BO SANCHEZ

Sometimes, it takes a single story to change
your life forever.
ISBN 978-971-93671-7-8
www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
BO SANCHEZ
“Bo Sanchez has gathered a remarkable group of people whose indomitable
hope in the Lord bears testimony to His power working in their lives.
The stories in this book will enflame your hearts with passion for God....
which reminds me of the heart of all passion: ‘You must love Yahweh
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength’
(Deuteronomy 6:5).”
– Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
Archbishop of Cebu, Philippines
What you hold in your hand is not just a regular book.
It is a 40-Day Retreat that will radically change the way you think,
feel and live. Because in the next 40 days, there will be 40 friends who
will share their stories, their secrets, their trials, their dreams, and their
joys to you. You will hear their laughter. You will feel their tears.
Best-selling Author Bo Sanchez invites you to a personal 40-Day
Retreat, to enter into their worlds, be inspired by their powerful stories,
and thus, gain massive inspiration to create your own beautiful story.
Enjoy and be refreshed deep in your soul.
40 Stories of Passion
Get Ready for Your Inspiring
40-Day Retreat
40
Stories
Warning:
If You Read
One
P 125
Story a Day for
the Next 40 Days—
Your Life May
Change Forever!
of Passion
B
Learn from 40 Ordinary People How to Make
Your Life Extraordinarily Beautiful
RICARDO CARDINAL VIDAL • MIKE VELARDE • SOCORRO RAMOS
TONY MELOTO • SR. PILAR VERZOSA • DYLAN WILK
GENE SANCHEZ • ALVIN BARCELONA • FR. JOSEPH SKELTON
ADRIAN PANGANIBAN • OBET CABRILLAS • JON ESCOTO
PIO ESPAñOL • JOHN KEATING • ARUN GOGNA
AND MANY MORE…
BO SANCHEZ
#1 National Bestselling Author of How To Be Really, Really, Really Happy
and You Can Make Your Life Beautiful
40 Stories of Passion
Learn to live a fantastic life. Log on to www.bosanchez.ph
40 Stories of Passion
B
Learn from 40 Ordinary People
How to Make Your Life
Extraordinarily Beautiful
BO SANCHEZ
#1 National Bestselling Author of How To Be Really, Really, Really
Happy and You Can Make Your Life Beautiful
40 Stories of Passion
Learn from
from 40
40 Ordinary
OrdinaryPeople
PeopleHow to Make
Your
Extraordinarily
Beautiful Beautiful
How Life
to Make
Life Extraordinarily
ISBN- ISBN 978-971-93671-8
Bo Sanchez
#1 National Bestselling Author of
Your Past Does Not Define Your Future
Philippine Copyright © 2008 by Eugenio R. Sanchez, Jr.
Requests for information should be addressed to:
SHEPHERD’S VOICE Publications, inc.
#60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109
P.O. Box 1331 Quezon City Central Post Office
1153 Quezon City
Tel. No. (+632) 411-7874 to 77; Fax. No. (632) 726-9918
e-mail: [email protected]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
except for brief quotations, without the prior permission of the
publisher.
Layout and design by Rey de Guzman
Portraits by Christian Halili
Jason de Guzman
Carlo Cecilio
Ed Santiago
Marco Victoria
40 Stories of Passion
Table of Contents
An Introduction: Without Passion, Nothing Happens
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Gerald Raymundo
“ I Will Never Give Up”
Glenn Ignacio
Woman of Faith
Rolly Aberion
Is He Richer or Poorer?
Socorro Ramos
How to Succeed in Business and in Life
Hermie Morelos
A Rock Amidst Storms
Ditas Español
“Cancer Told Me What to Do with My Life”
Sr. Marta del Sagrario
The Story of a Rich Young Girl Who Escaped
from Her Family to Become Sr. Marta Sagrario
Nieves Verneza
Slow Sure Steps to Prosperity
Pia Sacro
City Hall’s Angel
Gene Sanchez
Be Boring as the Morning Sun
Tony Meloto
“We Don’t Want Charity”
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
He Lets You See Jesus
Fr. Steve Tynan
Charismatic Cowboy
Jon Escoto
A Big Heart and a Gentle Soul
Adrian Panganiban
So Why Does He Act Like a Servant?
