help him out. Some of them asked little or nothing at all. As all nations are devasted at war, rebuilding is the only option for now.

Machinery, equipment, tools, etc. came. all are used and some are already broken. What can you expect for something that is free? Of course they will never give new ones.

That triggered the Filipino notion of becoming a 'second hand/used item addict.' no need to buy new ones, just buy the used cheap one to get the job done.

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