COMPREHENSIVE WRITING OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

(EXCELLENT ALUMNI)

Recipe of Success of Mr. Gem Zeñarosa

I. Introduction
A former BS Nursing student from the Our Lady of Fatima University in Quezon City
Campus, and now one of the most successful business man in the country and a founder of
the famous fastest-growing shawarma franchises in the country –Turks– his road to success
was certainly tough but that did not stop him from aiming high in life.
He was born into a simple yet faithful family who knows the importance of education,
hard work, and perseverance. Like any ordinary family, he had experienced countless trials
especially when he was still studying. Zeñarosa was raised in a home that believes a person
can be whoever he or she wants to be if he or she works hard and prays for it. The kind of
thinking his family has is what inspired the young Zeñarosa to pursue his education and
dream big. Overcoming financial struggles as a student and looking back at the times he
didn’t even have enough money to pay his fares, Zeñarosa expressed that he honestly
never thought that he would have his own company someday.

II. Body of Report

He started Turks in year 2007 at the age of 26. Along with his wife, Angel Glo Zeñarosa,
the two worked together to get into business. With the idea of bringing shawarmas into
shopping malls– which was a challenge because malls refused to let such food stalls inside
due to the beef’s aroma during its preparation– Zeñarosa crafted a food cart covered with
glass to keep the food’s smoke and scent within the cooking area. The design he made
permitted them to open their very first branch in SM Sta. Mesa. It was the start of his early
morning runs to Balintawak to buy vegetables, then rushing home to prepare their product,
and delivering them personally to their store –yet it was also the beginning of his first step
towards success. Managing Turks hands on, it is no surprise how Turks currently has at
least 498 branches all over the country and now has plans of expanding in Hongkong and
the United States.
The year was 2007, when shawarma was barely known by food-loving Pinoys. With
nothing but nursing degrees and 300-something thousand pesos to back them up, Gem
Zenarosa and his wife Angel used all of their money to start a food business with doner
(shawarma), kebab, and steak as the main menu. For the couple, it was the start of an
adventure that catapulted them into one of the country’s fastest growing food business
today.
 Gem wasn’t actually sure that shawarma would be such an instant hit among Pinoys, but
it did in a matter of weeks. Thanks to his gut instinct to be where diners frequently go to dine
with friends and family – SM malls.
The move is so unlike most upstarts who would try to sell online first before trying
physical stores. The Zenarosas applied their concept for a food cart to as many SM malls as
they possibly can, until SM Sta. Mesa gave the first nod. According to Gem, it was an easy
decision since SM already has foot traffic that even a small business can take advantage of.

As it turned out, his decision to invest inside a mall right away proved to be the best for
Turks. “We had a huge help from SM in terms of marketing our brand. In fact, they still
consistently help us today – 10 years into being a tenant in their malls nationwide,” said
Gem.

From a team of seven employees, Turks now employs at least 300 people in
company-owned branches alone. The company gets its inspiration to stay as “the people’s
favorite doner and kebab” from this present crop of hardworking employees.

“People who work for him motivates him, knowing we depend on him for our livelihood.
We are treated like family, which resonates on our products and service. The business
concept is like feeding your own family, that’s why we always strive to go all out for our
customers,” affirmed Jhoanna Borricano, operations head of Turks.

The adventure continues for Turks. There are bigger plans to reach out to more
food-loving Filipinos in the provinces, and to conquer the global food scene with its distinct
Filipino take on this Mediterranean flavor. And so the journey continues for Turks, with sheer
determination and confidence that the business concept will keep growing.

III. Summary

IV. Conclusion
Former students of the University such as Zeñarosa only prove that success is definitely
achievable to those who work hard and pray harder. OLFU will unceasingly be proud of all of
its students’ successes and achievements, big or small.
Success indeed is very elusive but it is also true that unfathomable blessings and provisions
come to those who trust in the works of the Lord God.
Zenarosa who is now only 38 years old and already a self-made business innovator, is really
a living testimony of how the Father works in the lives of those who work hard according to
God’s will.

V. References
https://www.fatima.edu.ph/news-announcement/former-olfu-student-gem-zenarosa-shares-
his-recipe-for-success/