1
5
11
19
25
33
39
45
51
57
61
65
71
75
79
83
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Day 31
JOHN KEATING
Do What God Tells You to Do
Fr. Joseph Skelton
One of the Best Worship Leaders in the World
Rose Cabrera
Giving Up the American Dream
Mike Velarde
The Reluctant Preacher Who Began a Megachurch
Alvin Barcelona
The Long-Haired Preacher
Conrad Lagustan
“Was I Cursed Because My Father Was a
Catholic Priest?”
Tommy and Epay Lara
Filipino Missionaries in a Materialistic World
Ricky Cuenca
The Man Who Loves Danger
Pio Español
Family Life Preacher
Obet Cabrillas
From Boxer to Preacher
RTC Judges Jimmy and Beth Guray
Why Two Judges Are Serving God and the Poor
Every Week — and Are Happy!
Sr. Pilar Verzosa She Will Fight for You
Mike Joseph, JR.
He Discipled Me
Eng Si
The Happy Face of God
Jeff Abiera
“Each Night, I Couldn’t Sleep. I Was Afraid
God Would Throw Me to Hell…”
Arun Gogna
Theology Professor and Dynamic Preacher
89
93
97
103
111
117
123
129
135
139
143
149
155
159
163
169
40 Stories of Passion
Day 32
Day 33
Day 34
Day 35
Day 36 Day 37
Day 38
Day 39
Day 40
FR. JOHN SHERLOCK
One of the Best Confessors I’ve Ever Had
Aida Manongdo
Prophetess of God
Ric Lazatin God’s Humble Man in the Corporate Jungle
ARIS RASING
Do You Want a Massage?
LIZA CALEDA
Hug Your Kids More
OMY ROMERO
The Encourager
BING YEE
Ate ng Bayan
DYLAN WILK
I Love Filipinos
Desiree Terre
“My Husband Had Affairs — and God
Was My Private Detective!”
173
177
181
187
191
195
199
205
211
Epilogue: You’re More Beautiful Than You Can Ever Imagine 216
About the Author
221
Other Books By Bo Sanchez
THE BOSS Series
How to Be Really, Really, Really Happy (First Collection)
You Can Make Your Life Beautiful (Second Collection)
You Have the Power to Create Love (Third Collection)
Fill Your Life with Miracles (Fourth Collection)
SIMPLIFY Series
Simplify and Live the Good Life
Simplify and Create Abundance
PRAYERBOOKS
Embraced
The Way of the Cross
Special Prayers for the Holy Rosary
Your Past Does Not Define Your Future
How to Find Your One True Love
How to Find Your One True Love Book 2
8 Secrets of the Truly Rich
7 Secrets to Real Freedom
40 Stories of Passion
An Introduction:
Without Passion, Nothing
Happens
You can’t accomplish much without passion.
I sometimes meet people who have no passion in life, and I pity
them.
Millions of people live lives of quiet desperation. Without
meaning. Without dreams. Without fire in their belly. They work,
they eat, they watch TV, they read the paper, and that’s pretty much
what life is for them.
But when I meet someone with passion, I sense it.
Their eyes shine.
They burn! You could almost feel the heat from their soul.
And because of this passion, they sometimes do the work of ten
people.
Or they go about, year after year after year, doing the same
thing, never growing tired.
The Kingdom flourishes. God is worshipped. And the world
is blessed.
They are ordinary people, just like you and me.
And they go through trials, just like you and me do.
In the next few pages, let me introduce you to 40 ordinary
people who’ve been burning with God’s extraordinary fire.
They are beautiful people.
Imperfect. Flawed. Smudged. Cracked. Ordinary.
But beautiful nonetheless.
I have a suggestion to make. (Take it or leave it. It’s up to you.)
Why not read one story a day for the next 40 days?
Take a personal 40-day retreat. Right in your own home or
office.
Make these 40 stories of passion your very own 40 days of
passion.
Spend time with God and ask Him to set you afire!
When God sets you aflame, believe me, your life will never be
the same again.
