In Manila, the bustling, crowded capital of the Philippines, one marginalized group dreams of a place to call its own.

They call themselves the Little People Association of the Philippines, and for years they’ve been working to form their own community, a place made to their size where they can live and work independently, free of the discrimination that makes everyday life difficult.

Perry [Berry] conceived the idea of a community for little people, which he refers to as Dwarf City, in the late 1980s. Since then, dozens of families have joined the effort to make it a reality. He imagines the community will be made of homes built to look like mushrooms and shoes and that tourism could provide an income for the residents there.

Three years ago, an investor offered them land on the outskirts of Manila, but the plan fell through. Now, Calderon said, Berry is in talks with local authorities to try to secure cheap land in Metro Manila.

Photographer Biel Calderon and journalist Eric San Juan via Slate.