a province of Bohol in the Islands of the Visayas, Philippines.
People from the province just like me, who viewed Manila as
A PARADISE!
Bohol is famous for its chocolate hills.
This is one of the seven wonders of the world,
And the smallest monkey in the world, The Tarsier from my Province Bohol.
I started working as a baker earning P15.00/mo. in 1969.
During weekends I do some side line, working in a hollow
blocks factory. During rainy season, I help my father do
farming. I do some fishing at night also since our house is
just few meters away from the seashore. I sometimes fight
in the ring just to earn P15.00 for a three rounds.
Life in the province could hardly met both ends. I was a
self supporting student from high school to college. I was
out of school for 5yrs. after high school! And it took me
9 yrs. to finish my marketing course!
Bohol is famous also for its fiesta. The entire month of May,
there’s no day that there’s no fiesta in different barrios and towns.
Check the schedules from this link:
http://visit-bohol.blogspot.com/2012/04/fiesta-calendar-of-bohol-towns.html
It was during this month of may of 1975, that one of our
neighbor took a vacation with his family from Manila just
to attend our town fiesta. I did not know him personally
since they’d been in Manila for so long long.
I saw this as an opportunity! I talked to my father asking
help from him to introduce me to the person because my
plan was to apply even as a house helper so I can see the
big city of Manila. I told my father even without salary as long
as I can reach the Big of Manila. To us from the Province, We look at Manila as a Paradise!
Since they were friends, I was accepted and the He told me to produce money for my
own fare. The fare during that time from Bohol to Manila
taking a ship was only PHP45.00. I have to approach my
Aunt for my fare and she lend PHP65.00. I only have
PHP15.00 left in my pocket when we arrived in Manila May
17, 1975.
First day, I was toured to his work place at Tropical Hut Super Mart.
The second day, I went back to his work place
without his knowledge an applied for a janitorial job.
There requirements that was asked from me, and on the 5th
day I submitted all the requirements and started working.
They were all shocked when I told them that I will start
working in the same company. Good they were not mad at me,
instead they were all happy for me! There were some people
who were staying in the same house some of them were their
relatives who were jobless for more than a year.
This was the start of my life story in Manila! I thought
it was really a Paradise at the start, it was not! It was only
then after passing through the process of success!
I started working as a janitor, then few months later, I
became a friend to my Branch Manager. I asked favor from
him for me to be assign in a department where working
schedule is fixed so I can attend my night classes in
college. My request was granted and i was assigned then to
the warehouse department.
I was the smallest guy in the warehouse. During that time
I only weigh 105 lbs. When I was introduced to the head of
the warehouse. He shocked his head and told the Manager
what will he do here? This is a heavy job! I need big
guys! The Manager told the head of the warehouse, no
problem, he is used to do hard labor, He is also a boxer. I
was accepted in that department, then I started working at
the warehouse department and eventually enrolled in my
night classes in college.
Since my salary was only P4.00/day, it’s not enough for my
tuition fees. I talked to my land lord to sell the idea of
putting up a hot pandesal since I know how to bake and
they buy the idea. I had an extra income of P80.00/month
and I was free for my board and lodging. My schedule at
Tropical Hut was 8:00am to 4:00pm, and i have to attend to
my evening classes starting from 6:00pm up to 10:00pm.
I'll be home by 11:00pm. and started working for the hot
pandesal at 11:30pm.,and finish it at around 1:30 am. I
have to sleep at around 2:00pm and wake up at 4:30am. to
cook the bread and finish it at around 6:30am. I'll sleep
again for an hour and at around 7:30am I'll have to rush
to my job at Tropical Hut Super Market. This lasted for
more than two years until was already oriented in Manila I
started to scout for new opportunity.
I Transferred to Big 20 Hamburger Rest., A newly open Burger
Restaurant in 1977.
The Owner of this Restaurant was the the Sons of the former and Original owner of Tropical Hut who migrated to Australia and they return to the Philippines to operate the Big 20 Hamburger Rest.
From Left, Mr. Nandy Bondal-Big 20 Area Director, Peter Cadorna- Branch Manager, Jhovanny Lumanog-Asst. Area Director, Mario Sacal- Asst. Branch Manger. It was the first Christmas Party
of Big 20 Hamburger Rest. that was held in Max Rest. in Makati City, Philippines.
I started as a food clerk with Big 20, and got a several promotions. In a span of two yrs., I became
a Branch Manager in one of the 9 Branches. My foundation on Managerial and Leadership skills started in this Company. From here on, My mind start to think of a a Big Time Income!
I started to venture into Real Estate Selling Business in 1978! The easy way to make a huge income
with a limited seed money to start.
I happened to met a home town mate who worked at V.V.
Soliven Realty. This was the biggest Real Estate Marketing
firm during that time, and I was invited to attend the
seminar for Real Estate selling.
This was the start of my real estate career on this Building V.V. Soliven Shopping Complex!
It was not wine and roses at the start,
I have to pass through the acid test of survival
since this time, it’s a commission basis no salary!
For four months I did not close a single sale. Many times
during the start that I experienced one day one eat so to
speak. I even have to dropped my enrolled units several times
during my first few years in college while i start my Real
Estate Selling Career.
It took me nine yrs. to finish my Marketing course.
It was an on and off since there was no permanent income.
