Socorro Cancio Ramos (National Book Store)

As a salesgirl in a bookstore, Socorro Concio

Ramos, commonly known as "Nanay
Coring," started her career in publishing and
retail. At the age of 19, she and her husband
opened National Book Store in Escolta,
selling children's books and school supplies
with a capital of PHP200. At the time, the
Japanese imposed restriction on books and
periodicals, which applied to her expanding
company as well. She and her husband
added to their income by selling more goods
like soaps and candles.
The Ramos family constructed a nine-story
building alongside Avenida when the postwar
boom improved the company's earnings.
Ramos took a hands-on approach to managing her company; she even created the logo. There
are currently about 3,000 workers at The National Book Store. Socorro Concio Ramos, 98, is
one of the richest people in the nation with an estimated net worth of USD 3.1 billion.
Vice President Presentacion S. Ramos continues to actively look for new business development
prospects. Her leadership has aided in the growth and expansion of National Book Store. On
the other side, managing director Xandra Ramos-Padilla is in charge of managing the entire
bookstore. Xandra led the National Book Store's transformation and retail innovation with
initiatives like book signing events for foreign authors, bringing in foreign brands, and opening
specialty stores to cater to every Filipino's passion. She also led the company's transition to new
technology.
At the age of 83, Nanay Coring is still in charge as general manager of the best bookstore in the
nation. In an interview with The Philippine Star, she admits, "I am delighted that I can still get up
at seven in the morning, get dressed, eat a basic breakfast, and go to work. Because I am and
always will be a tindera, I like selling. I like setting up exhibits and interacting with the staff. She
is also persevering with her aim to encourage reading and literacy among Filipinos: "I want my
children to make National Book Store bigger, to have more branches, to carry more products for
students and other consumers." The National Book Store Foundation, Inc., whose initiatives
spread the idea that reading and learning are essential for achieving one's goals and fulfilling
one's purpose in life, is dedicated to this campaign. Socorro Cancio Ramos, 2006 The
Outstanding Filipino awardee for Business, is a person who has spent more than 60 years in the
book business and whose own passage through life's paths met with success. Nanay Coring
once said, "Reading not only is as essential as breathing, but just as I have experienced, it will
also lead to many exciting passages marked with success."
http://arellanohighschoolalumni.weebly.com/socorro-ramos.html
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/futurelearn-international/most-successful-entrepreneurs-
philippines
Edgar Sia II (Mang Inasal)
Edgar 'Injap' Sia II was raised in
Roxas City, Capiz province, after
being born in Iloilo City in 1977. Of
his three siblings, he is the oldest.
Injap made sure he was able to
learn and adapt quickly despite
being a true-blue country boy who
was unfamiliar with the complexity of
the large business environment in
the Philippine capital. Sia sold his
70% ownership in Mang Inasal to
Jollibee Foods Corp. in 2011,
making him the youngest Filipino
millionaire at age 34.
He completed his elementary, secondary, and university studies in the province. He had
originally intended to study architecture but left the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City to
concentrate more on his business. He was adamant that his provincial upbringing and the
practical experience he gained on the job might be an asset.
The barbecue brand Mang Inasal was co-founded by Sia in Iloilo City in 2003. In seven years, it
expanded to 338 locations around the country before being purchased by Jollibee in 2010.
Sia established the mall developer and owner of the CityMall network, Injap Land Corporation
(now DoubleDragon Properties Corporation), in 2009. DoubleDragon Properties became a
publicly traded corporation in 2014. In 2020, he also listed Merrymart Consumer Corp., his own
grocery store, on the Philippine Stock Exchange. He founded the fast-food brand Mang Inasal
from scratch in 2003 when he was 26 years old, and within the first seven years of business, he
expanded it from a modest shop in Iloilo City to 338 branches nationwide. Jollibee Foods
Corporation bought 70% of Mang Inasal at this time for p3 billion pesos ($68 million USD), and
in April 2016 he sold the remaining 30% of Mang Inasal to Jollibee for p2 billion pesos ($41
million USD). allowing him to profit from the Mang Inasal business enterprise, which he began
from a straightforward eatery, to the tune of p5 billion pesos ($109 million USD). Mang Inasal is
still expanding today as a consequence of his meticulous planning, crystal-clear visions,
rigorous business design, and enthusiastic execution. With more than 450 locations nationwide,
Mang Inasal continues to be one of the biggest and most well-liked fast-food chains in the
nation. Its system-wide sales income exceeds p12 billion pesos, and same-store sales growth is
typically in the double digits year over year.
https://stockbytes.net/edgar-sia-ii-success-story/
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/futurelearn-international/most-successful-entrepreneurs-
philippines
Mariano Que (Mercury Drug)
The late Mariano Que, founder
of Mercury Drug, was raised as
an orphan. And every day, he
had to put in a lot of effort just
to get by. He decided to use
Php100 to buy the necessary
"miracle" medication known as
sulfathiazole, which was
thought to treat many different
illnesses, after seeing how
difficult it was to get medicine in
1945 after surviving World War
II. Que, who was prevented
from attending school, had experience managing medications from her work in a pharmacy
before the war. He began hawking the medication he had purchased from a drug dealer on
Bambang Street using a pushcart. By earning his consumers' trust, he distinguished himself.
Since the market at the time was crowded with vendors who occasionally supplied phony or
outdated medication at a premium price, he gradually developed a reputation for high-quality
goods and reasonable costs. The firm expanded from one cart to 1,000 locations around the
Philippines thanks to his profit, becoming the largest pharmacy in the nation, Mercury Drug
Corporation. On March 1st, 1945, the first Mercury Drug store in Manila opened its doors in
Bambang. The Ayala company invited Que to open a second branch in Makati City in the 1960s.
Under Que, the pharmacy became a leader in pharmaceutical services, such as the utilization of
drive-through services, centralized, automated warehouses, and refrigerators for keeping
medications. Additionally, it was the first to offer pharmaceutical counseling and 24-hour
support. He later bought Medical Center Trading Corporation in the 1970s, which allowed his
company to start selling medical equipment and supplies. His strong work ethic and these
factors helped Mercury Drug establish its current reputation and significant market share. The
Philippine Retailers Association named Que the Father of Philippine Health and Wellness
Retailing in 2012. And in 2015, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) awarded him a doctorate in
humanities in recognition of his contributions to the country's pharmaceutical retail industry and
his advocacy for access to affordable healthcare. In 1986, the Philippine Chamber of Health and
Pharmaceutical and Nonpharmaceutical Industry gave him the President's Award: Plaque of
Merit and the Award of Distinction. In addition to these, he is renowned for his foundations that
support Filipinos' needs for healthcare and education. While the "Operation Bigay Lunas" offers
free services and medications to underprivileged communities, the "Bantay Kalusugan" initiative
offers free medical consultations and screening for communicable diseases. Both the "Gawad
Talino" program, which honors high school students who excel in math and science, and the
"Pharmacy Scholarship Program" provide full scholarships to pharmacy students from Philippine
Association of Colleges of Pharmacy partner schools. Vivian Que Azcona, Que's daughter, is
currently in charge of running the business. She is now ranked 24th on Forbes Philippines' list
of the country's 50 wealthiest people. She graduated with a B.S. In 1977, pharmacy students at
the University of Santo Tomas. Before becoming the company's president in 1998, she was
appointed vice president and general manager in 1983. She was the manager of Mercury Drug
in addition to being an officer and director of the Philippine Pharmacists Association.
https://vulcanpost.com/633693/mercury-drug-business-from-php100/
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/futurelearn-international/most-successful-
entrepreneurs-philippines