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.
Bo Sanchez has gathered a remarkable group of people whose indomitable
hope in the Lord bears testimony to His power working in their lives.
Te stories in this book will ename 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


Get Ready for Your Inspiring
40-Day Retreat
www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
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B
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BO SANCHEZ
#1 National Bestselling Author of How To Be Really, Really, Really Happy
and You Can Make Your Life Beautiful
Learn from 40 Ordinary People How to Make
Your Life Extraordinarily Beautiful
Warning:
If You Read One
Story a Day for
the Next 40 Days
Your Life May
Change Forever!
Sometimes, it takes a single story to change
your life forever.
Sroiiis
oi Passiox
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 ESPAOL JOHN KEATING ARUN GOGNA
AND MANY MORE
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ISBN 978-971-93671-7-8
1
40 Stories of Passion
Learn to live a fantastic life. Log on to www.bosanchez.ph
2
3
40 Stories of Passion
BO SANCHEZ
B
Learn from 40 Ordinary People
How to Make Your Life
Extraordinarily Beautiful
#1 National Bestselling Author of How To Be Really, Really, Really
Happy and You Can Make Your Life Beautiful

4

40 STORIES OF PASSION
Learn from 40 Ordinary People
How to Make Life Extraordinarily Beautiful
ISBN- ISBN 978-971-93671-8
BO SANCHEZ
#1 National Bestselling Author of
Your Past Does Not Dene Your Future
Philippine Copyright 2008 by Eugenio R. Sanchez, Jr.
Requests for information should be addressed to:
SHEPHERDS VOICE PUBLICATIONS, INC.
#60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109
P.O. Box 1331 Quezon City Central Post Oce
1153 Quezon City
Tel. No. (+632) 411-7874 to 77; Fax. No. (632) 726-9918
e-mail: sale@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
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
Learn from 40 Ordinary People How to Make
Your Life Extraordinarily Beautiful
5
40 Stories of Passion
Table of Contents
An Introduction: Without Passion, Nothing Happens 1
Day 1 GERALD RAYMUNDO 5
I Will Never Give Up
Day 2 GLENN IGNACIO 11
Woman of Faith
Day 3 ROLLY ABERION 19
Is He Richer or Poorer?
Day 4 SOCORRO RAMOS 25
How to Succeed in Business and in Life
Day 5 HERMIE MORELOS 33
A Rock Amidst Storms
Day 6 DITAS ESPAOL 39
Cancer Told Me What to Do with My Life
Day 7 SR. MARTA DEL SAGRARIO 45
The Story of a Rich Young Girl Who Escaped
from Her Family to Become Sr. Marta Sagrario
Day 8 NIEVES VERNEZA 51
Slow Sure Steps to Prosperity
Day 9 PIA SACRO 57
City Halls Angel
Day 10 GENE SANCHEZ 61
Be Boring as the Morning Sun
Day 11 TONY MELOTO 65
We Dont Want Charity
Day 12 RICARDO CARDINAL VIDAL 71
He Lets You See Jesus
Day 13 FR. STEVE TYNAN 75
Charismatic Cowboy
Day 14 JON ESCOTO 79
A Big Heart and a Gentle Soul
Day 15 ADRIAN PANGANIBAN 83
So Why Does He Act Like a Servant?
6
Day 16 JOHN KEATING 89
Do What God Tells You to Do
Day 17 FR. JOSEPH SKELTON 93
One of the Best Worship Leaders in the World
Day 18 ROSE CABRERA 97
Giving Up the American Dream
Day 19 MIKE VELARDE 103
Te Reluctant Preacher Who Began a Megachurch
Day 20 ALVIN BARCELONA 111
Te Long-Haired Preacher
Day 21 CONRAD LAGUSTAN 117
Was I Cursed Because My Father Was a
Catholic Priest?
Day 22 TOMMY AND EPAY LARA 123
Filipino Missionaries in a Materialistic World
Day 23 RICKY CUENCA 129
Te Man Who Loves Danger
Day 24 PIO ESPAOL 135
Family Life Preacher
Day 25 OBET CABRILLAS 139
From Boxer to Preacher
Day 26 RTC JUDGES JIMMY AND BETH GURAY 143
Why Two Judges Are Serving God and the Poor
Every Week and Are Happy!
