Sarmiento Group of Companies -- A History

History of the Sarmiento Group of Companies
by P.S. Sarmiento

Lorenzo and I started the partnership of the 3 brothers -- now known as the Sarmiento Group of Companies. LS and I started with selling rice and kamote at the Hulong Duhat market in Malabon. We carried on our shoulders and pushed carts and retailed in this market. As soon as we accumulated capital we two bring rice from Malabon to Manila making one of my apartments on Main St. Sampaloc as our bodega.

The Kempetai of the Japanese Army came to know about this bodega of rice and the Japanese confiscated the bodega of rice that we had -- leading to the separation of the unwritten partnership of the three brothers.

FS was then working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. FS returned to San Jose del Monte and became a distributor of petroleum and many other items from a corporation similar to the National Marketing Corporation (NAMARCO). And for myself, I got a license from City Hall and put a welding shop, watch repair, and bicycle repair. I have not started my business yet. And when Lorenzo came to Manila, he saw I was in business, and he immediately game me P700 as his share, and he also gave another P700 as the share of our brother -- FS. FS objected having no confidence in me, that I can make good, because I am in a business that I do not know. This business started with a small amount plus the loan I got from my own real estate or 6 door apartment.

This business became successful. Later we move to a one door apartment at Rizal Ave. We transferred the business we have at Bangbang to Rizal Ave. opposite Cine Apollo. I was able to expand this to a 2 door apartment for which I repair wheel barrow, shovel, and picks. We have buy and sell of chemical, scrap, and others which I am selling to the Japanese. In the buy and sell, I was imprisoned at the Airport Studio at Azcarraga for buying scrap copper which was stolen by the seller. And because of this I was punished by the Japanese Kempetai and imprisoned for two weeks.

One night FS and myself were arrested in our homes and brought to Fort Santiago, a Japanese prison camp in Intramuros and we were punished by the Japanese. The Japanese wanted us to admit that we are supporting the guerillas in San Jose, Montalban, and San Juan Rizal, for which we did not accept. They started to torture us. They beat us up. They used water hose torture on our mouth and nose. And they imprisoned us. The prison conditions were so congested and unsanitary. They gave us spoiled food. FS got diarrhea. We sleep in a room where all the wastes were at our backs.

After two weeks we were transferred to the city jail and given also the same torture that we have in Fort Santiago. While we were in the city jail, because of my sufferring--no food, malnutrition, unsanitary conditions -- I became weak -- I got sick -- and just collapsed.
I cannot walk anymore unless with the help of FS and other companions. FS and I were sentenced to 17 years imprisonment by the Japanese staff who conducted the trial at the city jail. FS and I was brought to Muntinlupa to serve the 17 years imprisonment. In order that I can be brought to Muntinlupa, 4 prisoners have to carry me to the truck because I was suffering already the kind of dry beri-beri. It was the rainy season. When we reached Muntinlupa -- because I cannot move my hands and my legs -- all the other prisoners were brought to the shade and I was left alone in the rain. It was rainign very hard. That was the time I saw FS crying. he wants to help me -- but he cannot do anything.

We are very lucky because we were not separated in Muntinlupa. And as if FS was brought there just to take care of me. Without FS I am a dead man -- because nobody will help me. FS was the one who fed me in prison and bring me to the toilet. My conditin worsened and according to the doctors in Muntinlupa -- I may die anytime in 3 days -- if I am not given the medicine for my sickness. The recorder in Muntinlupa started to take my picture with my number. This person who took my picture requested my address at Rizal Ave. so he can meet with LS. When he visited our store at Rizal Ave., the Americans -- in order to liberate Manila -- have decided to bomb many places in Manila. LS was in San Jose and he left a message at our neighbor -- that LS has to buy all the medicines for my sickness -- thiamine chloride and injections -- or his brother is a dead man. By luck, LS came to the office at Rizal Ave. and got the message. He bought all the medicines. And from that time -- we were given sufficient food. PS who is supposed to die in three days -- was able to recover.

After 5 months in prison, we were released by the guerillas belong to PQOG. In going home, I just ride the cart pulled by a goat. I was brought to the 21st evacuation hospital in Muntinlupa for treatment. FS visited Manila and San Jose del Monte. He came to know about LS misfortune. Many people from San Jose where bombed by carpet bombing and thousands died including my mother, LS's first wife -- Leona, and all the children with exception of Dodie whose legs were also broken. I was released from the 21st Evacuation Hospital, brought to Mandaluyong Mental Institute where there were many casualties of war. Later I was brought to the Chinese General Hospital where LS and Dodie was also confined as a casualty of war due to bombing.

After several months we were all released and the American Occupation is now in Manila. FS being the strongest among the 3 brothers was the one to look for business, so that we will be able to live. LS return to San Jose del Monte and I stayed with FS at Felix Huertas where my family stayed during the Japanese time. Because we have no capital we sold our property at Governor Forbes and start buy and sell again in the other 2 door apartment in Rizal Ave. It did not stay long and the proceeds on the sale of the property -- we almost lost everything. Even if I am not strong yet, still limping and using a cane, I handle our buy and sell business and FS returned to the BIR.

Because of this, LS was forced to join me in Manila. So we become two. He handle procurement and I handle marketing. It was so successful that our business becomes very big and that we were able to buy many real estate such as 60 hectares in San Miguel, Bulacan, house and lot at Felix Huertas, property at Aranga.