Joenilo Rojas, 44, known as Nhel, is from Nabua, Camarines Sur. In 1996, he honed his craft in his hometown of Bicol. He moved to Makati 10 years ago. Occasionally, he plants palay (rice) in his village to supplement his income. He said he can harvest up to 40 sacks of rice with his own efforts. He has a sister who is a hairdresser in Abu Dhabi. Nhel proudly shared that working as a barber, he was able to send his two daughters to college, one of which got a business and property management degree and the other is still finishing her hotel and restaurant management course. He rents the space for 5,500 pesos a month and calls it Nhel Barber Shop. He shares it with fellow barber, Ronnie Moreno. They usually attend to 10 to 30 customers a day. Nhel shares a story when he was still new in the trade, he accidentally cut the skin of the ear of a navy official’s son. He got really scared as blood started dripping from the cut. Fortunately, the boy did not notice it nor cry. He was able to control the blood and admitted to the father his fault as soon as he arrived to pick him up. Nhel was more than relieved to find himself blameless.
