On a sunny afternoon, content creator Mark Anthony Cruz, who has 3.1 million Facebook followers, welcomed ABS-CBN News into his large, modern home, which he described as “the result of his hard work, not luck.”
“I do not believe in the element of luck. Yes, you can receive that ounce of luck, but only for a limited time. To be successful, you must put in the effort and believe in yourself,” he told ABS-CBN News.
Cruz, who comes from a low-income family in a squatter neighborhood next to the railway tracks in Tondo, discovered early on that success took time.
“Lumaki ako sa Tondo. ‘Yung lola ko, nagtitinda ng baboy sa palengke. Tinutulungan ko siya. Taga-deliver ako ng pork sa mga bahay-bahay. Tapos nagluluto ako sa carinderia ng nanay ko. Nag-iihaw din ako ng barbecue,” Cruz recalled.
Noting that having a grind mentality helped him reach a comfortable life, he continued, “A lot of individuals believe that you can just live the life you desire. Believe me, my grind attitude helped me accomplish all of my current success, including cars, big homes, and a profitable business. You become resilient and motivated to achieve success after emerging from survival mode.”
“Kapag ang tao, gustong magbago ang buhay, maraming paraan,” he added.
But, before building his now-successful business Dragon’s Project, the 45-year-old entrepreneur faced setbacks and failures.
“My cousin defrauded me. I experienced numerous business setbacks. One heartbreaking story is that I rapidly lost my first million as well. Before you become big, you have to go through these experiences,” he shared.
Describing his concept of success now, he told ABS-CBN News, “And now that I have this financial prosperity, I realize that it does not bring me true joy.”
“What brings me joy is my family, particularly my wife, who held my hands when I was nothing. And now I’m holding her hands because she still has trouble moving her body and speaking clearly because of the brain tumor she had during the pandemic,” he opened up.
Those who follow him and his wife Jayzel Anneile Raniego-Cruz on social media have grown to look up to them as role models for perseverance in both health and illness.
While his wife’s looks changed as a result of the brain tumor, he never left and still loves and cares for her.
Teary-eyed, the entrepreneur expressed, “I am extremely fortunate to have my wife. I could not picture my life without her. I did all of this because of her. I admire her bravery and the love she pours out despite her circumstances. What a woman.”
On Facebook, the couple posts funny and inspiring videos. Cruz recounted what occurred to her wife in one of their posts, which elicited a wide range of comments from internet users. One comment stated that they exemplify what true love is.
“She means everything to me. I adore her so much. Every day, I am inspired by her strength. While my brand, Dragon’s Project, has been successful and continues to expand, my wife is the most valuable gift I have,” he shared with ABS-CBN News.
Dragon’s Project was founded in December 2024 with a simple yet strong vision: to inspire, empower, and provide long-term earning opportunities to people from all walks of life.
Mentored by Frontrow’s Sam Verzosa and Raymond Francisco, Cruz said he wants his brand to help more Filipinos.
“In this generation, people want freedom, flexibility, and financial growth. Dragon’s Project was built to help ordinary people create extraordinary opportunities for themselves and their families,” he stated.
“When you help others thrive alongside you, your own success becomes more significant. Our mission is to create a global ecosystem in which people may learn, earn, and work together to construct a better future,” he ended.
Original Source: ABSCBN – https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/6/13/jimuel-pacquiao-weds-carolina-pimentel-in-california-ceremony-1930
