rags to riches stories

[dolly]

Parang may ganito ng thread or baka sa ibang forum ako nakapag-post. But anyway, I'm just so proud of my dad that I have to spill his story to every person who will ask about his rags to riches story. Actually, when I shared his story to online forums, one writer of Maalaala Mo kaya and that of the other station (sorry di ko maalala yung counterpart nito sa kabila) they both asked me if they could interview my father or kung okay ako na lang daw ma-interview and kung pwede lagay sa mga episode nila. I asked for my father's permission kaso ayaw e, hehe, nahihiya daw sya. Haist, oh well that's just my dad.

Here's how he started... Mahirap pa sa daga si daddy, ang pamilya nya, he's second to the eldest who passed away sometime in 1994. Nagbebenta lang ng mani sa sinehan, pag me time, pag tapos sa school, banana que, sa gabi balut, lahat na ata nagawa nya raw pagkakitaan wag lang magnakaw. He would say that, dati hindi sya makasali sa activities ng school kasi walang para sa gamit, damit, etc. Kaya si daddy natapos nya lang high school. Kasi wala na rin pang-paaral. Kaya at 16, dami na napasukan na trabaho, nakitira silang magkakapatid sa kung sino sinong kamag anak, nagpaalila, sorry yun din kasi gamit na salita kasi nga naman talagang alila kung alila sila ng mga kamaganak pag pinatitira sila. Naabutan ko pang yung years na hirap talaga kami sa buhay so to explain kung bakit compared sa iba naming kapatid kaming 3 mga nakakatanda yung pinakamatipid sa lahat dahil syempre pag salat ka matututunan mo lahat ng klaseng pagtitipid.

When he was 17, he worked in an auto supply. Bodegero muna sya, tagalinis, taga kamada, utusan, lahat na. Pero dito nagtagal ng husto ang daddy ko sa work na to hanggang sa ang dating bodegero, naging Manager na ng kumpanya. Tagal ng dad ko sa company na to until dumating yung time na alam na nya lahat ng pasikot sikot sa negosyong to, eventually sya na lang ang dahilan kung bakit nakatayong matatag ang negosyo ng boss nya, kasi si boss waldas, lakas sa casino kaya ayun, dumating yung point na 6 na buwan di na sya nasusuwelduhan which is di na nya pwede pagtyagaan kasi andun na kami nun, 3 na kaming pinapakain nya so he had to resigned, sad pero that time, that was the time also that our family started to go rocky. Eventually, they separated and kami naiwan sa mga lolo at lola ni daddy. He found another woman and again kayod marino ulit siya, nagbenta ng siopao, nag-logging at kung ano ano na naman.

Until one day he realized na nasa puso nya talaga ang auto supply. Pero wala syang capital pero dahil kilala na sya ng mga dating suppliers nila sa auto supply nuon, pinagkatiwalaan syang bigyan ng stocks ng mga pyesa. So yun, ang wish nya lang daw nun may pang-araw araw kaming pang-gastos ngayon hindi lang sa AMIN na pang-araw araw na pang-gastos ang napo-provide nya pati yung daily needs ng mahigit 500 nyang empleyado sa iba't iba nyang negosyo nasusustentuhan na rin nya. Pero hindi naging madali ang lahat, ilang death threats din ang natanggap nya from his boss. Nung una ang sabi lang sa kanya nun hindi magtatagal auto supply nya pero nung nakita ng lumago ayun na ang death threats, thanks God wala naman nangyari sa dad ko.

Umabot din sa point na may mga pumupuntang Intelligence sa amin para pabantayan kami kasi nagiging mainit sa mata ang mga negosyo nya.

Dati, wala akong kilalang kamag-anak, ngayon dami namin biglang kamag-anak. Si dad, never lumaki ang ulo, sobrang proud talaga ako sa kanya. Kaya kahit ang dami nya rin pagkukulang sa amin, dedma ko na, kasi tingnan ko pa lang yung mabubuti na-a-outweigh na yung hindi maganda.

Kahit sa local government mega tulong lagi, (syempre wala na magagawa pagandyan na ang mga solicitation letters). He even has his own fire truck, lagi kasi me sunog sa amin kaya bumbero din sya. Jack of all trades pero NOT a master of none.

