At 101 years old, National Book Store’s co-founder Socorro Ramos continues to inspire people with her hard work, passion, and humility Born on Sept. 23, 1923, Socorro Ramos, the matriarch behind National Book Store (NBS), celebrated her 101st birthday this year. With more than a century of life behind her, Nanay Coring, as she is fondly called by those close to her, has witnessed not only personal milestones as a woman, mother, and businesswoman but also pivotal moments in Filipino history.
In 1942, Nanay Coring and her late husband, Jose Ramos, founded NBS, one of the largest retail chains for books, school supplies, and office supplies in the country. They secured a license from Hallmark in 1974 to produce greeting cards and other items. Then, in 1988, she founded Cacho Publishing, Inc.
In 2004, she established the National Book Store Foundation, Inc., the company’s social arm dedicated to uplifting the lives of underprivileged children through education. These are just a few of the many milestones Nanay Coring has achieved.
There’s no doubt that the recipient of the 1988 Pres. Corazon Aquino Gintong Ina Award for the Business and Industry Sector has many stories to share about her remarkable life. Throughout her years, Nanay Coring has touched countless lives, especially those of the people who worked and continue to work at NBS.
This year, to honor her and her significant contributions to society, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle spoke with two of NBS’s legacy employees .