Charcoal stoves are flying off the shelves at Blumentritt Market as consumers scramble for cheaper cooking alternatives amid skyrocketing prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Vendors at the bustling market hub reported Wednesday that stocks of the traditional "kalan de uling" (charcoal stove) are nearly depleted due to an unexpected surge in demand. The shift comes as households look for ways to bypass the high cost of branded gas cylinders.

For many residents, the math is simple: charcoal offers a level of predictability that LPG currently does not.

One charcoal vendor explained that the transition to coal is significantly more economical, particularly for basic cooking tasks such as frying or reheating food.

She noted that a single 20-peso bag of charcoal is enough to fuel a day's worth of cooking. In contrast, she argued that LPG tanks are not only expensive to refill but also tend to run out quickly with heavy use.

The price of the raw material itself has not been immune to inflation, yet it remains the preferred choice for those on a tight budget.

“Dati ang uling namin 280 hanggang 350 tapos naging 450. Ngayon, 500 na ang isang sako," the vendor added. Despite the price hike, she maintained that the efficiency of charcoal is superior, noting that 50 pesos worth of coal can last up to four days if used efficiently.

Other sellers echoed the sentiment, highlighting the stark price gap between traditional and modern fuels.

“Ang mahal [ng] konsumo 1,500 [pesos] kumpara sa kalan de uling tsaka isang sakong uling, ang laki ng menos, sobra.”

While the Department of Energy continues to monitor international oil price fluctuations that dictate LPG costs, the scenes at Blumentritt Market suggest that for many Filipino families, the immediate solution lies in returning to traditional methods to keep their kitchens running.