[aceofhearts]

^so inspiring sis dolly. Keep inspiring others! I'm happy for you and for your family. 

[dolly]

^ thanks sis, oo sya lang talaga ang ipinagyayabang ko hehe. I so love my father.

[Marquita]

All the stories here are inspiring..

mine is not a success story but more like a response to all these stories

i just want to share that right now i am at the beginning.. I am 21 years old. I worked for 1 year at Viva Entertainment. Planned to put up an ukay shop, resigned from viva. but 2 months later decided that i should get into leather works (and have not even started the ukay shop) since this is the family business and the business that provided for our family.


Right now, it's scary, it's like im running after a dream and im not sure how to get a hold of it.
naiisip ko pano kung magfail? i know im young and patience is needed and someday i hope i'll be able to make it or at least earn enough for the family and my parents will have the luxury to live the life they deserve.

worried as i am, i really wish to succeed someday.. i just dont want to wake up and realize that i have not done enough to fulfill my goals.

[iggypop]

^ atta girl! more power sis! kaya mo yan!

[simplybrilliant]

Glad I found this thread…so inspiring!  I wanna share also my friend’s story.  Although hindi pa sya sobrang mayaman pero I’m already proud of her because of what she has achieved considering that she came from a poor family.

She’s from far north province, then UP came to their province to look for poor but deserving students para mabigyan ng scholarship. She was able to graduate from UP with Masteral degree.  Then she got a good job, she was able to send all her siblings to school. Pati pamangkin nya pinagaaral nya. Three of them studied from metro manila private schools. She was able to buy a house and lot in Pasig. She was able to travel most countries in Asia and also US. New Zealand is next on her list nilindol lang kaya na-postpone. All these she was able to do by being an employee lang.  She’s in her mid 30s now.  Yung pagbbusiness ang hindi pa nattry.

SIS, AKO BA FRIEND MO? KONTI NALANG AKO NA TO.

I came from a poor family. 
Went to UP and survived due to STFAP (I was in bracket 2 then)
My course is a pre-med but didn't even considered to take med kasi wala nga kmi pera.  I HAVE TO WORK.
I started teaching, nag sideline as tutor and dun ko nakilala ang nagbigay sa akin ng opportunity to enter a government office na ok ang pay and benefits (kasi medyo mataas na din entry position ko.  And i was promoted na din...2 steps ang inakyat ko)
Sent my two siblings to college - pareho na sila tapos and have good jobs
Travelled abroad (including US) - official
Travelled to an Asian country with hubby and two kids, pasyal lang (ni sa panaginip di ko inasam to pero nagawa ko na)
I have my own house...recently bought another one...maliit na house lang pero CASH (na pinapahulugan ko s brother ko kasi wala naman cya pang cash para mgkabahay naman cya)
Have a simple car
my insurances kami ni hubby, mutual funds, time deposits, savings acct in my kids name-in case bigla kmi mawala ni hubby eh di sila maghirap...dont want my kids maranasan hirap namin ni hubby nung mga bata pa kmi.
All this from being an employee lang.
My business na kmi ngaun...sideline lang. nagbabagsak kmi ng siomai sa mga offices. tpos my mga nagoorder din sa amin n binebenta din nila sa offices nila. kami mismo nagdedeliver every sat.  My post na ako ng simai biz ko sa sideline etc dito s gt nung 2007 or 08 yata. Ginagamit naman namin ito para pantulong sa mga "less" fortunate n kamag anak s province.

lahat ng yan from being employees lang talaga.
maaga pa kmi ngpakasal ni hubby (23 ako cya 24). i got pregnant unexpectedly. walang wala talaga kmi nun. sa isang "free" hospital nga ako nagpapacheck-up nung 1st baby ko.
ngsimula kmi n ang gamit eh de gaas n stove, isang kaldero, tig isa namin n pinggan at baso. nakagalitan nga kmi ng tita ko nun when she visited us wala kasi kmi extra pinggan...hubby has to eat sa lagayan ng mami noodles..hehe..pano daw pag my mga bisita. now kumpleto n kmi ng gamit. 

