Joby gives back

“All things are possible with God.”

Ang Natatanging Anak Kabanatuan awardee Joby Linsangan-Moreno

This was entrepreneur Joby Linsangan-Moreno’s first sentence when she accepted her award as one of the recipients of the prestigious Ang Natatanging Anak Kabanatuan (A.N.A.K) held at Moments Event Center, Brgy. Barrera, Cabanatuan City.

The Ang Natatanging Anak Kabanatuan is annually held to honor outstanding Cabanatueños during the celebration of Cabanatuan’s founding day. The recent ANAK awarding ceremony last Feb. 3 coincided with the 68th founding anniversary of Cabanatuan.

Any Cabanatueño or Andukha (adopted) Kabanatueño with exemplary work in his/her field or with extraordinary accomplishment can be nominated. The board of judges this year was composed of recent ANAK awardees, notable persons from the academe, entrepreneurs and city administrators. Joby said, “For me, it’s truly an unforgettable award because it’s the highest award given to an extraordinary Kabanatueño. It’s a dream come true; to be recognized for your talent and for the work that you love to do.”

“I am even more inspired now to reach for greater heights in my career and to inspire others as well with my life’s story.”

She has high hopes to inspire and to influence others with her much-deserved award. “I think that with this prestigious award, I will always be reminded that success is all about love, perseverance, faith and discovering your life’s purpose. I have discovered mine through this journey — and that is to make my light shine through my deeds and with the work that I do so that others may see God’s work in my life and He may be glorified. I would want to share that to the world.”

Joby was only 23 when she started her first branch of Orange Blush Salon (OBS) on Del Pilar St., Cabanatuan City, with an initial capital of P30,000. “It may have been a small salon but my dreams were bigger. I knew that someday it will become a national brand,” she said during her acceptance speech.

“When I was just starting out, I had to balance work in the hospital (she has a degree in Medical Technology) and my newly acquired Orange Blush Salon. There was also a time, six months after we opened, that all my hairstylists were pirated by a nearby salon; leaving me and my manicurist to run the salon. But I believe that I have learned to be more creative and faithful through these trying times because behind these challenges were golden lessons in life learned.”

With Joby’s innate business acumen, hard work and determination, Orange Blush has expanded nationwide through franchising in Tarlac, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Batangas and Manila. In 2015, Joby also put up the Podium Special Events Center and NYORK (Not Your Ordinary Koffee) Café in Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, Cabanatuan City.

With all her successes, Joby still believes that the greatest blessing she has is her loving and supportive family. Her parents, siblings, husband Lawrence, and their three wonderful kids are her sources of inspiration. “Being a family woman; a daughter, sister, wife and a mother may be my biggest accomplishment. I think it takes guts and pure love for anyone to put one’s family first on top of all your priorities,” she explained. Joby follows a very hectic schedule every day but she believes in time management. “As they say, time management is really life management. Whatever you choose to focus on grows; so choose well.”

Engr. Jose Linsangan Jr., Dr. Leah Linsangan,Estrella Linsangan, Rep. Ria Vergara, Joby Linsangan-Moreno and Lawrence Moreno

When asked about her proudest moment as a parent and an entrepreneur, she answered, “As a parent, I am proudest when I see my kids happy and healthy and enjoying our company as their parents and living life to its fullest. And as an entrepreneur, I am proudest when I give my very best at everything I do; with all my heart and soul, and always being of service to others.”

Joby is now reaping the fruits of her labor but she doesn’t forget to give back to others, especially her fellow Cabanatueños. The Orange Institute of Fashion and the Arts is offering scholarship grants and job opportunities. (The Orange Institute of Fashion and the Arts is a TESDA-accredited training center that offers hairdressing program and employment to its graduates.)

Joby shared an advice she received when she was just starting her business. “I think that those who are just starting out with their own businesses should focus on one thing they are best at. God has given each one of us a unique gift. Our job is to find what that gift is. They should know what they can uniquely do and accomplish naturally that others can’t, and spend time and effort to nurture and develop that talent. Great ideas come once you have discovered who you really are and what you can do.”

Joby goes by the dictum, ora et labora  (prayer and work). She believes that all things are possible with God. 

She concluded her speech by saying, “I would like to give back all the glory and all praise to God Almighty who has made all things possible for me. Thank you, dear God, for blessing me with much more than I ever deserved. I am Joby Linsangan-Moreno, a child of God, a family woman, an entrepreneur, an artist and a proud Cabanatueño.”