In Metro Manila’s bustling commute, where the city’s heartbeat pulses loudest in terminals and transport lines, one man quietly charted a path that would lead him far beyond the confines of his modest beginnings.
From selling snacks on buses to owning a ₱15-million dream home in Baliwag, Bulacan, this vendor’s journey is not just inspiring—it’s a declaration of what sheer grit, patience, and vision can achieve in the hands of an everyday Filipino.
“Magmamahalan kayo, mabubuo niyo ang dream house na gusto niyo.” Pehrie Cruz said in an interview with OG.
“When you’re building your own house, be happy. Hindi lang ako dapat ang masaya, dapat pati yung mga tao na gumagawa dito sa bahay ko masaya,” he added.
He wasn’t born into wealth, nor did he have access to big capital or influential connections. Pehrie was born into a broken family and was not able to finish studies, but what he had was hustle.
Day in and day out, he carried trays of drinks, candies, and biscuits, weaving through aisles of crowded buses with a disarming smile and a sharp eye for opportunity. He knew the rhythm of the city.
He learned the preferences of his daily passengers. And most importantly, he understood that every sale, no matter how small, was a step toward something bigger.
He shared that when his parents separated, his father honestly told him if he wanted to continue his studies, he had to work, and it led him to being a bus vendor. He sent himself to school and finished high school.
He tried enrolling for college but circumstances did not let him finish. Now 38, he still cannot believe he’s now the owner of his multi-million-peso dream house.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight. For years, he endured the blistering heat, the chaos of rush hour, and the quiet shame that sometimes comes with a job the world too often overlooks.
But he never lost sight of his goal. He saved what he could, reinvested wisely, and slowly scaled his operations. From one tray to two, from two to a team. What was once a one-man hustle became a modest business.
He remained on the ground, never too proud to work alongside his helpers, and never too comfortable to stop growing.
“Minsan nga naitanong ko sa Panginoon, ‘Bakit ako? Bakit ganito? Hindi na perfect ang pamilya ko ‘tapos ganito pa ako.’” Pehrie said.
But then it “sunk in” that he can create his own life, away from the brokenness of the world, and so he kept his fire for life alive.
When he met his wife, they expanded their business to the food industry with ihaw-ihaw, crispy pata, and other grilled products. Pehrie emphasized that he was fearless when it comes to starting any venture as this is all he has ever known since being a young child.
Entering risks led him to a friend who taught him how to buy, sell and trade second hand cars and he succeeded. He would continue questioning God and what gave him comfort was this passage: Isaiah 60:22, “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”
The turning point came when he decided to put down permanent roots—not just metaphorically, but in brick and stone. He built a home worth ₱15 million. A home not just of luxury, but of dignity.
It was a reward for every early morning, every peso set aside, and every challenge overcome. The house, with its open spaces and clean design, is now a sanctuary for his family.
It stands as a monument to resilience, perched not in an exclusive village behind guarded gates, but firmly in reach of the world he came from. He never left the people who shaped his journey behind.
“Naisip ko na, ‘Eto lang ako dati, e, isang bus vendor, and then eto na ako ngayon. Hindi naman sobrang taas. Pero, at least, hindi na katulad ng dati. Sabi nga nila, malayo na, pero malayo pa.” Pehrie said.
Life indeed isn’t the absence of struggles but a process of choosing it but continuing to choose growth, and with his wife, he shared that he can conquer it all.
His story echoes deeply because it is grounded in truth—the kind that many Filipinos live every day. There are no shortcuts here. No overnight success, no viral moment.
Just the unglamorous, gritty process of building something from almost nothing. It’s a story that belongs to countless vendors, drivers, helpers, and laborers who dare to dream beyond their daily grind.
What makes his rise truly remarkable is that he never traded in his values for profit. He kept things simple, honest, and purposeful. He valued relationships—passengers who turned into loyal customers, and fellow vendors who became business partners.
He didn’t chase quick wins; he built a foundation that could weather uncertainty. And when the house was finally finished, it wasn’t just a personal win. It became a beacon for others—proof that success is not exclusive to the privileged or the well-connected.
In a world that often celebrates the flashy and the fast, this man’s story brings us back to what truly matters. That ambition, when rooted in heart and hard work, bears fruit. That the Filipino dream, though challenged by hardship and inequality, is still very much alive.
So to the man who once sold crackers on a crowded bus and now rests his head under the roof he built with his own two hands—saludo kami sa’yo. You are not just a vendor. You are a visionary. A reminder that every journey—no matter how humble—can lead to something extraordinary.