all of this sa pagtyatyaga...living below your means.
wag maarte basta marangal ang ginagawa...i don't mind going to robinson's makipag meet sa buyer namin ng siomai carrying 10kilograms of siomai pag di pwde si hubby...or punta kbila bldg magdeliver siomai... sayang din kasi ang opportunity. madami ngbebenta n halos magmakaawa makabenta lang eh ako heto na dumarating nalang ang orders.
do what you are good in for extra income 5yrs din ako nag tutor. nagstop nlng ako nung nag aaral n din 1st born ko...lalo n ngaun kasi 2 n sila tutor ko every night.
SAVE. noon sabi nila grabe daw ako sa kakuriputan... ngaun di na ah... my iba na ko passive sources of income aside from our salary n sobra n sa amin kung tutuusin... Lesson: MAGTIPID MUNA PAG DI PA KAYA. Mas masarap na gumastos pag hindi n inutang lang o credit card ang winawaldas.
PRAY and always thank the Lord for whatever blessings. 

[simplybrilliant]

^ I just turned 31 pala. hubby is 32.
23 y/o ang reckoning point ko --- as in walang wala kmi ni hubby by that time

[IAmMarlo]

^ nice post.

[carmichael18]

i'd like to share my sister's story...she's not very rich but she can basically buy what she wants..

maaga kami nawalan ng mother, I was 8 and she was 13 then.. She stayed true to her promise to mama that she will take care of us. But growing up without our mom wasn't easy especially because my dad brought home a "witch" -- my stepmom. Lage kami pinagtatanggol ng ate ko sa kanya, one time talagang sinapak niya yung witch kaya napalayas kami sa bahay ni papa.. fresh grad siya nun sa college at sobrang liit ng kita.. she decided to pay for my tuition at a private school kahit na mahirap sa kanya..pinaghirapan naming dalawa na makatapos ako sa magandang school.. umalis siya sa work niya at lumipat sa mas magandang company at dun siya sinwerte.. nasanay na salat kami sa mga bagay dati kaya lumaki kaming matipid.. lalo na ate ko.. pero hindi niya kami kinalimutan, hanggang ngayon tinutulungan niya pa rin kaming magkakapatid pag may kailangan kami.. ngayon yung tax niya, malaki pa sa sweldo ko!!! nakatapos na rin ako at nagttrabaho na rin.. she's traveled to different countries in Asia, next na gusto niya is US.. naniniwala ako na ang taong gumagawa ng mabuti sa kapwa eh pinagpapala talaga.. isa na lang hiling ko sa ate ko.. sana makahanap na siya ng partner niya...  kasi tumanda na siya kakatulong sa mga kamag-anak namin, na nakalimutan na niya yung sarili niya... masaya na raw siya mag-alaga ng mga pamangkin niya.. 

[kaiz]

@simplybrilliant -- nainspire ako sa story nyo. thanks for sharing

[joban99]

Great stories.Keep them coming.
I noticed alot of stories about dads and natutuwa ako kasi Im a dad (I have a 3 yr old girl and a 1 yr old boy) and one day Im hoping theyll look up to me the way most GTers in this thread look up to their dads. Swerte rin ako kasi my dad also has a rags to riches story (although di naman kami rich, hehe..) and I was able to learn from him. My dad came from a very poor family, but coz of his brains and hard work, he got a scholarship to go to UP then got a good job sa govt and was able to raise us all very well. Happy ako kasi I was able to get his trait of having a strong work ethic. The only thing that he never did was to invest and start a business and this is one thing that I would like to do. Now that Im a dad, I only want the best for my kids kaya sila ang motivation ko to succeed. With this type of motivation, I  cant fail. Im 31 now and just recently joined my dream organization which Ive been aiming to join since 2007. Ngayon I can really see my goals of being successful and giving a great life to my family coming true.

[IAmMarlo]

^ Dream organization.. naka curious tuloy kung ano yun.

Most are dads, coz ladies usually look up to their dads.



While men usually are competitive with their dads.

[shopinas]

Super inspirational naman ng mga stories nyo.

I think the best form of wealth made is when you start from nothing. Pinaka-fullfilling compared to inherited lang.

