The Covid-19 pandemic has upended global and social economic systems. The ramifications and devastation of the pandemic, or the so-called great shock, have impacted all industries, including the services segment, as the strict mobility lockdown forced people to practice social distancing.

Rhoann Calma, 30, owner of Anne's Eyelash and Beauty, realized early that the movement restriction presented new opportunities with the help of the motorcycle-hailing application Angkas.

Calma saw the market for home services. "When the pandemic arrived, technically, there were a lot of clients who were scared to go outside, so we offered home services," she told the Daily Tribune in a mix of English and Filipino.

With economic activities returning to the pre-pandemic level, Anne's salon now has branches in Lukban street and BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Pinas.

Calma said she conducted research and beauty training in 2017 before finally opening a salon. Now she runs the branches along with her partner Mary Anne Jose Moralla. They offer beauty and pampering services, including eyelash extensions, hair and makeup, microblading, hair packages and lip pigmentation — all traditional salon services except haircuts.

Moralla, also called "Mheng," plays a crucial role in the salon's daily operation. She is in charge of a slew of jobs, including answering queries on their social media account and booking trips for dispatching employees for home service, management, and payroll.

Aside from the risk of being infected with the virus, Morayla shares that most of their clients who afford the home service are mothers of infants, senior citizens, and people who want to avoid long queues in the salon.

On top of the cost of the service, customers are required to pay an additional Php 50 top-off for the home service option and must shoulder the back-and-forth (roundtrip) Angkas commute.

To accommodate this, Moralla sends their employees to the respective homes of the clients through the motorcycle application Angkas daily. As the salon opens from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, at least seven roundtrips a day are booked by the management.

"(It is) very efficient that our staff can go. Also, it adds revenue to our business because someone walked in and we still have home services — so it's a win-win solution." Moralla said.

It helps their business during down time, "It helps a lot in our business because there are times that it is already 1 p.m., but there are only a few walk-in customers, but there are many clients who request home services.", she said, mentioning that the salon prioritizes home service more than the regular operation.

In charge of booking matters in the salon, Moralla bares the process of conducting their prime home services to villages in Las Piñas City, such as Alabang, Pilas, BF Homes and many more.

First, the client must fill out a form listing their preferred time and date for Morayla to confirm. "Let's say today, one of my staff has home service this morning at 10:30 a.m., I will book in Angkas 50 minutes prior, and then we will wait for the (rider) to get here. (The) pick location is always here at the salon.", she said.