Let me end this introduction with one personal conviction I
have about the various people we meet each day…
We walk amidst great saints in disguise.
I believe you are one of them. (Hi, saint!)
All that you need for greatness is buried deep within your soul.
Bring it out!
Manifest who you really are.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
P.S. After each interview, I placed a verse and a tiny prayer for each
day. Spend time with God and let Him do what He does best.
P.S.2. I want to give you two of my inspiring Ebooks that will help
you grow in your personal life — for FREE! Log on to www.
bosanchez.ph. When you do, you also get each week The Bo
Sanchez Soulfood Letter in your inbox — to inspire you to succeed
in life.
40 Stories of Passion
B
40 Stories of Passion
B
GERALD
RAYMUNDO
Gerald Raymundo Lost Everything: His
Ability to Walk, His Job, His Money. And
After a Few Months, His Wife Left Him
— But His Battle Cry Remained…
“I Will Never Give Up!”
Day 1
Gerald Raymundo
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
– Romans 8:28
T
he big guy is in a wheelchair.
Holding a hot water bottle on his tummy.
“This one is for pain,” he says. “Normal for spinal cord
injuries.”
I look at this entire scene and something’s wrong with the
picture.
What’s amiss?
And then it hit me: The guy is smiling.
Why is this guy smiling?
How dare he smile?
Gerald Raymundo is a cousin of my wife, Marowe, who had
already briefed me about his life story. It wasn’t pretty.
But there he was, smiling at me. Not just with his lips, mind you.
But with his eyes — which the Bible says are the windows to a man’s
soul.
I know he’s happy inside.
Friends, what you’re about to read is my interview with a man
who has suffered one of the most catastrophic series of events anyone
on earth can ever experience.
Gerald wasn’t bludgeoned by one storm. As though life was a
merciless maniac gone berserk, he was hammered by a succession of
heart-breaking blows — wham, wham, wham! It didn’t stop until he
had nothing left but his faith in God.
Yet through it all, he rises and creates a happy, successful life.
I know you’ll be inspired by his fascinating story.
Bo: First question. How many pounds are you, bro? (Laughs.)
Gerald: Before my accident, I was over three hundred pounds.
Bo: Wow.
40 Stories of Passion
Gerald: Bo, many say pang-pelikula yung buhay ko. (Laughs, adjusting
the water bottle on his tummy.) This one is for pain. Normal for
spinal cord injuries.
Bo: It’s difficult.
Gerald: I take antibiotics every day of my life. If I don’t take antibiotics
for three days, I have a fever already. I always have infections. Some
people think, “You’re suffering so much.” For me, it’s no big deal. I’m
used to it.
Bo: What caused the spinal cord injury?
Gerald: I was playing golf when I slipped.
Bo: A freak accident? It just happened?
Gerald: Yes. I slipped and that was it.
I had to go through surgery. After the surgery, I could no longer
walk. I lost all feeling from my waist down.
And I lost all my dignity — as each day, I had to excrete in bed.
Do you know what’s that like? Every single day, someone has to bathe
me, wash me, dress me.
Bo: I can’t imagine.
Gerald: And obviously, I lost all my money.
A few months after, my wife left me for another man.
Bo: Oh no…
Gerald: Bo, I lost my mobility, I lost my job, I lost my money, and I
lost my wife to another man. And I lost my children, too, since she
took them with her.
I had nothing left.
Bo: Terrible, man.
Gerald: I’ve met people who get hit by one tragedy. And it destroys
them. I was hit by a series of tragedies at the same time. But you
know what, Bo? Lying down in the hospital, I made a decision to be
happy. Kakayanin ko ‘to (I will bear this).
Gerald Raymundo
Bo: How could you say that?
Gerald: My faith in God. I held on to Him because I had nothing
left.
Bo: Wow.
Gerald: And my mother and family were there. And my friends. They
never abandoned me.
Bo: Beautiful. And you now run a successful business…
Gerald: Yes. I didn’t have to start a business.
I could have told my mother, “Look, you have to support me for
the rest of my life. I can’t walk. I’m in constant pain. My wife left me.
You have no choice but to support me.” But I didn’t do that. I wanted
to stand on my own. And I did.