Day 27 SR. PILAR VERZOSA 149
She Will Fight for You
Day 28 MIKE JOSEPH, JR. 155
He Discipled Me
Day 29 ENG SI 159
Te Happy Face of God
Day 30 JEFF ABIERA 163
Each Night, I Couldnt Sleep. I Was Afraid
God Would Throw Me to Hell
Day 31 ARUN GOGNA 169
Theology Professor and Dynamic Preacher
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40 Stories of Passion
Day 32 FR. JOHN SHERLOCK 173
One of the Best Confessors Ive Ever Had
Day 33 AIDA MANONGDO 177
Prophetess of God
Day 34 RIC LAZATIN 181
Gods Humble Man in the Corporate Jungle
Day 35 ARIS RASING 187
Do You Want a Massage?
Day 36 LIZA CALEDA 191
Hug Your Kids More
Day 37 OMY ROMERO 195
Te Encourager
Day 38 BING YEE 199
Ate ng Bayan
Day 39 DYLAN WILK 205
I Love Filipinos
Day 40 DESIREE TERRE 211
My Husband Had Aairs and God
Was My Private Detective!
Epilogue: Youre More Beautiful Tan You Can Ever Imagine 216
About the Author 221
8
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 (Tird Collection)
Fill Your Life with Miracles (Fourth Collection)
SIMPLIFY Series
Simplify and Live the Good Life
Simplify and Create Abundance
PRAYERBOOKS
Embraced
Te Way of the Cross
Special Prayers for the Holy Rosary
Your Past Does Not Dene 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
1
40 Stories of Passion
An Introduction:
Without Passion, Nothing
Happens
You cant 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 re in their belly. Tey work,
they eat, they watch TV, they read the paper, and thats pretty much
what life is for them.
But when I meet someone with passion, I sense it.
Teir eyes shine.
Tey 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.
Te Kingdom ourishes. God is worshipped. And the world
is blessed.
Tey 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 whove been burning with Gods extraordinary re.
Tey are beautiful people.
Imperfect. Flawed. Smudged. Cracked. Ordinary.
But beautiful nonetheless.
I have a suggestion to make. (Take it or leave it. Its up to you.)
Why not read one story a day for the next 40 days?
2
Take a personal 40-day retreat. Right in your own home or
oce.
Make these 40 stories of passion your very own 40 days of
passion.
Spend time with God and ask Him to set you are!
When God sets you aame, 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 Te Bo
Sanchez Soulfood Letter in your inbox to inspire you to succeed
in life.
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40 Stories of Passion
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40 Stories of Passion
GERALD
RAYMUNDO
B
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
6
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
ui nic cu\ is ix a uiiicuaii.
Holding a hot water bottle on his tummy.
Tis one is for pain, he says. Normal for spinal cord
injuries.
I look at this entire scene and somethings wrong with the
picture.
Whats amiss?
And then it hit me: Te 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 wasnt 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 mans
soul.
I know hes happy inside.
Friends, what youre about to read is my interview with a man
who has suered one of the most catastrophic series of events anyone
on earth can ever experience.
Gerald wasnt 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 didnt 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 youll 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.
Gerald Raymundo
7
40 Stories of Passion
Gerald: Bo, many say pang-pelikula yung buhay ko. (Laughs, adjusting
the water bottle on his tummy.) Tis one is for pain. Normal for
spinal cord injuries.
Bo: Its dicult.
Gerald: I take antibiotics every day of my life. If I dont take antibiotics
for three days, I have a fever already. I always have infections. Some
people think, Youre suering so much. For me, its no big deal. Im
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 whats that like? Every single day, someone has to bathe
me, wash me, dress me.
Bo: I cant 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: Ive 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).
8
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. Tey
never abandoned me.
Bo: Beautiful. And you now run a successful business
Gerald: Yes. I didnt have to start a business.
I could have told my mother, Look, you have to support me for
the rest of my life. I cant walk. Im in constant pain. My wife left me.
You have no choice but to support me. But I didnt do that. I wanted
to stand on my own. And I did.
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.
Teyre 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.
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.
Gerald Raymundo
9
40 Stories of Passion
B
Bo: Tats amazing. You refuse to give up no matter what. Youre
simply inspiring.
Gerald: All glory to Him, brother. All glory to Him.
