REY FLORES, 61, from Consolacion, Cebu, has been making a living as a street typist since 1995.
Using his old but reliable typewriter, he writes official documents such as birth certificates, marriage contracts, affidavits of loss, and personal letters.
In his early years, he charged only P5 per page, whether long or short, and could earn up to P1,000 a day.
Back then, Rey was one of at least 50 typists stationed along P. del Rosario Street, just across the University of San Carlos in Cebu City.
Today, he is the only one left. As technology advanced and computers became more accessible, the demand for typewritten documents declined, and the others gradually left.
By the early 2000s, his income had started to drop. Now, he charges P50 per page and is fortunate to earn P500 on a good day.
Despite the challenges, Rey has continued this humble trade to support his family.
He became a widower in 2014 when his wife died of diabetes, the same year he lost one of his children. He now lives with a partner who helps him with daily tasks and has one surviving child who works in a call center.
To supplement his shrinking income, Rey also cooks and sells viands to neighbors in Consolacion and in Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City, near his typewriting spot.
From a once-bustling line of street typists to being the last man standing, Rey remains a quiet symbol of resilience and hard work. (Juan Carlo de Vela)