I lost my mobility, I lost my job, I lost
my money, and I lost my wife to another
man. And I lost my children, too, since
she took them with her. I had nothing
left.
Bo: Tell me about your business.
Gerald: I started a business making trophies. I started with one
worker — my artist. After 12 months, we now have 20 workers in
our factory and we create the most unique trophies for our customers.
They’re not generic trophies. We design them for each client and at
a competitive price.
Business is doing very, very well. Our clients are Globe,
Southwoods, Camp John Hay, Baguio Country Club and many
more.
40 Stories of Passion
Bo: That’s amazing. You refuse to give up no matter what. You’re
simply inspiring.
Gerald: All glory to Him, brother. All glory to Him.
B
Reflection:
In all your trials, there is a hidden purpose, a hidden blessing. Even if
you can’t see it yet, trust that it’s there, and thank Him in advance.
Lord, give me the inner strength to persevere,
To hold on, to never let go!
Give me the courage to always love no matter what happens,
In Jesus name, Amen!
10
40 Stories of Passion
B
GLENN
IGNACIO
Woman of Faith
Friends Stole from Her Business Jewels
Worth P20M — and They Weren’t Even
Hers! Yet She Kept Trusting in God…
Day 2
11
Glenn Ignacio
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
– Philippians 4:13
G
lenn is a beautiful woman with an amazing
trust in God. When it comes to faith in the midst
of problems, she puts many of us to shame. Because
at one time in her life, she was heavily in debt —
to the tune of P20 million. But do you know that despite this
huge obligation, Glenn would still give her tithes to the Lord?
Amazing? Read on…
Bo: I remember that day, several years ago, when you approached
me after a Kerygma Feast (our large prayer meeting) and
requested me to pray over you. You told me your problem and I
was shocked…
Glenn: Back in 1996, some people swindled me. They ran away
with jewels that I was selling — jewels that were from my suppliers,
not my own. In fact, four of these people who stole from me were
my agents in the jewelry business. So there I was, stuck with a
debt I didn’t create. My suppliers, people who trusted me, were
now hounding me, asking me to pay up…
Bo: I’m not sure I even want to ask this question but exactly how
much money did you lose?
Glenn: I lost about P20 million, including the interest.
Bo: Twenty million! That many zeroes are mind-boggling to me.
Were you still able to sleep?
Glenn: I’ve had my share of sleepless nights, Bro. Bo. Just to hear
the phone or doorbell ring was enough to keep me up. I was
caught in an endless cycle of thinking over and over again how
I’ve failed many people and lost their trust. But my pride stood in
the way. Even though I had hit rock bottom, I still maintained a
façade to project that all’s well, that I had the capacity to pay my
debts. There were days I did make good in my debt payments but
I agonized at how I would pay other debts due in the coming days.
12
40 Stories of Passion
What if no one ever trusted me again? What about my creditors
who also needed their money back?
Bo: That must have been terrible.
Glenn: Then I attended a Marriage Encounter weekend on March
20, 1998. I told myself that after that weekend, I had to prepare
myself. Everything that can go wrong was bound to happen.
True enough, after that weekend, all the check payments I issued
bounced because I could not borrow money to put into my
checking account. I no longer sold jewelry. All I did was borrow
money to pay off another debt. I was caught in a vicious cycle.
I turned to the Lord in prayer and said,
“Lord, from this day on, I surrender all
my problems to you. I will even let go of
my stubborn pride.”
Bo: Oh no. I guess that didn’t help solve your problems.
Glenn: Well, that was the only solution I had. I did what I had to
do because I didn’t want my creditors and financiers to get mad
at me. After the Marriage Encounter weekend, with my checks
bouncing all over the place, I was at a loss as to what explanation
I’d give to those I owed money to. I turned to the Lord in prayer
and said, “Lord, from this day on, I surrender all my problems to
you. I will even let go of my stubborn pride.”
Bo: Wow.
Glenn: Bro. Bo, I lost everyone and everything — my friends and
my suppliers who used to support and trust me. I didn’t blame
them because it was hard-earned money that they loaned to me
and I lost it all. I only blamed myself. I made the mistake of
trusting people who didn’t deserve my trust.
