Coming next after John Gokongwei, Jr. book: Socorro Ramos & Ninoy/Cory as told by Noynoy

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. — Henry David Thoreau

If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time.  — Marcel Proust

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. — Eleanor Roosevelt

MANILA, Philippines - The recent Aug. 16 launch by Summit Media of the children’s book Big John (about the unique “riches-to-rags-to-riches” life story of billionaire industrialist John L. Gokongwei, Jr.) at Bar One in Crowne Plaza Hotel, Quezon City was like a low-key celebration of the business leader’s birthday. He turned 86 last Aug. 11.

Family members were led by wife Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei, younger brother and JG Summit Goldings, Inc. chairman James L. Go, children JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Cebu Pacific Air president Lance Gokongwei, Summit Media boss Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng and Robinsons retail chain’s Robina Gokongwei-Pe. Friends in attendance included National Bookstore/PowerBooks founder Socorro C. Ramos and her grandchildren Xandra Ramos-Padilla, Miguel Ramos and Trina Licauco-Alindogan.

A unique highlight of the program was the book reading by Lance Gokongwei, GMA-7 actress Jean Garcia and her 10-year-old son Kotaro. Like his parents and siblings, Lance said that he’s enjoyed reading books ever since he was a kid, and even now that he’s a busy businessman.

Big John is by writer Yvette Fernandez (also editor-in-chief of the Philippine edition of America’s longest-published general interest magazine, Town & Country) and illustrated by UP Fine Arts graduate Abi Goy of Studio Dialogo, Inc. design firm. Retailing for P125 in bookstores, newsstands and supermarkets, part of proceeds from sales of Big John will be donated to the educational charities of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation.

Summit Media boss Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng introduced her father, 86-year-old John Gokongwei, Jr., to the next subject of her firm’s Dream Big Books brand of children books, National Bookstore’s no-less-legendary self-made founder and Philippine STARcolumnist Socorro “Nanay Coring” Ramos. Lisa said to her, “Dad, this is Nanay Coring Ramos of National Bookstore, she’s 89 years old.”

Lisa also revealed that other children’s book projects of Dream Big Books, an imprint of Summit Books, will be the life stories of both the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. and the late President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino.

What is unique about this children’s book on Ninoy and Cory is that their story will be recounted from the point of view of incumbent President Noynoy C. Aquino.

How National Bookstore’s Nanay Coring overcame poverty & her worst crisis

On the sidelines of the festive launch, this writer interviewed Socorro C. Ramos about books, the still pending Reproductive Health bill (she supports the RH bill but opposes abortion) and her “rags-to-riches” life story.

Nanay Coring’s immigrant father died when she was only nine years old in Santa Cruz, Laguna, so she and her siblings were raised by her mother and her maternal grandmother. She revealed that she recently went back to look for her old childhood home in Regidor Street, but she was saddened when she could no longer find the place.

When asked her reaction that her inspiring life story as a saleslady-turned-entrepreneur would soon become a children’s book, Socorro Ramos smiled, saying: “It’s fun, great fun! I’m happy that at least when the children read the story of my experiences, the lives of John Gokongwei, Jr. as well as those of the late Senator Ninoy and President Cory, I hope the kids will be inspired. I encourage children and young people in our society to read more, work hard and to attain a certain success in their lives.”

Her advice to children and the youth? Mrs. Ramos replied: “Invest in your mind by reading more books, magazines and newspapers. It is sad that nowadays, people would rather watch TV or spend too much time on the Internet. I encourage people of all ages, not just the youth, to read more books. Invest in your mind.”

Nanay Coring was delighted when we discussed the many successful people from all walks of life who read a lot of books as part of their success secrets, from Megastar Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan, Kris Aquino, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Anne Curtis (who told me she’s “a book worm”), Sarah Geronimo, Boy Abunda, the late political arch-rivals Ninoy Aquino and President Ferdinand E. Marcos, also the famous business tycoons — John Gokongwei, Jr. and his family, Lucio C. Tan and Oscar Lopez who has one of the country’s best private libraries in his home.

When asked what was the worst crisis in her life, Nanay Coring shared an amazing experience which shouldn’t only be great material for any children’s book, but maybe even an exciting movie. She said: “When the roof of our store was blown away by the storm. I’ll never forget the name of the storm, it was typhoon Gene. All our books became wet and could no longer be sold. I felt numb in both my arms and both my legs, and I heard that was a prelude to a heart attack. I kept saying to myself ‘Huwag kang mamamatay, huwag kang mamamatay (Do not die, do not die)!’ Never give up in times of crisis, always be hopeful, pray and work very hard.”

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