MANILA, Philippines - “I am definitely blessed,” she said, reciting the closing sentence of the book Nanay Coring: The Story of National Book Store’s Socorro Ramos.
No truer words uttered, indeed. As the founder of the country’s largest book store chain (with over 150 branches and two affiliate brands nationwide), Socorro “Nanay Coring” Ramos can look back at a life bestowed with tremendous success despite all odds.
Now, readers of all ages can know for themselves the story behind the winsome Ramos matriarch who, at 89, still goes to work regularly. Noted children’s book author Yvette Fernandez pens a taut 28-page easy, engrossing read infused with beautiful paper cut-out art by Liza Flores.
“It’s a children’s book, actually the second in a series of Dream Big Books, an imprint of Summit Books,” shared Fernandez with The STAR at Nanay Coring’s recent launch. Dream Big Books started with a one-off project, Big John, a similarly executed tale on the occasion of business tycoon John Gokongwei’s birthday. “It was very successful,” she said. “So Lisa (Gokongwei-Cheng, president of Summit Media), my boss, wanted to launch it commercially.”
Fernandez underscored that Dream Big Books was lucky to have secured the Ramos family’s imprimatur on the project. “We weren’t sure if she’d agree to it because she has her own publishing house,” she said.
“Sport lang,” replied Nanay Coring with a grin.
Meanwhile, in a short speech, Gokongwei-Cheng paid tribute to Ramos: “Hers is a true rags-to-riches tale — a success story that will inspire many children and even adults, I think, to keep going no matter what the odds are. Her youth was one of constant struggle, but Nanay Coring never gave up.”
For the book, Fernandez referenced numerous speeches by and news clippings on Ramos as research, along with an afternoon’s conversation with Nanay Coring herself. “She’s so gracious,” said the author, “I even spilled water on her that day!”
The refreshing take on the biography is unique not only because it is written with younger readers in mind, but because it’s in first person as well. “We wanted to write Nanay Coring from her point of view as a child,” insisted Fernandez.
Readers will surely be surprised to learn that the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awardee was once so poor her family couldn’t even afford to buy her supplies for public school. After high school, Nanay Coring stopped schooling altogether.
This life experience would fuel her passion for education — making it affordable and accessible for more people. “I was the very first who reprinted elementary, high school, and college textbooks,” shared Nanay Coring. This significantly brought down prices of foreign titles for easier acquisition of students and others seeking to learn.
Readers will also get to know Nanay Coring’s great love Jose, who she romantically called Ling — short for darling. Fourteen years her senior, Ling had eloped with Coring when she was 18 and quickly got married. Of course, her family was furious. Only after the arrival much later of the first Ramos babies, twins Alfredo and Benjamin, did relations warm.
By then, the Ramos couple had already opened a book store where Nanay Coring worked as manager, buyer, salesgirl, cashier and janitor. “We called it National Book Store for no special reason except that it was the brand of our cash register, and it sounded like a good name,” goes Nanay Coring in the book.
The book store flourished in its infancy, despite trials of World War II, along with a big typhoon that had blown the roof of the modest store and soaked all the supplies and books. “Umpisa ulit sa zero. Ganun talaga ang buhay, up and down. If it’s all up and up, you wouldn’t it like it much, but if it’s up and down, the more you will appreciate it,” said Nanay Coring at the event, still smiling at the recollection.
Yvette added: “She kept losing everything, and she kept rebuilding. She never lost her optimism, her energy and enthusiasm for life. Her love for her family was always there.”
Longtime National Book Store fans will remember the red and white stripes that adorn the book cover — the iconic design of the original shopping bag. “I made that design. Of course, when I saw it I was happy,” said Nanay Coring in Filipino.
Cecilia Licauco, Nanay Coring’s youngest who now functions as VP for purchasing for National Book Store, said: “To get to know Nanay is to love her... please give the book to your kids, nieces, nephews so they will all learn.”
Even as Nanay Coring nears 90, National Book Store celebrates 70 years — a longevity that’s testament both to the vision of Nanay Coring, and her family members who help her grow the business even more.
Priced at an affordable P125, Nanay Coring, The Story of National Book Store’s Socorro Ramos is expected to be a valuable read not just for kids, but their parents. Particularly interesting are 12 nuggets of wisdom about life and business that Nanay Coring shares at the end. Among them: “Always be on time. Never be late.”
Nanay Coring concluded with what she believes is a valuable lesson for the young. “They have to work hard to earn their money. That’s the only way to live a good life.”
(Nanay Coring: The Story of National Book Store’s Socorro Ramos is available at all National Book Store branches nationwide, newsstands, and supermarkets. A portion of the proceeds will go to the National Book Store Foundation, Inc. which promotes love of reading among Filipino children across the country. Dream Big Books is also set to launch soon Ninoy, Cory and Noynoy and a bio on the late DILG Sec. Jessie Robredo. For details, visit www.summitmedia.com.ph/books, or www.facebook/summitbooks.)