13
Glenn Ignacio
But I’m no longer angry with those who swindled me. I now
pray that someday, these people will be able to take responsibility
for what they’ve done and pay what is due to me. To this day, I’m
still paying my suppliers, so I do need to collect what they owe.
And there’s this one supplier, to whom I’m also indebted who
never pressured me into paying him. After I’m done with my
other payments, I’ll make sure I return this supplier’s generosity
and understanding. I really believe that by God’s grace I’ll be able
to pay my creditors up to the last centavo because He will enable
me.
Bo: These people who swindled you — they were your friends?
Glenn: They were my agents for many years. By the way, the one
who swindled the biggest amount from me, around P12 million,
is one person whom we considered as part of our family. That’s
why I trusted her very much. Otherwise, I wouldn’t really trust
just anybody with that amount of money.
Bo: If given the chance, what would you wish to say to your
suppliers?
Glenn: To all my financiers, I continue to ask for forgiveness.
I know a number of them are mad at me or even hate me. It’s
difficult to live this way — indebted to many people. I hesitate
to buy anything for myself because I fear that my debtors might
think I have the gall to shop but can’t pay my debts.
Bo: I understand.
Glenn: In fact, the jewels I’m wearing are items I sell. It’s not
mine. I thank the Lord for financiers and suppliers who continue
to help me. Today, I no longer borrow money to pay other debts.
I borrow money to finance my business, the profit of which I will
use to pay my debtors.
Bo: Very good. Those who swindled you, Glenn — do you know
where they are?
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40 Stories of Passion
Glenn: Yes, they’re into hiding, except for that person who owes
me P12 million. We filed a case that is now pending with the
Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals also ruled in our favor,
dismissing the appeal of the other party.
Bo: I know you were deeply, incredibly hurt, angry even. How did
you overcome that? How are you overcoming it?
I’m no longer angry with those who
swindled me. I now pray that someday,
these people will be able to take
responsibility for what they’ve done
and pay what is due to me.
Glenn: Well, Bro. Bo, my complete trust in God helps me to go
on, to heal. When I was down and out, He was the only one I
could run to for assurance and comfort. When my other friends
see me, they tell me, “Glenn, why is it you look like you don’t
have any problems?”
Bo: I agree.
Glenn: I don’t know why, Bo. But I’ve proven that no matter how
serious your problem is, for as long as you believe that God is
with you, you’ll never lack anything. There’s nothing else you’ll
need. It’s true I still have debts to pay. But when I came to know
the Lord in a personal way, I was able to accept all that happened
to me by His grace. Even the most hurtful accusations thrown at
me — my other debtors told me I was a swindler, too — I also
accepted. I can survive losing everything for as long as the Lord
is with me.
15
Glenn Ignacio
I also learned that God gives us an abundance of grace, so
much so I was able to forgive those who hurt me. When before I
was angered by the mere sight of these people, especially the times
when our possessions were taken away — I even used my kid’s
encyclopedia and computer as payment. Now I even pray that
their families be healed and become whole again.
Every morning, tell the Lord, “Lord,
take charge of my life. Everything that
happens today is according to Your will.
Please take care of me.”
Bo: Wow, that’s amazing. I’ve been telling you before, you look
beautiful, younger, despite your problem; you continue to pay
whatever you can and you look at peace, there’s peace in your heart.
Where does it come from?
Glenn: Everything I have comes from the Lord. I heard Bro. Mike
Velarde say that he is handsome because the Lord is with him. That’s
true — even if others don’t think you’re beautiful, in the eyes of the
Lord you are — because He sees the purity of your heart.
Bo: And anything else you’d like to say? Any other message you
wish to impart to our readers?
Glenn: No matter how seemingly hopeless your situation is, never
lose hope. Entrust everything to God. Every morning, tell the
Lord, “Lord, take charge of my life. Everything that happens
today is according to Your will. Please take care of me.”
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40 Stories of Passion
Bo: Thank you, Glenn, for sharing the powerful way the Lord is
working in your life. God bless you!
