In time, my Mom became better known as Sally. And Sally was quite an entrepreneur.
My first memories of my Mom as a business woman start with her export of exporting wooden carvings, salad bowls and plates to the United States in paertnership with good friend Mrs. Tamesis. AbTam (Abrera Tamesis Enterprises), a home-based workshop, flourished for some time until the two partners couldnt meet the expanding demand for wooden sculptures and other products. Then my mother met Mrs. Clarafina Ventura, a master cutter with American experience and together they set up Rosafina Dresses, a shop on Espana Extension in Quezon City with a target clientile of American ladies of JUSMAG. As a child, I enjoyed looking at beautiful dresses at L’Officiel magazine, chatting away with dressmakers and seamstresses (the shop must have done good business, Rosafina had a crew of at least 6 dressmakers!). When my parents moved to Bangkok, Rosafina closed but a little boutique store at the Sta. Mesa Market stayed on. In Sta. Mesa Market, my Mom stocked up on Thai Bangkok goods, usually bolts of dfferent colored silk, silver and copper bracelets and bronzeware that Bangkok was so well known for.
During that period, I traveled with her to source her products, either to the Laguna province (for wooden products of Paete), a Manila central market (for baby dresses that she would restyle) or to a Bangkok side street for her bronze products. My mother’s small business enterprises provided her opportunities to stretch her abilities in finance, negotiating and marketing; her earnings brought a higher quality of life and contentment at home. She liked to call herself as a “housewife” but looking back, I am convinced she created and conserved the economic resources/assets of our family.
My Father's Gifts 
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