Josephs... The Dreamers

Theirs is a brotherhood like no other. The Josephs grew up in a humble home filled with love by a mother who joyfully served them and a father who taught them never to compete with one another but instead support each other.

Today, the Joseph brothers – Bobby, 55; Ralph, 53; Ronnie, 45; and Raymond, 40 – share how their upbringing eventually became a formula for success in their family owned business, Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.

I have always wondered – because I belong to a family of four sisters and a brother – how it would be like to grow up among boys. The Joseph brothers work wonderfully together, are dependent on each other and clearly love one another. Interviewing them is like talking to my own siblings because, like the Josephs, we are also inseparably close.

When the four brothers invited us for cocktails that led to dinner one evening, we surely did not miss it for the world. We all met at Ralph’s Wines and Spirits on Pasay Road in Makati where the brothers all converged. Spirits were high and all the good wines were flowing as we exchanged family anecdotes and hilarious childhood memories.

Everyone was excitedly clinking glasses and, like an ongoing hurricane, each was chattering away all at the same time. I managed to keep myself sober in an effort to pay attention to what each one had to say.

"When you were growing up, what kept you guys close," I asked the brothers.

They chorused: "We all slept together in one room!"

"We did not grow up in a big house. That’s why we grew up close to each other," said Ronnie.

"We lived in a modest bungalow. It was not a great big house but it was a real home," added Raymond.

The Joseph brothers are so grounded despite their success because their parents – Robert Joseph Jr. and Felicita Favis – taught them the value of harnessing each other’s strength. Their parents were so successful in teaching their children that the success of one is the success of the others. Thus, the four brothers operate on the philosophy of oneness, a unity that is very characteristic of "one for all and all for one."

"My father’s words still echo in my ears," said Bobby. "He would always tell us: ‘You don’t compete but support.’ Corrections are not meant to destroy but to build you up."

Raymond said: "I always felt safe when my dad was around. He treated us all fairly. He never played favorites so we never fought."

"We were taught to reason with each other rather than fight," claimed Ronnie.

"I remember my father as a very detailed, super humble and cariñoso person. He passed away in 2001 but we still practice the values he taught us to this very day," Raymond continued.

Said Ronnie: "With regards to our mom, she is someone we all value so much. Our mother was the most lovable and devoted housewife who was always there for everyone. She was strong but gentle. She treated us all fairly."

"Mom enjoyed showing us her love through serving," Ralph said. To this Raymond continued: "She paid special attention to all our needs and she loved to serve our meals. Imagine feeding all four hungry, growing boys at home! Mealtimes were one of the best times in our home."

Bobby said: "I can truly say our mom is the most righteous woman. She is the foundation of our home. She is the love of all loves!"

The brothers said their mother is fiercely protective of her brood. According to Bobby, she would always say: "Do not touch my kittens or I will turn into a tiger!" Her other version of that is: "Touch me and my kittens will turn into tigers!"

Such love existed in the home of the Josephs. Ronnie and Raymond said their parents gave them what they needed but never were they spoiled by them. They had hand-me-downs from books to shoes, from clothes to jewelry. They simply shared everything they had. To this day, they pass this same value to their kids. What also kept them close was the example that their elder brothers set.

"When dad was not around, Bobby and Ralph were the ones who disciplined us. In turn we grew up respecting and obeying them. Now with our father gone, our two elder brothers are like tatays who still treat us like kids," said Ronnie and Raymond.

Another thing I learned from the Joseph brothers was that they support the ingenuity of each other. No creative idea is wasted because everybody contributes to how one concept can be further developed.

Take for example how Ralph’s Wines and Spirits started.

One day in the summer of 1973, Ralph saw an American movie that showed a glamorous champagne popping scene. This gave him an idea, let alone an opportunity, to earn his ‘date money.’ He was soon driving off to Clark Air Base in Pampanga to buy sparkling wines at P20 a bottle. He displayed them in their home where cousins eagerly bought them for twice the price.

Right after college, the high spirited Ralph knew what he wanted: "I did not want to have a boss." He wanted to put up a small business. His mother and brother Bobby gave him some seed money and you can guess what he did with it! Today, after 30 years in the business, Ralph’s Wines has 22 branches all over the country. One of their trade secrets, they revealed, is that they treat their employees like family. In fact, they have employees who have been with them since they started in 1975.

Being family-oriented, they have a hands-on approach in their business where each one has his own role. Bobby takes charge of marketing and handles public relations. Ralph takes care of expansion and opening new outlets. Ronnie handles research and development, contracts and accounting systems. Raymond takes care of institutional sales.

I talked to the Joseph Brothers one by one and this is what they had to say about each other.

Bobby is the mentor for he loves to talk and teach. He is fondly called "Daddy Bobby" not just because he happens to be the eldest but because he is like a daddy to his younger brothers. Having put himself through college and started working at the young age of 17, Daddy Bobby gained for him a lot of wisdom to share. He is very organized and very professional in his approach.

Ralph is the initiator, the originator. He is the most daring by nature yet does a lot of worrying for everyone. He is the one who sees to it that everyone is okay. Whatever risk he takes in trying out new ventures and unchartered waters is usually for the benefit of all. Ralph, according to his siblings, is street-smart, unorthodox in his approach but has great instincts.

Ronnie is the thinker, the analyzer among the brothers. He collects data and studies figures very carefully making sense of everything before deciding. When their feet are up in the air, he brings everyone down to the ground.

Raymond is the stabilizer and the "doctor" in the family. He is the guy who is most flexible being the youngest. He has turned out to be the most patient one. If he gets mad, according to his elder brothers, that means there is definitely something to worry about. He is most vigilant at looking after their health and well being. He is the soulful one.

Old habits cannot be broken. To this day, the Joseph brothers still share everything such as vacation homes, cars, triumphs, highs and lows. "We are the very best of friends," they said. "We cover each other’s backs. We enjoy doing things together, and that includes work. Together we are very productive, so why would we ever want to be apart?"

Raymond is the heart. Ronnie is the mind. Ralph is the moving spirit. Bobby is the guiding light of all.

"All for one and one for all" was our ultimate cheer as we all raised our glasses to this successful team of brothers.

I would love to hear your family stories, too! E-mail me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com.