Taruc, the owner of St. Louis Furniture in Bulacan, grew up poor in Pampanga but took inspiration from her carpenter father.
She said despite not having enough money, her father was able to support her and her siblings.
“Mayroon siyang dalang isda, siya pa ang magluluto. Nakahiga kami sa isang kulambo para kaming mga biik. Pagkatapos ay gigisingin niya kami at papakainin niya kami,” she told “My Puhunan.”
However, there was one thing her father could not provide for them: education.
Taruc said she knew then that going to school will help her find success later in life, and she strove to support herself so she could finish college.
“Sinabihan ko ‘yung tatay ko na kahit wala akong baon, kahit maglakad lang ako papunta at pauwi. ‘Yung mga kapitbahay namin, pinag-iigib ko noon, P2, P5, masaya na ko doon kasi kahit papano may baon ako,” she said.
After graduating, Taruc helped her father in carpentry instead of looking for a job.
Time came when Taruc had to leave her home and start her own family, and eventually, her own business.
She opened up a furniture shop in Bulacan with her husband, but bad luck struck their business which forced them to shut it down.
“May tumawag sa amin na nasusunog ‘yung pwesto namin. Ngayon, parang katapusan na ng mundo ng mister ko kasi hindi siya sanay na ang naipundar mo ay biglang mawawala,” she said.
While Taruc struggled to recover from the losses, her husband worked in Italy.
Through a loan of P5,000, Taruc re-opened the furniture shop and found success making hand-crafted furniture.
Taruc’s husband returned to the Philippines and focused on St. Louis Furniture, which now supplies furniture to a number of mansions, restaurants, and hotels in the country.
Taruc’s creations are also being used in the newly-built Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
“Sinasabi nga nila, nasa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa. Kailangan kumilos ka, huwag ka dumepende. Dumiskarte ka, kayanin mo kahit hindi mo kaya kailangan katabi mo si Lord,” she said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
