At only 23, Dustin Yu is already running a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant in San Juan named Eraya which is rooted in his earliest experiences as a young entrepreneur. Long before stepping into showbiz and joining Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition Season 1, Dustin was already building something for himself and his family.
His journey, shared in a candid chat with PUSH Bets of PUSH ABS-CBN, traces how a simple chicken stall became the foundation of the businessman he is today.
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Dustin’s determination began long before the idea of a restaurant ever crossed his mind. In high school, he was already learning how to stand on his own feet and provide for his loved ones.
“Tumutulong ako sa family ko since high school. Hindi na sila nagbabayad ng tuition fee ko, college hindi na rin. I worked for it.”
He believed deeply in helping his family, guided by a simple value he held close: “I’m a family guy. So ayoko talagang nakikita yung family ko na nags-struggle. So ako naman, if kaya ko, why not? If kaya ko naman mag-provide and mag-share e family ko naman yan. Yun talaga yung naging motivation ko na lahat kami maka-experience ng happiness.”
Supporting his family meant finding ways to earn, and Dustin turned every skill and opportunity into a small business venture. In high school, Dustin recalled how he started a buy-and-sell business where he sold shoes and shirts to his classmates. He also took photos at events as a photographer in his cousin’s company. In college, even while juggling schoolwork, he continued this drive. “Tapos college, nagsales naman ako sa isang trucking company. ‘Yun yung part time [work] ko nung time na yun.”
The turning point came when he was developing his thesis, an idea that would unexpectedly shape his real future. “Nung thesis ko na nung college, sabi ko ‘bakit di ko na lang ‘to gawin? Gawin ko na lang siyang totoo?’ So ginawa ko talaga siyang chicken stall.”
What was meant to be a school requirement became the start of a hands-on lesson in running a real business. And with complete conviction, he took the risk fully. “Hindi ko na tinapos yung school, ginawa ko na lang talagang totoo yung chicken stall. ‘Yun yung plano kong gawin [as thesis] ginawa ko lang siyang totoo, physical.”
But even the bravest decisions often need a spark, and that came from someone close to him. Dustin remembered how one conversation pushed him toward a real entrepreneurial start. “David Licauco, he’s my best friend. Mentor ko rin siya sa business. Sabi niya, ‘why not mag-start ka ng small business mo?’ sabi ko ‘sige.’”
Taking that advice to heart, he began searching for small spaces and landed in a school canteen. “Nagbenta ako dun ng mga fried chicken, flavored fried chicken. Maraming mga variants. Hanggang sa naka-ipon. Nung time na ‘yun nags-showbiz din ako ng konti. Nakaka-ipon din.”
What began as a straightforward food stall soon became a stepping stone. As Dustin balanced small showbiz projects with the stall, he slowly realized he wanted more. “Medyo na-bore ako honestly. Sabi ko ‘is it time for me to expand, to have a restaurant na?’” The thought stayed with him until he followed the exact steps he took years before, starting again with scouting for locations, finding a partner, looking for a chef, gathering a team.
From a modest chicken stall, "Ang Chinito Boss-Sikap ng Quezon City" was determined to make his small beginnings into something extraordinary making him achieve his dream business, a full-fledged Southeast Asian fusion restaurant, Eraya.
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Behind this ambition was someone who shaped Dustin from the beginning. When asked who inspired him to enter business, he did not hesitate to answer. “Isa lang talaga pumapasok sa utak ko which is my dad.”
Their family once ran businesses that eventually closed, and the experience left a lasting impact on him. “Yun yung naging motivation ko para gumawa ng business na magsu-success. Kasi sila medyo pagod na rin sa business, medyo nags-struggle na rin sila.”
“Kasi yung dad ko, nakuha ko rin sa kaniya yung pagka-masipag, pagka-madiskarte, maabilidad. Sa kaniya ko yun [namana].”
Even the name of his restaurant reflects that spirit of hope. “Ang ibig sabihin niya ay ‘fortune’s favorite’ kasi sabi ko kay chef gusto ko yung pangalan na nagco-connect na kahit may struggles na dumating, may challenges na pumasok, ma-swerte pa rin tayo kasi may mga blessings.”
He also shared that some of his fellow Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition Season 1 alumni also extended their support by visiting his restaurant after they got outside of the PBB house.
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For Dustin, the real reward has always been fulfilling the promise he made to himself and his family. Today, Eraya stands not just as a business, but as a reminder of how far Dustin’s grit, purpose, and heart can take someone who starts with so little.
Catch the full inspiring PUSH Bets interview hosted by Gary Ann Lastrilla on PUSH YouTube Channel. New episodes premiere every Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN.com and the PUSH YouTube Channel, and every Sunday at 11:05 p.m. on Kapamilya Online Live.