The Making of Bo Sanchez

Success is something that everyone dreams of.  But why is it some are able to reach the top and make their dreams come true  while others get stuck at the middle  unable to climb the ladder of success?  The answer is that most people who create their own vision of the future are weakened by  fear – fear of exploring possibilities, fear of failures, or fear of change.  They are in their comfort zones.   These are the very people who are afraid of the unknown – who would rather be in the safe default mode rather than experience failures.

Successful people, on the other hand, are driven by passion, the desire to  make their dreams a reality.  They push themselves to the limits and they create endless possibilities. These are the people who are never hindered by failures because they consider failures as part of success.  They use failures to their advantage.  

    Any one who knows Bo Sanchez gets to admire this Catholic preacher in his inspiring books and talks. Little do they know that he had undergone a lot of struggles before he became a religious icon.

    Throughout his academic life at the Ateneo de Manila University, he never became an achiever.  In fact, he almost failed his Math in grade school, had it not for his tutor's help, who happened to be his Math teacher, too.     In college, his composition was rated F or far below the standard.  It was only in the graduate school of Theology that he was recognized because of topping the  Theology  examination. He couldn’t believe seeing his name written on the board as topnotcher in the exam.  That perhaps boosted his morale.  From there, he learned to believe in himself and found his niche at last.

    Not only did he experience academic failures, he also suffered from emotional pains.  As a young boy, he was molested by his cousin, and as a teenager, he did suffer from similar shame when he was molested by his spiritual leader. Yet, despite such bad experiences, he continued his life struggling over spiritual battles as he grew closer to God.

    But as a young age of 13, he started preaching in a small Catholic prayer meeting, which later on has expanded and is now called Light of Jesus community with thousands of members.

    Did you know that this preacher has achieved so much in life? Who could ever imagine that a mediocre guy throughout his academic life would be acclaimed here and abroad?  He is a recipient of the following awards: Outstanding Young Man of the Philippines in 2006, Serviam Award – the highest honor given by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2007,  and Golden Gavel Award, the highest award given to non-toastmasters for public speaking in 2009.

     With Bo's failures, he learned to rise up.  Failures had never become a hindrance to his successes. You too can do what Bo did if you will only believe in God and in yourself.