ABUCAY, Bataan- “Lack of formal education is not a hindrance to success.”

This was proven by Jacqueline Garcia Ferrer-dela Cruz, a former peanut vendor who is now a successful businesswoman and runs a number of income-generating firms in Bataan together with her husband, Joey- Jacky, as fondly called by friends and relatives, reveals that she and her family used to live in poverty. Her mother was a “labandera” or washed other people’s clothes just to make ends meet.

Jacky rose from extreme poverty to great wealth.

“Diskarte, abilidad at paniniwala sa Diyos ang aking naging gabay sa pag-angat ko sa buhay,” shared Jacky and her low-profile and soft-spoken husband Joey.

“Di porke’t mahirap ka na ay wala ka nang mararating sa buhay. Basta masipag, madiskarte, ‘wag kang mang-aapak sa kapwa mo at wag kang makakalimot sa itaas,” addedJacky.

“Kung dun ka inilagay ng Diyos, makakarating ka at magtatagumpay ka,” stressed Jacky as she pointed out that poverty is not a stumbling block to success.

Jacky, 38, revealed how she worked hard day and night in the far-flung desert of Qatar at a very young age.

“Di ako nahiniyang sabihin na nagtinda pa ako ng mani sa edad kong limang taon. Pero marunong na akong kumanta during that time; kumakanta rin ako sa mga lamayan,” she recalled.

At the young age of 17, Jacky or Jacqueline worked as a domestic helper in Qatar, despite difficulty in speaking English.

Jacky said she held her head high despite her job as a domestic helper.

Her perseverance ad industriousness caught the attention of her boss, a Qatari-Irani national.

“Natuwa siguro yung boss kong Arabo dahil masipag naman ako. Sanay akong magtrabaho, working during daytime while singing at night to earn extra income for my family left behind in Bataan,” recalled Jacky.

Jacky was able to study 20 Arabic languages, further boosting her chance to earn more in Qatar. “Kumakanta na ako nun ng Arabic songs,” she added.

Being engaged in business construction, Jacky, a fast-learner, was able to learn a lot from it, prompted her boss to promote her as supervisor in the company.

“Pinagkatiwalaan akong maging visor ng boss ko, matapos niya akong pag aralin ng basic sa business management,” recalled Jacky.

Owing to her good reputation, Jacky was able to petition a number of her close relatives from Bataan to also work in Qatar.

Jacky’s relatives dubbed her as “superwoman,” and is idolized by her clan.

After working nine years in Qatar, Jacky returned home and put up various businesses.

“Di ako nakipag-relasyon sa Middle East. Trabaho lang talaga. Hanggang na-meet ko ang aking husband ngayon na si Joey dela Cruz from Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. Joey was a seaman who rose from the ranks to become a ship captain for years, a juicy position with a gargantuan salary. Pinagdasal kong makatagpo ako ng mapapangasawang maski matanda na basta responsable, may maayos na trabaho at kaya akong mahalin habambuhay,” recalled Jacky with laugher.

“Dininig ng Diyos ang aking panalangin dahil ang ibinigay niya ay bata na, pogi pa,” she mused.

Since couple’s business were booming, Jacky asked Joey to stop working as a seaman and help her run the business;

The couple now runs J4REB Corp,. s batching plant; J4 Cruz Trucking Services, JCruz Construction Trading, Bataan Crown, a subdivision business, the soon-to-open FDG spa and salon and the Sta Maria crushing plant in Ilocos Sur.

The couple’s workers enjoy free food. “Naging emplyado rin ako kaya alam ko ang hirap ng isang kawani,” added Jacky.

Jacky also helps those in need and those who have nobody to turn to.

“Noon pa man ay tumutulong na ako sa mga mahihirap, pero di ako lumalantad; tahimik lang kung nagbibigay ako ng tulong sa mga mahihirap,” said Jacky.

Meanwhile, former board member Dante Manalaysay, also a successful businessman, describes Jacky as friendly, easily-approach and a happy person. “Dadami pa kaibigan nito at magiging mabuti sa business niya dahil maganda ang PR nya,” he added.