Two books

Together, they give you 152 stories that show the endless possibilities of life, and of faith.

"Blessings in Disguise" is a nifty little (it’s only six inches square) book with 102 short anecdotes about instances that changed a person’s life, or outlook on life. The subtitle of the book is "Coincidence or miracle?" and it is the third in a series of such stories compiled by Flor Gozon Tarriela, currently chair of the Philippine National Bank and former undersecretary of finance, and her nephew Butch Jimenez, the whiz behind PLDT’s Retail Business Group and former award-winning movie producer ("Jose Rizal" and "Muro Ami").

The writers–or storytellers–are ordinary people made remarkable by their personal encounters with God that changed their lives, often through adversity and suffering. From debilitating, sometimes life-threatening illnesses or physical injury to promotions or rewards denied to serious financial setbacks, these people saw through the randomness of events, the cruelty of fate if you will, and rose above their circumstances to finally be in sync with divine purpose and, often, find themselves indeed in a better situation.

There are many recognizable names among the storytellers: showbiz characters like Gary Valenciano and Donita Rose, business people like Felipe Gozon, government names like Jovito Salonga and Jesli Lapuz. But their stories are just as interesting and remarkable as those whose names may not have as much recall value, for in each one the focal and crucial point is not so much the person or the circumstances, but God who has authored the "secret script" of each life. Reading these stories may just reveal to you that "the secret to seeing a blessing through its disguise lies in trusting that God is in control."

Joey Concepcion’s "Go Negosyo: 50 Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories" reveals the different layers and facets of cusiness success. The cast here is stellar: from the Zobel de Ayalas (patriarch Jaime and sons Jaime Augusto and Fernando) to the "Filipino version of Bill Gates" Dado Banatao to the Tantocos of Rustan’s to the taipans "Big John" Gokongwei and Henry Sy to the "new" taipans Alfredo Yao (Zesto) and Cecilio Pedro (Hapee), these 50 success stories should inspire everyone to, indeed, go negosyo!

Most of these stories have been oft-told and are probably familiar to most. But the value of this book is that it has all these stories in one handy volume, written in very readable prose, with pictures to boot! It is something you can have lying around, to be picked up every so often, to read a story or two, or three, and go away feeling not only good but, hopefully, inspired to grab that opportunity, to finally work on that brilliant idea you’ve had simmering on the back burner for the longest time, to turn an idea into the next entrepreneurial success story.

The possibilities are there, the miracles are waiting to be discovered among the coincidences and circumstances of everyday life.