Story of Edna Dolor Gramaje
“Lord, is that really You telling me to give that big amount of money?” Edna wanted to make sure she heard correctly from God. It was a huge amount that their church needed and she was reluctant to give. Then she heard the Lord telling her, “You have money in the bank. Give it. You said you want to be the one giving and not the one in need. Now is the time to do that.” Edna felt like it was a test. She was being asked to give up something that was precious and that she had waited a long time to have. Nevertheless, when Edna was sure that God was speaking to her, she obeyed. She learned that no matter how big the amount she gave, she never lacked. There was always more than enough. Now, Edna Gramaje is the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of the International School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, a school she and her husband, Dr. Alexander Gramaje, own.
Years ago, the couple’s situation was very different. Edna’s life had been hard while growing up in Roxas City. She is the 9th of 11 children. Her mother worked hard to help augment their income. She remembers waking up at 3 AM and going with her mother to buy and sell ukay-ukay when she was 7 years old. She had to help her mother so she could have an education. Edna worked her way through college, trying all kinds of work until she graduated in 1986 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Filamer Christian College. Edna was always a prayerful woman. She became born again in college. After graduation, she took a job in a bank in Roxas City. Eventually, Edna joined her sister in Manila. She helped her with her business and later found a job in a review center in Recto Avenue.
Edna’s husband, Alex, also learned the value of work while he was young. He is the 4th of 8 children; his father passed away when he was only 10. His mother was a teacher. During his growing up years, Alex and his siblings attended regular Bible studies and prayer meetings. Alex accepted painting and “lettering” jobs to earn money. At 17, while a sophomore in college, he worked as a cashier in the Western International Philippine Plaza Hotel (while later became The Philippine Plaza). He had training under an American supervisor. Because of his consistent good attitude, diligence and discipline, he was promoted to higher positions in different departments. This developed his passion for the hotel industry. In 1986, he left the Philippines for a job at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain. Alone and far from his family, Alex read the Bible that his mother gave him before he left home. He prayed and trusted God to take care of him and the family he left behind. It was in Bahrain that Alex had a fresh encounter with God. After a few years, Alex felt led to go back to the Philippines.
Back in Manila, Alex got sick. He promised the Lord that if He would heal him, he would serve him. God answered his prayer and Alex life changed as he recognized Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Alex studied in a Bible School and worked full time in the church. It was in church that he met Edna. It was love at first sight for both of them; their courtship was short, and they got married in 1991. Even though they had no money, they knew that God would take care of them. After their wedding, they were sent to start a church in Tanay, Rizal where they ministered for 2 years. Eventually, Edna and Alex had 3 sons.
In 1992, Edna and Alex managed Edna’s sister’s small business. Their income from it helped them with their daily expenses. When Edna’s sister returned in 1996, she got her business back. Edna was challenged financially again but she prayed a lot and continued to trust God. A friend who was a fruit dealer helped them. Without any capital, she gave Edna fruits to sell. Every day, Edna would take her youngest son along because she was breastfeeding him. Her two older sons were sickly and were always at the hospital. Money was hard to find.
One day, Edna got really tired. She was worried about her children’s future. She couldn’t buy stuff for them. These thoughts made her so sad. She cried and told God, “Lord, I don’t want to be like this anymore. From the time I was born until now that I have kids, I’m still poor. I’m so tired, Lord. Help me. If you will bless me, I will bless others. I don’t want to be the one asking anymore. I want to be the one giving.” Edna Gramaje cried as she prayed and made a deal with the Lord that afternoon.
Her husband tried to console her. She urged him to work again. Alex told her, “Huwag kang mag-alala. Once na magsimula ako, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan, huwag kang umiyak, malapit na basta magtiwala ka lang sa Panginoon.” When Alex said that, Edna felt it was the Lord and not Alex who spoke. She held on to that word.
In 1997, Alex took a job as a General Manager in a hotel in Malate. Alex trained the workers of the hotel. A year after the hotel opened, Alex met a Christian visionary who had a school in Dasmarinas. Soon afterwards, he asked Alex if he would like to partner with him and open a school. Alex was surprised but gave it a careful thought. He was not an educator although he was experienced in training people. Alex prayed about the proposal. One day, he had a vision that he should leave his job and open the school so Alex accepted his offer. In 1990, Hotel and Restaurant Management was not yet popular. Edna recalls, “My husband rented a room in a commercial building in Bacoor (Cavite) and processed all the documents necessary to get a license while his partner took care of finances. We registered the school as International School of Christian Education.”
Edna supported her husband and worked as Alex’s personal secretary, registrar, cashier and custodian without salary. They didn’t see Alex’s partner anymore. They were 3 months delayed in paying the rent. The owner was about to padlock their room. Edna asked God if her husband made the wrong decision about leaving his job. Edna asked the Lord for a sign. She said, “Lord, if You want this school to continue, You will pay the rent. We don’t know where our partner is but I know You put this school up.”
Edna continued, “After that, we got a call from the building administrator that Alex’ partner already paid for our 3 months rental. And that was the last we heard of him. We recognized that the Lord used him so that we could start the school. We had 5 students in our first year of operation. We only had a table and 36 chairs. After one semester, we offered a 2-year formal education program and some short modular courses. By this time, we were already on our own. Words about the quality education that we were giving our students spread. Enrolment went up. Alex told me, “See, I told you, just wait. But this is not yet what I’m telling you about. Wait and see.” Eventually the 2-year course of Hotel and Restaurant Management became a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. It was recognized by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED). From 5, 36, 86 students, it multiplied until it reached 2000 students.”
In 2003, the school’s name was changed to International School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (ISHRM). Edna says, “Sometimes when God moves, we don’t understand it. It’s all miracles. ISHRM is in its 10th year now!”
In April 24, 2006, former President Gloria Arroyo awarded ISHRM a Certificate of Recognition for pioneering the “Ladderized Curriculum Program in Hotel and Restaurant Management.” The ISHRM’s main campus in Bacoor is now the largest HRM school in Cavite, with branches in Las Pinas, Dasmarinas, Cebu and Davao.
Although they keep a busy schedule, Edna and Alex did not abandon their work at the church. They manage their time for personal devotion, family, church ministry, business and social activities. For Edna, number 1 on her list is her time with the Lord. “Every time na unahin ko ang Panginoon, nagiging maayos lahat ‘yan. I go to the office and meet all the concerns calmly. I spend half day at the main Campus. We have a schedule for each branch.”
As the school grew, so did the temptations about her promise to be a channel of blessing. She said, “People from left and right, family, friends, they come to me for help. And dami, sobra! When I start to complain, the Lord reminds me, “Di ba ang prayer mo sa akin, maging pagpapala ka sa iba? Iyan na. ‘Even though you know that you are walking along God’s path for you, still there are battles to be won. It’s not smooth sailing and you make mistakes and learn lessons along the way.
When I read Proverbs 31, I thank God because by His grace, I am able to fulfill my purpose. Sometimes I ask God why He entrusted me with these things. The work is overwhelming and it’s only by the grace of God that I can do it. At a young age, the Lord prepared me and Alex for the big task. It’s only now that I am amazed at what’s happening in my life. I asked God, “Why me, Lord? There’s a reason why God blesses us and it is so that we can be a blessing to others.”