Reection:
In all your trials, there is a hidden purpose, a hidden blessing. Even if
you cant see it yet, trust that its 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!
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40 Stories of Passion
Day 2
B
GLENN
IGNACIO
WOMAN OF FAITH
Friends Stole from Her Business Jewels
Worth P20M and Tey Werent Even
Hers! Yet She Kept Trusting in God
12
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Philippians 4:13
G
iixx is a niauriiui oxax iru ax axazixc
riusr ix Goo. 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. Tey 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 didnt create. My suppliers, people who trusted me, were
now hounding me, asking me to pay up
Bo: Im 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! Tat many zeroes are mind-boggling to me.
Were you still able to sleep?
Glenn: Ive 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
Ive 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
faade to project that alls well, that I had the capacity to pay my
debts. Tere 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.
Glenn Ignacio
13
40 Stories of Passion
What if no one ever trusted me again? What about my creditors
who also needed their money back?
Bo: Tat must have been terrible.
Glenn: Ten 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 o another debt. I was caught in a vicious cycle.
Bo: Oh no. I guess that didnt help solve your problems.
Glenn: Well, that was the only solution I had. I did what I had to
do because I didnt want my creditors and nanciers 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
Id 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 didnt 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 didnt deserve my trust.
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.
14
But Im no longer angry with those who swindled me. I now
pray that someday, these people will be able to take responsibility
for what theyve done and pay what is due to me. To this day, Im
still paying my suppliers, so I do need to collect what they owe.
And theres this one supplier, to whom Im also indebted who
never pressured me into paying him. After Im done with my
other payments, Ill make sure I return this suppliers generosity
and understanding. I really believe that by Gods grace Ill be able
to pay my creditors up to the last centavo because He will enable
me.
Bo: Tese people who swindled you they were your friends?
Glenn: Tey 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. Tats
why I trusted her very much. Otherwise, I wouldnt 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 nanciers, I continue to ask for forgiveness.
I know a number of them are mad at me or even hate me. Its
dicult 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 cant pay my debts.
Bo: I understand.
Glenn: In fact, the jewels Im wearing are items I sell. Its not
mine. I thank the Lord for nanciers and suppliers who continue
to help me. Today, I no longer borrow money to pay other debts.
I borrow money to nance my business, the prot of which I will
use to pay my debtors.
Bo: Very good. Tose who swindled you, Glenn do you know
where they are?
Glenn Ignacio
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40 Stories of Passion
Glenn: Yes, theyre into hiding, except for that person who owes
me P12 million. We led a case that is now pending with the
Supreme Court. Te 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?
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 dont
have any problems?
Bo: I agree.
Glenn: I dont know why, Bo. But Ive proven that no matter how
serious your problem is, for as long as you believe that God is
with you, youll never lack anything. Teres nothing else youll
need. Its 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.
Im no longer angry with those who
swindled me. I now pray that someday,
these people will be able to take
responsibility for what theyve done
and pay what is due to me.
16
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 kids
encyclopedia and computer as payment. Now I even pray that
their families be healed and become whole again.
Bo: Wow, thats amazing. Ive been telling you before, you look
beautiful, younger, despite your problem; you continue to pay
whatever you can and you look at peace, theres 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. Tats
true even if others dont think youre beautiful, in the eyes of the
Lord you are because He sees the purity of your heart.
Bo: And anything else youd 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.
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.
Glenn Ignacio
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40 Stories of Passion
Bo: Tank you, Glenn, for sharing the powerful way the Lord is
working in your life. God bless you!
B
Reection:
What are your worries right now? Give them to God. Worry doesnt
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!
Tough many things are uncertain,
I am certain of one thing: Tat You love me and I want to be be with
You forever!
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40 Stories of Passion
Day 3
B
ROLLY
ABERION
Te Story of the President Who Became a
Lowly Clerk and Stayed Happy!
IS HE RICHER OR POORER?
20
What prot would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Matthew 16:26
iais aco, I xxi Roii\ Aniiiox as a nic-rixi vici
iiisioixr oi a ciaxr naxx.
How big? He headed a thousand people in his
department.
A thousand! Tat 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 stress-
free!
After leaving his oce at 3:30 p.m., he now had the time to
y kites and ride bikes with his two youngest daughters, Holly and
Anna.
And he now could take long vacations with his beautiful wife,
Ady.
