An evening with legends

She looked strikingly elegant in a red dress, as red as Little Red Riding Hood’s velvet cloak. I was in awe of her presence, the most striking 94-year old I’ve seen. Her lipstick was a shade of light apricot and her gray hair was tied into a perfect bun.

Her face was a picture of a fulfilled life and old age notwithstanding, she looked not a day older than the first time I interviewed her some 10 years ago.

She is Socorro “Nanay Coring” Ramos, founder of National Bookstore (NBS). And when she arrived at the glittering Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La hotel, the crowd that had gathered parted like the Red Sea, giving way to a legendary woman who turned a small bookstore into the giant that it is now.

Another lady, in a simple black dress approached her for a picture. But this lady in black, although a generation younger, is just as legendary. She is inconspicuous and for the longest time, Forbes Magazine couldn’t even get a photo of her. But there she was in one of her rare public appearances, Vivian Que-Azcona, eldest daughter of Mercury Drug founder Mariano Que. When I introduced myself as a journalist, she nearly ran to the opposite direction, visibly media shy but kind enough to pose for a photo.

John Gokongwei’s eldest daughter, the down-to-earth Robina Gokongwei-Pe, elegant in red, too, also indulged those who asked for a photograph.

Henry Sy’s eldest daugher Tessie Sy-Coson also lent glamor to the event, honoring the crowd with her presence. She is one of the country’s most powerful businesswomen and a legend like her father.

Lucio Co, accompanied by his family also came to the event while Kevin Tan, son of property tycoon Andrew Tan, also joined the high-powered crowd. Samie Lim, the legend behind Philippine franchising, was there, too.

Fernando Zobel de Ayala, fondly called The FZA, sent his niece Mariana Zobel to the event because he hosted some guests at the Art Fair, which had its vernissage that night.

William Belo, founder of Wilcon Depot, meanwhile, was among the early birds and he gladly indulged those who wanted to take photos with him.

It was the launching of Legends, Lives and Legacies, a coffee table book published by the Philippine Retailers Association, which honored 12 icons of the country’s retailing industry – an occasion momentous enough to bring together these tycoons.

Sy was recognized as the Father of Philippine Retailing and Nanay Coring as the Matriarch of Philippine Retailing; Zobel is the Pillar of Philippine Retail Development and Jorge Araneta of the Araneta Group is the Pioneer of Philippine Retail Entertainment.

Lim was recognized as the Pioneering Pillar of Franchising; John Gokongwei Jr. as the Champion of Retail Entrepreneurship; Amb. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. of Rustan’s as the Father of Luxury Retailing and Que as the Father of Health and Wellness Retailing.

Sy-Coson was recognized as the Philippine Retailing’s Woman Visionary Leader while Tan of Megaworld was the Pillar of Mixed-Use Developments. Co of Puregold was recognized as the Patron of Micro-retail Entrepreneurship and Belo, as the Patriarch of Home Building Retail.

Indeed, their stories are endless as they are varied. Some of their businesses were not without criticisms, with issues ranging from low wages to tax deficiencies but at the end of the day, there’s no doubt they have all contributed to the growth of retailing in the country.

Will National Bookstore finally do an IPO?

Among the different stories, I am in awe of Nanay Coring’s story. I asked her if she ever thought her business would grow this big.

“No, I never imagined it would be like this…It was just a sari-sari store,” she said, beaming with pride.

I asked her granddaughter Alexandra Ramos-Padilla, NBS managing director, if the company would push through with its listing.

“It could happen,” she said.

How about Mercury Drug?

I also admire Mariano Que’s story. Que, a young man orphaned at an early age, wanted to help Manila recover from the ravages of war. The year was 1945 and everything was in ruins. Filipinos were sick and dying. There was nothing left of the city but bombed buildings and destroyed homes; roads torn apart by skirmishes and survivors – wounded, lost or broken.

Que, who worked as an employee of a drug store before the war, knew that a miracle drug known as Sulfiathiazole, could help cure many illnesses and diseases.

He decided to sell the drug in retail, to make it affordable to survivors. And the rest as they say is history.

Que passed away last year. His daughter Vivian runs Mercury, which for the Philippine Stock Exchange is a dream IPO.

When I asked Vivian if Mercury would ever go public, she said, it’s unlikely. But who knows, with the PSE doing its best to convince her, a miracle may just happen.

It was indeed an evening with legends. They are no doubt some of the country’s most successful tycoons whose stories leave us with age-old lessons on hard work and perseverance. Hats off to all of you.

Alfred Ty is now MPIC vice chairman

Speaking of admirable tycoons, young tycoon Alfred V. Ty, the business savvy and dapper vice chairman of George Ty-owned GT Capital, is now vice chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the infrastructure conglomerate chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan. If I’m not mistaken, he is the first vice chairman of MPIC.

Congratulations AVT! It’s time to pop the champagne bottles.

Iris Gonzales’ e-mail address is eyesgonzales@gmail.com