A heart of gold

There’s an imposing statue on the west service road leading to the Sucat toll exit on the South Superhighway and commuters invariably look out the window of their passenger bus to admire the 14-foot bronze monument of a Filipina depicting ‘Ang Inang Bayan’ as they drive by.

Noel Escultura’s fiberglass sculpture stands close to the entrance of the Natrapharm group’s office building on half a hectare of prime Paranaque property. The statue is Natrapharm president Rudi Runes, Sr.’s expression of nationalism, his way of exhorting each and every Filipino "to show and share with others true love for our country."

In an industry dominated by multinationals, Natrapharm is uniquely Filipino and Runes is proud of it.

Runes calls it the Patriot Building and for good reason. The fa’ade is a reflection of his nationalistic fervor. The entrance arch, also executed by Escultura, is a collective portrait of 10 national heroes’Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Emilio Jacinto, Antonio Luna, Apolinario Mabini, Marcela Agoncillo, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar and Gabriela Silang.

Runes inherited his uncompromising love of country from his father who was a nationalist, writer, educator and Rizalist.

I became acquainted with the Runes family close to over 15 years ago. His chief lieutenant Balty Gasgonia and son Rudi, Jr., or Nonong, called me one day to ask if I could endorse some of Natrapharm’s products.

I went over to their office, then at the Don Tim Building on the South Superhighway, and met Runes whom I found to be amiable, sincere and thoroughly dedicated to the mission of providing a beneficial means of livelihood for his employees. I knew immediately he was a man of consequence.

Apparently, I was called in because Runes was a huge basketball fan and an avid reader of The Star’s sports section. I remember he confided to me once his favorite team was Sta. Lucia Realty. And I will never forget he told me he cringes when he hears the word ‘Pinoy’ because it somehow connotes disrespect for the Filipino.

What evolved was a personal relationship that has grown from year to year. Whatever contract that Natrapharm would offer, I signed with no questions asked. That’s how much I believed in Runes.

Although my contract has now long expired, I am proud to say I remain a part of the Natrapharm family.

Today, the Natrapharm group has over 300 employees with more than 1,000 dependents in its care. The group is composed of Natrapharm and Patriot Pharmaceuticals, firms that are engaged in the marketing and distribution of medicinal products through licensing agreements. Its expanding work force includes medical representatives and pharmacists who operate through a nationwide network.

Last Saturday, my wife Menchu and I were at the Natrapharm building to celebrate the 45th wedding anniversary of the Runeses. The festivities started with a Mass in the Jose Rizal Hall. After dinner, several employees were featured in a song-and-dance program that had a distinct nationalistic flavor. The employees performed an Ifugao-inspired dance in authentic native costumes.

Runes’ story is inspiring. A Lyceum journalism graduate, he went off to work at a fish farm in Ozamiz City in 1960 with new bride Letty Portes. His wife was a weekend short of completing her bar exams as an aspiring lawyer when she decided to devote the rest of her life to the man of her dreams.

Mrs. Runes didn’t know how to cook but somehow, managed to always put food on the table–even if only buko and pan de sal–whenever her husband came home from work.

Runes eventually went back to Manila and became a salesman of office machines. He later joined Zuellig Pharma and enjoyed a distinguished professional career. Runes then became president of a multinational pharmaceutical company whose ownership repeatedly changed because of constant buyouts and mergers that were negotiated abroad.

Finally, in 1990, Runes decided to set up a wholly Filipino-owned pharmaceutical company with Gasgonia who was then 29. That signaled the birth of Natrapharm.

Gasgonia recalled that Runes and he often met at McDonald’s on Sucat to lay out the plans of their new venture. Who would’ve imagined that 15 years later, that venture is now a successful enterprise that is a significant contributor to the growth of the Philippine economy.

To toast the Natrapharm group’s 15th anniversary last July, Runes treated the entire workforce to an all-expenses-paid trip to Hong Kong for four days and three nights. More than 300 employees were split into two planes for the flight. And when they went on a city tour, nine tourist buses were mobilized for the drive around town. What’s more, each employee was given a P20,000 allowance as pocket money.

Over half of the employees had never traveled before and Natrapharm took care of their passport expenses, too.

At their 45th wedding anniversary, the Runeses were a picture of a happy and fulfilled couple. They have four children–Ruth, Oli, Anna and Nonong–and seven grandchildren. Their son Oli passed away nine years ago.

Runes jokingly said he couldn’t have made a mistake in choosing his wife because they’ve had three renewals of their wedding vows since their marriage. They also celebrated their 25th and 40th anniversaries.

Runes is now 72 and still reports for work everyday. But he likes to spend most of the day with his family, often leaving the office early to take lunch with his wife. He has entrusted the reins of the Natrapharm group to his senior management team although he continues to be on top of things.

Runes is truly an extraordinary man, a practicing Catholic, a true nationalist, a doting husband, father and grandfather, a friend forever and a model citizen with a heart of gold. He sets a fine example for all of us to follow.