It is funny how life sometimes goes full circle. Take Earl Chua, 30, for example. His grandfather migrated to the Philippines to start a new life, but then Earl’s parents choose to leave and migrate to the US. Like his grandfather, Earl learned the value of hard work at an early age doing all kinds of odd jobs as a kid. After high school, he enrolled in a vocational school specializing in car repair. His dream was that one day he would open a car dealership, but he and his brother tried their luck by buying a troubled car emission shop. It didn’t take long for them to make the shop profitable again and pay back the money they borrowed.
After his grandfather passed away, Earl returned to Manila for the funeral. What he thought was going to be a short visit turned out longer. Taking the cue from his grandfather, he and his brothers considered staying long term and opening a business. They closed the car emission shop in the US and began setting up a BPO office in Manila. Earl later then went to open a healthy Mexican eating place in Makati called Faburrito. His goal is that one day Faburrito will become a chain so that he can set up school for underprivileged and homeless kids.
When he’s not busy running his eatery, Earl runs off to Tagaytay to get away from the Manila crowd.
Souls of Manila is a new Coconuts series of street portrait photography inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York. Every human has a story to tell, and we intend to share some from the millions of souls who call Metro Manila home.
MORE SOULS OF MANILA:
– Mang Jun at Heroes Hill
– Nhorie Cortes, barbeque vendor in Las Piñas
– Mercy Takasa at New City Grocery
– James Macariola
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