Te US proved to be a greener pasture but in a totally dierent
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
Rolly Aberion
21
40 Stories of Passion
Bo: Why did you decide to migrate to the US?
Rolly: Let me give you a little background. Weve 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 didnt 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.
Bo: People go to the US to get wealthy. But others will say that you
went to the US to get poorer.
Rolly: Im richer in the most important things in life. For example,
my wife and I just celebrated our 25
th
wedding anniversary. Because
I didnt have money, I asked our new community here, Couples for
Christ, if we could have a potluck receptionjust like your wedding,
Bo! And so they brought all the food and we had a beautiful
party.
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.
22
Bo: From vice president heading a thousand people to a lowly
clerk. Its insane.
Rolly: Let me tell you why its all worth it. One day, after ying 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 didnt know you; I knew you were my father but I didnt 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
Bo: Was it dicult to adjust to your new job?
Rolly: It was. In my rst 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, Dont you
know what to do? I wanted to tell him o and say, Dont 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 didnt say it. Tankfully, 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?
Its 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, Were very rich
because our Father is rich!
Rolly Aberion
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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. Tats 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 cant aord to
send them to private colleges here, so Hes giving me G.R.A.C.E:
Given Riches at Christs 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? Were confused. Its 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, Were very rich
because our Father is rich!
Bo: Well said. Tanks for making me part of your family.
Rolly: Youll always have a home here in Florida.
B
Reection:
Are you loving your family? Are you spending enough time with
them? Make a conscious eort 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
Day 4
B
SOCORRO
RAMOS
OWNER OF
NATIONAL BOOKSTORE:
How to Succeed in Business
and in Life
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Te plans of the diligent are sure of prot, but all rash haste leads
certainly to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5
A
nooxsroii is oxi oi x\ iavoiiri uauxrs. I love to read
books and my romance with the written word encouraged
and molded me to become a writer.
Tats 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, Im thrilled to have this chat with you today. Youre so full
of energy that I myself feel energized. Youre 84 years old yet I feel
you look and move like a 50-year-old. And I cant believe that you
still go to work every day!
Nanay Coring: Well, I need to do that to make sure theres food on
the table.
Bo: From Monday to Friday, right, Nanay? Because theres no oce
on Saturday, you take time to visit the dierent 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. Te
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 rst 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,
Socorro Ramos
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40 Stories of Passion
you have to bring these rst to the Hodobu to be reviewed. It was
dicult then because any material about democracy or the United
States were disapproved. I experienced bringing a very thick book for
the Hodobus approval that was cut up to half its thickness when it was
returned to me disapproved. I said to myself, Tis 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.
Ten the Japanese soldiers began looking for slippers.
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 gured 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 nd 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, Tree thousand reams. I didnt have three thousand
reams! But I found the paper, sent my karitela back and forth until I
completed delivery to my client.
Tis 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.
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Bo: So how did your clients pay you?
Nanay Coring: Tey paid me with Japanese money.
Bo: But isnt 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 oor to ceiling. I haggled and told him,
Tis 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. Tis was our rst
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.
Socorro Ramos
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40 Stories of Passion
Nanay Coring: Not only at the start but even the latter part. Tats
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, Im
in the pink of health. I can eat whatever I want with no restrictions
whatsoever.
Bo: Could you also share how you were able to balance business and
family life?
Nanay Coring: My twin boys studied in Ateneo. Tat 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: Tats 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 t in all this?
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.
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Nanay Coring: My faith in the Lord has never wavered. And you
know, I always carry this cross around with me (pulls out a crucix
from her blouse). Im not afraid because God is with me.
Bo: You continue to amaze me, Nanay. Its 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.
Bo: Congratulations!
Nanay Coring: Tank you.
Bo: And some people think that to have success in business you
need a degree from Harvard or Wharton. Where did you nish your
studies by the way?
Nanay Coring: I nished 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 sacrice. It will become a joy. Whats important is you
love what youre doing.
My faith in the Lord has never wavered.
And you know, I always carry this cross
around with me (pulls out a crucix from
her blouse). Im not afraid because God is
with me.
B
Socorro Ramos
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40 Stories of Passion
Reection:
Are you moving toward goals and dreams in life? What is stopping
you? Find if you have a passion for what youre 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.
Tank You for the passions and core gifts You have given to me.
Bless now, Lord, the work of my hands!