B
Reflection:
What are your worries right now? Give them to God. Worry doesn’t
do anything except give you stress and sickness. Decide to leave all
things in His big hands.
Lord, I surrender to you all my tomorrows,
My future is in Your hands!
Though many things are uncertain,
I am certain of one thing: That You love me and I want to be be with
You forever!
17
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40 Stories of Passion
B
ROLLY
ABERION
The Story of the President Who Became a
Lowly Clerk — and Stayed Happy!
Is He Richer or Poorer?
Day 3
19
Rolly Aberion
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
– Matthew 16:26
ears ago, I knew Rolly Aberion as a big-time vice
president of a giant bank.
How big? He headed a thousand people in his
department.
A thousand! That number boggles my mind.
But one day, I received an email from him, telling me that he had
migrated to the US with his family.
So in my next preaching trip, I visited him in Florida.
When I saw him at the airport waiting for me, he seemed 10
years younger!
Driving me to his home, he told me his story.
When he migrated to the US, he started looking for a job.
Every company he inquired was looking for “local experience.”
Because he had zero experience in the US, they told him he had to
start at the bottom.
At the very bottom.
Not wanting to be a bum, he accepted the job.
So the former vice president of a giant bank became a lowly
clerk.
Along the way however, Rolly noticed something. He was stressfree!
After leaving his office at 3:30 p.m., he now had the time to
fly kites and ride bikes with his two youngest daughters, Holly and
Anna.
And he now could take long vacations with his beautiful wife,
Ady.
The US proved to be a greener pasture — but in a totally different
way.
I stayed in his home for two days, and felt so much love circulating
in his family, it was unbelievable.
I interviewed Rolly during breakfast, after his morning jog…
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40 Stories of Passion
Bo: Why did you decide to migrate to the US?
Rolly: Let me give you a little background. We’ve always had a
deep relationship with God. For many years, my wife and I have
been faithful members of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Brotherhood of
Christian Businessmen and Professionals. I was praying the Prayer of
Jabez every day, asking God to expand our territories when, suddenly,
our immigration applications were granted. After 18 years of waiting!
So we prayed and felt this was what God wanted us to do.
Bo: But didn’t you have a great job in the Philippines?
Rolly: I did. I was paid well, I lived in a plush village in White Plains, I
was driving a BMW. But there was something in me that was looking
for something else. And I felt God was telling me to go.
I was praying the Prayer of Jabez every
day, asking God to expand our territories
when, suddenly, our immigration
applications were granted. After 18 years
of waiting! So we prayed and felt this was
what God wanted us to do.
Bo: People go to the US to get wealthy. But others will say that you
went to the US to get poorer.
Rolly: I’m richer in the most important things in life. For example,
my wife and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Because
I didn’t have money, I asked our new community here, Couples for
Christ, if we could have a potluck reception—just like your wedding,
Bo! And so they brought all the food — and we had a beautiful
party.
21
Rolly Aberion
Bo: From vice president heading a thousand people — to a lowly
clerk. It’s insane.
Rolly: Let me tell you why it’s all worth it. One day, after flying kites
and riding bikes with my youngest daughter, Holly, she told me,
“Daddy, when we were in the Philippines, hindi kita kilala. Alam
ko na tatay kita, pero hindi kita kilala. Pero ngayon, kilala na kita…”
(I didn’t know you; I knew you were my father but I didn’t know
you. But now, I already know you…) My older daughter Lil, Cathy,
and Ish felt envious that I can now spend so much time with their
younger sisters. I wish I could turn the hands of time…
It’s confusing sometimes. We are poor and
yet we live like kings. I earn a minimum
wage yet God supplies for everything I
need. So I tell them, “We’re very rich
because our Father is rich!”
Bo: Was it difficult to adjust to your new job?
Rolly: It was. In my first job here in the US, I had a boss who was a
high school graduate and had an attitude problem. One day, I asked
him a question and he exploded. He ridiculed me, asking, “Don’t you
know what to do?” I wanted to tell him off and say, “Don’t you know
that just a few months ago, I held the position of the boss of the boss
of the boss of your boss?” Of course, I didn’t say it. Thankfully, God
gave me a new job in another bank — and my boss now is so kind
and understanding.
