Benjamin Conos — a resident of Quezon City — is a taho vendor.
Taho is a Philippine snack made of soft or silken tofu, arnibal (a brown sugar syrup), and sago (tapioca) “pearls.”
There are many taho vendors roaming the streets of Metro Manila, but Benjamin — who frequents Manila’s University Belt almost everyday — stands out. He was spotted by Romeo Catap, a Manila resident who seems to have the best luck in running into everyday heroes. (Catap had also spotted a very interesting sight last Oct.)
Benjamin always starts his day along Taft Avenue, then heads to to España Boulevard, lingers in the U-Belt area, and then heads back home to Quezon City.
You won’t miss Benjamin, as he is almost always dressed in a neatly-pressed long-sleeved shirt.
When asked why he’s wearing an ensemble that would be considered as “elaborate” for a taho vendor, he said in Filipino, “I need to look presentable. This way, the students who see me know right away that I am selling a clean product.”
For luck, Benjamin brings the old school IDs of his three kids. Some of the students who linger near him as they eat their taho have definitely heard about the kids. Benjamin takes pride in being able to send them to school.
