I came from Manila to Toronto early 1989 thinking
that I would be pursuing a career either in banking or engineering
field because of my work experience with international financing institution
and a degree in mechanical engineering.
Recession was on the rise during this period and for a new immigrant
without the so-called "Canadian Experience" I ended
up accepting jobs that I don't really enjoy doing.
Of course years ago, back in the Philippines, I am already well involved
in tenpin bowling not only in competition but also in administration.
I became the President of Tenpin Bowling Association of Makati, the
biggest and the most active association in the country during that
time and I also served as member of the board of directors of the
Philippine Bowling Congress, the national governing body of tenpin
bowling of the country. Little did I know then that I'll be pursuing
a career along this field.
I first developed an interest in drilling when most ball drillers
you could find in the Greater Toronto Area and suburbs are drilling
bowling balls with little thought, as this is how it has always been
done. There was no regard for how a bowler threw the ball and if the
customer is gutsy enough to tell the ball driller that it doesn't
feel right, they either make the hole bigger or tell the customer
that he/she just doesn't know how to properly release the bowling
ball. I strongly believe that blisters, calluses, broken fingernails
and possible inflamed finger joints are not part of learning the game
of bowling. In early 1990 I started assisting Jun Bulatao who owns
a pro shop inside Paradise Lanes in Scarborough and he introduced
me to the ABC's of ball drilling. This experience led me to read Bill
Taylor's Fitting and Drilling a Bowling Ball and Larry Lichstein
"Profitable Pro Shop". These two books opened my mind
to logic and creative thinking. I can say that my engineering background
had prepared me best to understand the science of ball drilling and
the game of bowling.
 |
 |
I opened Bowler's Corner Pro
Shop inside Wilson Pro Bowl in 1993 and operated it full time.
With the assistance of my best friend Hernane Gacho back in
the Philippines we developed my distinctive logo. My logo is
embroidered on all bowling shirts that I wear and of my employees
every time we work in the shop, bowl in a league or in a tournament.
I take great pride in what I do and keep trying some new innovations
in many areas of the pro shop business. I always wanted to update
my knowledge in bowling. I read every books and magazines available,
attend seminars, and continue to question how things are done.
Listening and learning from others, was the best way, especially
from a more experienced and knowledgeable "people"
in this industry, which I was able to meet when I joined the
International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association
(IBPSIA). |
I considered myself lucky because Ron Hoppe, who then informed the
attendee about IBPSIA, conducted the first bowling ball manufacturer's
seminar that I attended in the late 1993.
| My first pro shop location was small
and cramped with a total area for drilling and display of about
seven by nine feet. I always dreamed of a well-stocked pro shop
so, in 1998 I moved to a location in Palstan Rd. this time outside
a bowling center but close by to a 48-lane Brunswick Recreation
Center in Mississauga which at that time is operating their
own in-house pro shop. After a few months of operation in my
new location, the BRC General Manager and his Asst. Manager
started inquiring if I am interested to lease their pro shop
space considering that most of their customers are starting
to go to my shop anyways. |
|
 |
 |
|
The finalization of my shop moving
in-center again did not happen until Brunswick had a new General
Manager in summer 2000. The pro shop was in a prime location
right beside control desk and a display area of about eight
by twelve feet with floor to ceiling glass wall right across
and with enclosed back room of the same size. In a short period
of time I have made many changes in the shop to make it more
customer friendly. Then the corporation renovated the bowling
center to be their Canadian showcase. They installed new synthetic
lanes, touch screen state of the art scoring system and of course,
since the corporate geniuses in charge in this region's operations
do not consider pro shop as essential part of their showcase
they decided to relocate it to the farthest end of the house
in a former office room measuring about eight by eight feet
without glass window for display. And they expected a pro shop
professional to conduct his business that way. Thank you very
much…. |
| In January 2002 I relocated my pro
shop operations to Bowlerama West. The bowling center is not
as large and as populated as the BRC but it provided me almost
more than double the space that I was originally getting from
the BRC with a very professional working environment.. |
|
 |
With only about a decade experience, I consider myself
a "newbie" in this pro shop business. However, I'm always
willing to learn and ready to try new techniques to improve my knowledge
in this profession for me to better serve my clientele. I am a believer
of a good fitting that's why I adapted a saying "It won't
hit if it doesn't fit" as my pro shop slogan, and I
always check the ball fitting of the bowlers before giving them
a bowling lesson because I also believe that "nobody
can teach or coach a bad fitting". And, I am sure I
will be in this industry for a long haul simply because I really
enjoy what I'm doing and I love the game.
|
