Meet Aljon. Aljon works at the Mayon Backpackers Hostel in Legazpi. He works the front desk and cleans the kitchen and rooms and gets the rooms ready for the next guests. Aljon puts in such long hours that I thought he never went home. Then I learned that the hostel IS his home. The owner of the hostel is paying for Aljon’s university education and lets him live at the hostel. In exchange, Aljon works there. He hopes to study civil engineering, but so far with his 89% average, he hasn’t been able to get into the university of his choice. He’s hoping to get in soon.

Tags: Legazpi, Mayon Backpackers Hostel, Meet Aljon, Philippines Bike Trip 2013