I got into the taxicab feeling stressed, out of breath, and worried. The to-do list in my mind felt heavier than the bags of school supplies and groceries I was carrying. It was a blah and tiring kind of day.

Then the cabdriver, let’s call him Mang Tonyo, spoke and my day went from blah to amazing.

“Ma’am, meron po kayong mga lumang libro pang high school? (Ma’am, do you have old books for high school students?)” his voice was pleasant enough, but I stiffened, thinking he was going to sell me something.

In Filipino, “po” is an expression of respect, the way “usted” is in Spanish.

“Wala eh, sorry (No, sorry.),” I said, determined not to give additional information that would make him continue the conversation.

“Nagtatanong po kasi ako sa mga pasahero, baka sakali pwede kong mabili ng mura. (You see, I ask my passengers, just in case I can buy secondhand books cheaper),” Mang Tonyo continued. Hmm. My personal finance antenna started beeping.

Mang Tonyo reached for a battered list of books tucked into the car visor. Although Recto (that’s a known for secondhand books) was cheap, this way was even cheaper, he said. In fact, one passenger had already given him an English textbook, refusing payment.

By then, I felt like giving Mang Tonyo any textbook I have in the house, unfortunately, my eldest daughter is in high school herself. From our conversation, I learned that Mang Tonyo’s two daughters are disciplined students: the eldest a scholar in a local college and who graduated salutatorian in high school while the second one is also top in her class, and the school shoulders half her tuition.

At one point in our conversation, I commented that education nowadays has become too expensive. “Buti pa nga po kayo, nakabili na ng notebook at mga gamit. (At least, you already bought notebooks and school things),” he said, as he glanced at my packages.

I felt like the ultimate social klutz. Did my voice sound like I was whining, I wondered. What an insensitive comment.

As I thought about Mang Tonyo, I realized that a common question out there is this: Do I have a chance of getting rich?

With our country being a third world country, social services at a horrendous state, the economy in a constant state of arrested development, and financial literacy very poor, does everybody have an equal chance at aiming for wealth?

I believe Mang Tonyo——and each Filipino-—has a chance. True wealth starts with the word “can.” If there is one thing I have learned as a financial journalist of more than a decade, there are money stories out there from ordinary people (not the Ayalas or Gokongweis or Sys) that show it is possible to dream, work hard, and benefit from good money management.

This blog is all about those money stories. I will share my personal money stories, as well as the stories of those I interview in the course of my work. For you, I will break down what to do and what not to do, so that all of us can break through our personal financial barriers, and reach our dreams. Some of you may have read my previous work at INQUIRER.net’s MoneySmarts. MoneyStories is now my writings’ new home.

Yesterday was Father’s Day. I wish I could have a chance to greet Mang Tonyo a happy Father’s Day. I am confident that he teaches his daughters things about money they will greatly need in life, just by his example.

For you Mang Tonyo:

Keep thinking you can.
Keep working hard.
Develop your simple creativity.

And that goes for all of us.