BUSINESS is good for this aspiring lawyer.
Justin Adriel De Castro, 19, a Political Science student from the University of Santo Tomas, sells books for a living, thanks to his hard work and a backstory that has captivated social media.
“I started selling books out of sheer necessity. I want to sustain myself, to be able to go back to school,” he said.
Justin became practically homeless but didn't say why. He wandered the streets of Quezon City and Manila.
To make ends meet, he applied for a job at a call center. But because he was not wearing a pair of pants during the interview, his application was turned down.
He was not devoid of other options.
With only 14 books and a little money to spare, he started a business.
He sold his books along Tomas Morato in Quezon City, earning P1,500. He used the amount to buy more second-hand books and thus began a more serious venture.
On some occasions, he allows people to buy him food in exchange for a book of their choice.
“It’s survival that I impose upon myself," he said.
Flipping pages for the future
For Justine, books are as important as oxygen. “It's the oxygen of my soul," he said.
Justine described himself as a suicide survivor and diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. He said he's bent on helping people like him.
“The problem with problems is sometimes, we could not understand it for ourselves but the good thing is, there is always this one book that can understand our problems,” said Justine, who plans to return to school next semester.
So far, business has been good. He said he would soon open his very own book shop on Maginhawa Street, Quezon City.
“After 79 days with 14 books and barely nothing in my pocket, this summer, I’ll be opening my first bookshop. I have opened a bank account and I have more than enough,” he said. Mone Virma Ginry P. Gumapac