Bo: How are your daughters doing here in the US?
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40 Stories of Passion
Rolly: My daughters were getting average grades in the Philippines.
Here, their report cards are straight As! My children say that our
education back home is 100% tougher. That’s why my daughter Ish
says, “Here, we feel so special. So that means every Filipino is special.”
My daughters are getting scholarships! God knows I can’t afford to
send them to private colleges here, so He’s giving me G.R.A.C.E:
Given Riches at Christ’s Expense.
Bo: So are you richer or are you poorer?
Rolly: My daughters ask me the same thing. “Daddy,” they say, “are
we rich or are we poor? We’re confused.” It’s confusing sometimes.
We are poor and yet we live like kings. I earn a minimum wage yet
God supplies for everything I need. So I tell them, “We’re very rich
because our Father is rich!”
Bo: Well said. Thanks for making me part of your family.
Rolly: You’ll always have a home here in Florida.
B
Reflection:
Are you loving your family? Are you spending enough time with
them? Make a conscious effort to be Jesus to them every day. Make
changes in your schedule to make this happen.
Lord, I ask you to guide me to make the right choices in my life,
Especially in how I can love my family.
Lead the way as I follow You and You alone!
I know You will never leave me no matter what happens.
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40 Stories of Passion
B
SOCORRO
RAMOS
OWNER OF
National Bookstore:
How to Succeed in Business
and in Life
Day 4
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Socorro Ramos
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads
certainly to poverty.
– Proverbs 21:5
A
bookstore is one of my favorite haunts. I love to read
books and my romance with the written word encouraged
and molded me to become a writer.
That’s why I excitedly prepared to meet up and chat
with an extraordinary woman who pioneered the most successful
bookstore chain in the country.
Folks, get ready to be inspired by the life of Socorro “Nanay
Coring” Ramos, the woman who started it all for National
Bookstore.
Bo: Nanay, I’m thrilled to have this chat with you today. You’re so full
of energy that I myself feel energized. You’re 84 years old yet I feel
you look and move like a 50-year-old. And I can’t believe that you
still go to work every day!
Nanay Coring: Well, I need to do that to make sure there’s food on
the table.
Bo: From Monday to Friday, right, Nanay? Because there’s no office
on Saturday, you take time to visit the different branches. And there
are over 80 branches nationwide.
Nanay Coring: Yes, and on Saturday, I visit the 83 branches of
National Bookstore, soon to become 85 in a few months’ time. The
branches in Manila are the ones I visit regularly. But those in the
provinces like Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cebu and Iloilo I only get to
visit once in a while.
Bo: How did you start National Bookstore?
Nanay Coring: I put up the very first bookstore in 1942 during World
War II. All publications were censored by the Hodobu (the Japanese
information and propaganda department) during the Japanese
occupation. Before you could put the books for display and on sale,
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40 Stories of Passion
you have to bring these first to the Hodobu to be reviewed. It was
difficult then because any material about democracy or the United
States were disapproved. I experienced bringing a very thick book for
the Hodobu’s approval that was cut up to half its thickness when it was
returned to me — disapproved. I said to myself, “This censorship will
cause me to lose in this business.” So we no longer sold the books but
instead began selling notebooks, ball pens, writing paper and candies.
Then the Japanese soldiers began looking for slippers.
“This censorship will cause me to lose
in this business.” So we no longer sold
the books but instead began selling
notebooks, ball pens, writing paper and
candies.
Bo: You sold slippers in a bookstore?
Nanay Coring: Why, yes. First, I ordered only six pairs from Divisoria
then before I knew it, they were all sold within the day. So I ordered
more slippers, up to a thousand pairs. I figured the soldiers must
have gotten tired of wearing shoes the entire day and just wanted
comfortable slippers to wear at night.
Bo: Other people would have simply given up. But you were
determined to find a way to keep the business going.
Nanay Coring: I have a very simple business principle — you sell
what the people need. For example, I had a suki at the Japanese bazaar
who needed bond paper. So I asked, “How many do you need?”
I was told, “Three thousand reams.” I didn’t have three thousand
reams! But I found the paper, sent my karitela back and forth until I
completed delivery to my client.
