Jay Corong, 23, Tacloban, Leyte shares Shellson Barber Shop with the owner’s brother Michael Ajero. Jay, who learned barbering from his cousin, has been a barber for 4 years. He was a second year Criminology student. He is still single but has a live-in partner and is renting a room for 2,500 pesos a month. He can serve 13 heads a day to 40 people on weekends. He once worked for 13 hours staight attending to 52 customers. He splits the fee 20/20 with the owner. He usually talks with clients about jokes, politics and life in general. Michael Ajero, who at 17, is the youngest on my list. Michael, also known as Bay, is from Balatan, Camarines Sur. He arrived in Taguig only last year. He stays with his 29-yrs-old sister who owns the shop. He is the sixth child of 11 children and the youngest of which is only 3-months old. He learned cutting hair from his uncle in the province. This is his first job. He didn’t graduate high school and only completed until his junior year. He attends to 18-45 clients a day with 48 as his record. He shares 20/20 pesos with his owner sister. Lately, he gets lots of request to copy the hairstyle of noontime matinee host, Vhong Navarro. When there is no customer around he listens to music on his cellphone. He tries to send money to his mother twice a month 1,500 pesos and 2,000 pesos. He was very proud to say that he once sent 4,000 to help his siblings go to school.
