Chronicle the remarkable life of Ambassador Philip Jones Luye in Purposeful Journey of a Lifetime

The inspiring life of Ambassador Philip Jones Lhuillier (PJL), one of the country’s most respected diplomats and chairman of Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest microfinance services company, finally comes to life in The Purpose Driven Journey of a Lifetime.

The Purpose Driven Journey of a Lifetime is a collection of stories, notes and anecdotes about PJL, as told by PJL himself or by the people who know him best. In six chapters, the book conveys the key stages of PJL’s life journey.

PJL calls the first chapter of his book “Beyond the Horizon.” PJL chronicles the life of his father and mother, his early childhood, the start of the family pawnshop business, his teenage years and early adulthood when he was alone in Manila, joining his father in the pawnshop business, culminating in his revolutionary success in creating and growing the brand Cebuana Lhuillier.

PJL credits his father for his business acumen and success: “I have always admired my father. I am grateful for the path he chose for me.”

In the second chapter, “The Path to Servant Leadership,” PJL talks about the next major step in his journey, his transition from a life of a highly successful businessman to a life of a public servant. Having served as the Philippine Ambassador to Italy from 1999 to 2010, the Philippine Ambassador to Portugal from 2012 to 2016, and the Philippine Ambassador to Spain from 2016 to the present, PJL offers a candid look at his life as an ambassador. It gives readers a glimpse into the challenges he faced, the loneliness of the role, as well as his dedication to achieving Casa Filipinas in Spain, a passion project envisioned as a universal multi-purpose center that will showcase Filipino history and culture, promote the Philippines as a tourism destination and business and provide services to both Filipinos and Spaniards.

Chapter Three, “Spiritual Sojourn,” showcases the collection of the P.J. Louie Museum. The book offers an exclusive look at PJL’s personal collection, which consists of more than 10,000 items of religious art carefully preserved over five decades. The stories behind these treasured works reflect his lifelong fascination with history, culture and his strong faith.

In Chapter Four, The Road That Leads Home, PJL writes a tribute to his wife, Edna. In turn, Edna writes about her life with the ambassador and at one point clearly describes his husband as a civil servant: “For Philip, everything depends on the OFW. He has helped many OFWs and wants to continue helping them. That’s the main reason he still wants to be an ambassador, not because of the title.”

In this chapter, written by PJL and his family, each of PJL’s seven children shared their thoughts and experiences about their father through their own treatises. In his article Passing the Baton, Jean Henri wrote, “In many ways, my father became more committed when he became ambassador, he saw the hard work of Filipinos and felt their pain when they were away from their families. In the places he was assigned, he made sure he could find ways to help them.” Meanwhile, Philippe Andre D. Luye, in a comment titled Strive to be the best, wrote: “My father inspired us to strive for the best. He always pushed you to work harder, instilling in us that there is always more to achieve.” PJL expresses how proud he is of his children in this chapter, stating, “Edna and I are very lucky that they grew up good.”

In Chapter Five, Paths Filled with Love and Gratitude, PJL’s friends share their own stories of PJL and provide further insight into his true character. In his “Brother for Life” article, Louis S. Campos, PJL’s close friend and tennis buddy, wrote, “Three words to describe my dearest friend Philip would be caring, sharing, and laughing. In his business, family and community or in public service. Philip lived each day to the best of his ability with these three words.”

The final chapter, Paving the Way to a Brighter Future, presents a selection of the various CSR and community service programs that PJ Lhuillier Group has initiated and will continue to promote. This section shows the commitment of PJL and the entire Cebuano Luye family to help improve the lives of Filipinos around the world.

When asked why he wrote his memoir, Ambassador Philip Jones Luye said, “The Purposeful Journey of a Lifetime is more than a memoir, it is an inspirational guide to living a meaningful life. I hope that through these stories, readers will find motivation to pursue their own passions and take many turns in life. May this book inspire all readers on their life paths. May they find purpose and meaning as they travel the many roads and crossroads along the way. Enjoy life. It’s a journey, not a destination.”

The Purpose Driven Journey of a Lifetime is PJL’s tribute to the values ​​of perseverance, service and passion. His deep love of family, dedication to public service, and dedication to Filipino culture are woven throughout the narrative, encouraging readers to embark on purposeful journeys of their own.