At 60 years old, Mang Tony from the Pasig Wet Market owes his life to fish. He’s a third-generation fish vendor, who started helping out at his mother’s stall when he was six years old; she had inherited the business from her own mother.
Mang Tony met his wife Carmen at the old wet market located in another part of Pasig. She was also part of another long-time fishmonger family.
“Magkakilala yung mga lolo-lolo namin. Noong araw kami yung mahirap at sila yung may sasakyan, nakikisaakay kami hanggang sa nagka-ligawan at naging asawa ko siya.”
Today, you can find Mang Tony at fish stall #1, while Carmen runs stall #2 and their daughter Glessie runs stall #3. Even with the three stalls though, he says that business isn’t as good as it used to be.
“Noong araw nakabili kami ng dalawang lupa, at mayroon pa akong tatlong alagang kabayo, pero nabenta ko na sila.”
Souls of Manila is a Coconuts series of street photography inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York. Every human has a story to tell and we intend to share some from those who call Metro Manila, home.
More Souls of Manila:
– Mang Jun at Heroes Hills
– Nelvin Sia in Mandaluyong
– Jeraldine on Pioneer St., Mandaluyong
– Earl Chua in Makati
