Highlights
- Natanggal si Anthony Herrara sa kanyang trabaho dahil sa sakit.
- Pag-aari na niya ngayon ang New Life Cycles at Enelssie Cafe & Grill sa Burnside Heights.
- Ang ilang sikat na ulam sa kapehan ay ang bagnet at tapsilog.
"I remember creating a vision board wherein I had chosen an image of a shop on the first floor and a home on the second floor. We have that now," saad ni Anthony Herrera.
Bago nakamtan ng may-ari ng New Life Cycles and Enelssie Cafe & Grill ang kanyang pangarap na magkaroon ng negosyo, dumaan muna siya sa malaking hamon ng napilitan siyang umalis sa kanyang dating trabaho dahil sa sakit.
Anthony Herrera, owner of New Life Cycles and Enelssie Cafe & Grill Source: Anthony Herrera
Pagpalit ng karera
Lumipat si Anthony sa Australya bilang IT professional noong 2013. Walang siyang intensyon noong lisanin ang industriya.
"But then I started getting this pain in my knee. It worsened over time and I kept on taking strong painkillers for it. I found out it was a severe case of gout," aniya.
Nahirapan siyang magtrabaho dahil sa kanyang sakit at numipis ang lining ng kanyang tiyan dahil sa kakainom ng gamot.
"I had to undergo stomach surgery. The company I was working for could no longer sustain keeping me because I was on leave for too long."
Anthony's illness led his family towards a different path. Source: Anthony Herrera
Isang Kristiyano, tiningnan ni Anthony ang balakid na ito bilang senyales na kailangan niyang maghanap ng ibang oportunidad.
"My father taught me to love bikes. Growing up, he taught me how valuable bikes could be. What I love about biking is it clears my mind and energises me.
"In the Philippines, we also lived near a bike shop. I would hang out there and learn how to repair bikes.
Anthony's father [in photo] taught him to love bikes. Source: Anthony Herrera
"So while I was applying for jobs, I began repairing bikes in our garage to earn money. After a while, we had become the go-to place for locals to get their bikes repaired."
Almusal at bisikleta
Nang lumakas ang negosyo, nabigyan si Anthony ng oportunidad na magbukas ng shop.
"It was a way for our repair shop to evolve into a proper business. My wife and I decided to take the chance. We opened a bike shop on the first floor and we took residence above it.
"We became the community bike repair shop. While people waited for their bikes to be repaired, I began serving them coffee and pandesal [sweet bread roll]. Even tradies would come in asking for breakfast and coffee."
Anthony and his wife Tina Source: Anthony Herrera
Nang sumikat ang kanilang shop, kumuha ng lisensya ang mga Herrera upang magbukas ng kapehan at palawakin pa ang kanilang menu.
"Enelssie was born. A lot of people ask me what it stands for - some think it's named after my daughter," he laughs, adding, "Actually it's NLC (New Life Cycles) spelled out. It was different and we liked the name."
The cafe has become a local favourite. Source: Anthony Herrera
"The term 'new life' is fitting for us - not only is it biblical, but it signifies our new journey."
Nagbukas sila ng bike shop at Filipino cafe sa isang espasyo.
"Our menu consists of recipes we've perfected through the years - like bagnet and tapsilog."
Mayroon ding kare-kare, sisig, bulalo at palabok sa kapehan.
"We're planning to expand both our menu and space soon," aniya.
The Enelssie Cycling Team Source: Anthony Herrera
Bagnet Source: Anthony Herrera
Sisig Source: Anthony Herrera
"It's fulfilling to look back to how it was and now to how it is. It wasn't easy getting to this point, but we had faith. We trusted the path we were being led."
BASAHIN / PAKINGGAN DIN