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Socorro Ramos
Bo: So how did your clients pay you?
Nanay Coring: They paid me with Japanese money.
Bo: But isn’t that like “Mickey Mouse” money?
Nanay Coring: Yes. When I heard through the shortwave radio that
the Americans were coming back, I knew I had to do something
with my heaps of Japanese money. One day, a Japanese asked me if
I wanted to buy his whisky. I went to the warehouse where boxes of
whisky were stacked from floor to ceiling. I haggled and told him,
“This is the only money I have for the whisky.” He agreed to sell the
whisky to me. When the American soldiers came, I displayed the
whisky on the sidewalk and they bought it with their dollars!
Bo: So what happened during liberation time?
Nanay Coring: When the Americans arrived, I placed a Ping-Pong
table in the sidewalk where I displayed the whisky. This was our first
branch in Avenida corner Soler Street. Now I was paid in American
dollars!
Bo: What did the store look like then? How big was it?
Nanay Coring: It was just a barong-barong (shanty) where the roof
was literally nailed onto the walls. But then came Typhoon Jing and
the strong winds blew away our roof! All our stocks got wet and were
totally destroyed. We lost everything.
Bo: What did you do?
Nanay Coring: I just went on to rebuild the business.
Bo: From scratch?
Nanay Coring: Yes. I started from zero again. I had no choice because
this was the only livelihood I knew. My goal was survival — to feed
my family and send my children to school.
Bo: I admire your never-say-die attitude, Nanay. By the way, you
mentioned to me before that you were only sleeping three hours a day.
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40 Stories of Passion
Nanay Coring: Not only at the start but even the latter part. That’s
because there were so many things to do. But if you are really
determined to prove you can do it, you just do what you have to
do.
Bo: And God blessed you with good health.
Nanay Coring: He is my source of strength. As you can see, at 84, I’m
in the pink of health. I can eat whatever I want with no restrictions
whatsoever.
It was just a barong-barong (shanty)
where the roof was literally nailed onto
the walls. But then came Typhoon Jing
and the strong winds blew away our roof!
All our stocks got wet and were totally
destroyed. We lost everything.
Bo: Could you also share how you were able to balance business and
family life?
Nanay Coring: My twin boys studied in Ateneo. That school is very
strict when it comes to academics so I needed to supervise my children
as they did their homework. When they arrived from school, I would
give them merienda then help them with assignments. Come exam
time, I would prepare test questions for them to answer and required
them to memorize lessons. I would even take my kids to basketball
games and cheer for their school team.
Bo: That’s amazing. Your life is a testimony that it can be done — to
be a successful businessperson and a loving parent at the same time!
How does God fit in all this?
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Socorro Ramos
Nanay Coring: My faith in the Lord has never wavered. And you
know, I always carry this cross around with me (pulls out a crucifix
from her blouse). I’m not afraid because God is with me.
Bo: You continue to amaze me, Nanay. It’s such a joy to know
someone like you. And your story sends a message to Filipinos out
there that if you put your heart into it, you can succeed. And you
won the Entrepreneur Award of the year given by…
Nanay Coring: Ernst and Young.
My faith in the Lord has never wavered.
And you know, I always carry this cross
around with me (pulls out a crucifix from
her blouse). I’m not afraid because God is
with me.
Bo: Congratulations!
Nanay Coring: Thank you.
Bo: And some people think that to have success in business you
need a degree from Harvard or Wharton. Where did you finish your
studies by the way?
Nanay Coring: I finished high school in Arellano and my grade
school in Soler Elementary School, a public school. When you want
to earn, if you have the passion and love for what you do, hard work
is no longer a sacrifice. It will become a joy. What’s important is you
love what you’re doing.
B
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40 Stories of Passion
Reflection:
Are you moving toward goals and dreams in life? What is stopping
you? Find if you have a passion for what you’re doing now. Never
give up until you achieve your dreams.
Lord, I know You want me to succeed in life.
Here I am, Lord, I now receive Your plan of abundance for my life.
Thank You for the passions and core gifts You have given to me.
Bless now, Lord, the work of my hands!
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