Dili, 29 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – José Magno, aged sixty-seven (67), from Baucau Municipality, Baguia Administrative Post, currently lives in Comoro Village, Golgota, selling cigarettes and phone credit in the Comoro market area, Dili.
José explained that he has been selling cigarettes and phone credit in the market since 2017 until today, his daughter always tells him that at his age, he should just stay at home.
“My daughter always tells me that at my age I should just stay at home, and that my children should be the ones earning money to support me. But I tell them you also have children, so you should earn money to look after your own children because I’m already used to making a living this way. I can’t just sit around at home, I feel good selling these goods because I’m not just selling in one place, I walk around inside the market, sometimes when the day is hot and I feel a bit tired, I have to go home and rest for an hour or two before coming back to sell, because my condition and advanced age mean I can’t do other work, but I have to make a living through this path. At first I only sold cigarettes, and after earning a little money I thought I should also buy phone credit to sell more, even though we don’t get a large percentage from it.” José Magno said at Comoro Market.
The father of five said, cigarettes and phone credit sell best in the afternoon from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Sometimes he goes home with only four or five packs of cigarettes left because buyers have bought everything. In one day he can earn $35-40.
“I have five (5) children, three (3) daughters and two (2) sons, currently they all live in Dili, of the five, three have finished their studies at university level, and two (2) did not have access to education, all five of my children have now formed their own families, and my wife returned to God three (3) years ago. Before I started this small business, I only grew vegetables to sell in Baucau Municipality, from growing vegetables I was able to sustain household needs and pay for my children’s schooling. But there’s no one to help me grow vegetables now because my wife has also passed away. So now I’ve come to live with my sons to sell cigarettes and phone credit, the income I earn can meet daily needs, and I can also look after my grandchildren’s schooling.” he said.
He added that when living in the city don’t be ashamed or lazy to earn money, even though he is of advanced age, he still makes an effort to earn for himself in order to sustain his daily needs.
Report By: Trainees Juliana Baquita
Photo By: Trainee Juliana