What matter most to me was, my mind set was to succeed in life!
No matter what and how hard will it take. I was determined to succeed!
I knew that the road to success is not that easy. I was mentally, physically
and emotionally prepared to meet any type of challenges and frustrations
along my way towards Success.
This was the University of Hard Knocks that i was studying for a long time!
I eventually conquered it!
In January of 1981, a Group of V.V. Soliven people forming a new Real Estate
Company. It was headed by Noel Carino- V.V. Soliven Branch Manager, Bob Sobrepena- V.V.
Soliven Training Director/Marketing Manager, Atty. Ferdie Santos- V.V. Soliven Legal Officer.
They form Fil-Estate Realty, a Real Estate Marketing Company which eventually became a big time
Real Estate Developer in the 90's. These 3 leaders became a Billionaire in the Real Estate Business.
I joined them from the start in 1981, And i was one of those pioneer in the Company. The reason
why i join was, I believed that in a small Company, You can fill the passion of the the owners in
operating the Business because i experienced it at Big 20 Rest. Since Real Estate Business is Big
time, I want to know the ins and out of the Business.
This is the Fil-Estate Head Quarters at Renaissance Tower 1 along Meralco Ave. Pasig City
My office as a Sr. Vice President for Sales of Fil-Estate Network Inc., One of the four Real Estate
Marketing Companies of Fil-Estate Group was at the 3rd flr. of Renaissance Tower.
From Left: Peter Cadorna-Fil-Estate Area Sales Director, Diome Olandres-Branch Manger, Andrew Tan-Unit Manager, Sonia Lee- Branch Manger, Albert Dela Torre-Branch Manger. This was one of Fil-Estate Annual Conference held in Green Valley Country Club in Baguio City, Philippines
As a Vice President for Sales, I have 5 Areas under my Division 26 which are headed by Are Sales Director. This is the Area headed by Gloria Roque estreme right with here Branch Managers: Yvonne Peralta, Sonia Lee, Fil Ignacio, Albert Dela Torre & Diome Olandres.
One of the Training Programs that my Branch Managers must attend. "Covenant Leadership Adventure"
In 1996, I bought my Brand New BMW 1997 Model.
I put up my Boxing Stable where i Manage nine boxers and was able to developed one
Philippine Champion on the light weight division in 1992.
Darry "Boy" Caballes was the pride of our Stable! After
two months of being the Philippine Light Weight Champion,
He fought for a none title fight against Armando Andales
in preparation for a title defense. This was the saddest
part because after the fight, he was brought to the
hospital and died due to blood clotting in some area of
his nick. I will discuss the full details from his death
up to his burial where i experienced full of tensions.
I discuss this full story on my blog entitled My Boxing Stable.
Let me proceed on my studies, I continued attending training programs and seminars.
I even invested a lot of money in my post graduate courses just to sharpen my
knowledge and skills.
I took up my TOP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
COURSE (TMP) in ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (AIM) that
was held in PHUKET THAILAND in JUNE of 1997 where i spent
almost P500,000.00 for one month course including Hotel
accommodation and plane ticket.
In Fil-Estate, This is where I found the light towards my success!
I stayed with this company for more than 20 yrs..
I got married in 1980 and we got three children all boys.
I was assigned for an International Post in the Middle
East particularly in Jeddah Saudi Arabia in 1985. I was
the country manager to handle the sales and marketing of
Fil_Estate. We sell Real Estate in the Philippines to the
Filipino community in the Middle East. When I left for the
Middle East, my wife was four months pregnant to my
youngest son. I stayed there for almost two years.
One and a half year later, I got a news from a close
friend of mine telling me that my wife was with another
man and three months pregnant.
Could you imagine receiving such news while experiencing
homesick in the foreign land? I decided to go home after I have
talked to my wife and we agree on who will take care of the children.
She decided that she will endorse the kids to me when I arrive. Their
age during that time the youngest was one yr. old, He was
born In Nov. 5, 1985 the second was three yrs. old, Born
in Aug. 15 1984 and the eldest was five yrs. old, born in
November 27, 1981.
I took the responsibility and now my youngest is 24yrs as
of yr. 2009. Old who is the one assisting me In preparing
this site since he is a computer science student. My
second son is working now in the Citi Group in a call
center, and my eldest is now in the United States as an
Immigrant. I’d been a single parent since then, Managing
my kids and my career successfully. My last position when
I left this company was Sr. Vice President for sales until
I resigned in 1999 when left for the states.
I came back from the States a year later and I was hired
by a Big Real Estate Developer as a President of Earthlink
Realty Corp., a subsidiary of Earth + Style Corp. I was a
president of this company until year 2003. It was my very
strong determination to succeed in life that lead me to be
successful. I’ve traveled in Asia, Middle East and a lot of places in
the USA including Hawaii, Orlando, Miami, Detroit, California etc.
Canada, Cancun Mexico.
As i always say, SUCCESS IS JUST A MIND GAME! WHAT YOU
THINK TODAY, IS THE PREVIEW OF YOUR TOMORROW!
Thanks for Your time,
Sincerely,
Peter E. Cadorna
Author
1 comment:
i salute you for the success that you've got despite of what you've gone through with your wife.congrats my friend and always share your blessings to the less fortunate and God will reward you a hundredfold.take care and hope to see you one of these days.
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