[queen_blair]

Very inspiring. Keep them coming. Hope in 5years makwento ko rin dito rags to riches story namin ni hubby.. Nasa rags to ri-- pa lang, kulang pa ng --ches.

[simplybrilliant]

@simplybrilliant -- nainspire ako sa story nyo. thanks for sharing

Thanks sis.  Di pa naman "riches" stage namin now pero kahit papano wala na sa rags.  Sa simple lifestyle namin eh more than enough na ang meron kami.  Ang sarap din ng feeling to tell everyone that we did this on our own. Kaya din ito ng iba kahit nga employees "lang".  Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ganito tingin ng mga iba sa mga employees.  Wala daw yumayaman sa pagiging empleyado lang.   Siguro depende din yan sa diskarte.  Basta may plano at disiplina sa pag handle ng finances ok na.

[sachism]

these are all very inspiring stories

[prettybarbie]

^indeed! napakawaldas ko pa naman sa pera...ngayon gusto ko na magtipid

[missbacabac]

Rags to Riches story?

I can say that these are rags to riches stories, stories of people I met in my wellness/beauty business. It was their stories that made me go for the business. Because they're already there. I dream that I will also get there someday, with God's help.

1) Gina: she finished college but did not like to earn 6thou a month for her first job. tried the business and now owns 3 houses/condos, one of which is in Wack-Wack. earns like 300thou a month now, after 10 yrs in the business.

2) Gabs: was in debt before joining the business. went to business and one of the top earners in the company. average income is 100K monthly.

3) a Gr. 2 level only: earning more than 75K monthly now.

sila pa lang alam kong rags to riches stories among many others! Looking forward to be next! Sana tayo rin!

[buzzhang]

Wow, this is such a great thread! I 'm enjoying reading all your rags to riches stories. Very inspiring and motivating!

[pixiedust]

both my lolos (dad and mom sides) have rags to riches stories. my lolas in both sides came from wealthy families while yung lolos ko from middle class and lower class. obviously pareho silang hindi tanggap ng families ng lolas ko pero they proved their worth talaga. and now, yung sides nila yung mas successful rather than the siblings of my lolas who married well off people. yung mas remarkable yung story is yung sa paternal lolo ko. pang mmk kumbaga! lol.

yung family ng lolo ko, masasabing "dirt poor" talaga. at a young age ulilang lubos na yung lolo ko. tapos yung families ng parents nila madaming issues in life so walang naiwan sa lolo ko and mga kapatid niya. lahat na yata ng pwedeng trabaho trinabaho ng lolo ko. nagbebenta ng mga kung ano ano, waiter sa mamonluk (yes, ganun na talaga katanda yung mamonluk! lol), at nagtrabaho pa siya sa sementeryo! siya yung nagsesemento ng libingan (ano nga ba tawag sa ganun?). youngest siya sa magkakapatid pero siya yung nagpaaral sa lahat ng kapatid niya. at sa lahat sa kanila, siya lang yung nakatapos. he also served in the military nung panahon ng hapon. at napasama pa siya sa death march! pero mautak talaga, nakatakas siya somewhere along the way and survived.

sobrang proud talaga ako sa lolo kasi he really worked for everything he achieved in life. dugo't pawis. literal! when he died, may posisyon na siya sa military. and the most important thing is, he worked his way up honestly. wala siyang tinapakang tao just to get to where he got.

and what i'm most proud of is that until this day, meron pa din mga lumalapit sa family namin to tell us how much my lolo helped them out during their lowest and really turned their lives around. meron nga isa siyang kakilala na drug addict daw yun dati. what my lolo did is kinupkop niya at tinulungan niyang magrehabilitate talaga until gumaling na siya.

looking at my dad and his siblings, you'll see talaga yung values na napass on ng lolo ko sa kanila. lahat sila successful in their chosen fields. though we may not be millionaires pero we all have comfortable lives. medyo corny man sabihin pero yung "riches" na pinamana samin is not just material things. it's really more on the values that my lolo lived by.

i think that's why yung mga tao like my lolo, become who they are is because determined talaga sila to make their lives better and all the difficulties they experience along the way made them stronger.