Zorayda “Dada” Rosanes never thought she would one day trade in a stethoscope for a financial workbook. A licensed physician by training, she had all the markers of success: a degree from DLS-HSI College of Medicine, a husband with a secure job at PAGCOR, and a family with multiple income streams from a bus company, gasoline station, and lotto outlet.
“I consider myself financially independent already. I can buy what I want, go where I want to, I have more than what I need,” she told Financial Adviser PH.
So when her college friend, Dr. Khristina Wilson, invited her to a free financial planning lecture at IMG’s Makati office, she resisted. “My initial response is that I don’t need it anymore,” she admitted. It took six months of persistent invites before Dada finally gave in. “I ran out of excuses. I told myself, ‘I’ll just come para hindi na siya mangulit. Anyway, Makati area so I’ll go shopping after the lecture.’”
But what she heard at that seminar flipped her understanding of wealth.
“It was a wake-up call for me,” she said. “The more money I got, the more I became confused. Ang nasa isip ko, basta masipag ka, either you have a job or business, yayaman ka na. But because of what I learned that day, there are things you need to know and need to do in order for you to achieve your financial goals.”
She was particularly struck by the concepts of the X-Curve, Rule of 72, and Building a Solid Financial Foundation. “Those principles made me realize the missing link. I wasn’t financially educated, even though I had money.”
What began as a casual visit turned into a lifelong mission. At first, Dada and her husband simply wanted to prepare for their children’s education and their own retirement. “But as we journey in IMG we realized the value of sharing the importance of financial literacy,” she said.
Eventually, she made the bold decision to leave her medical career behind. “In 2008 I decided to go on full time with IMG,” she shared. “Time freedom is one of the amazing gifts I received from IMG.”
It wasn’t an easy start. She had no background in finance. She also lived in Alfonso, Cavite—a four-hour commute from the IMG office in Makati. “I live in Alfonso, Cavite. I travel 3-4 hours to get to IMG Makati Office, initially 2x a week then eventually Daily. I usually arrive home 3am-4am,” she said.
Transportation costs were high. “Going to Makati, I spend only cost P11, minimum for bus Baclaran to Makati (2008) but going home is expensive, I have to rent jeepney from Dasmarinas Cavite to Tagaytay City (P500-700) then Tricycle form Tagaytay to Alfonso (P200-250),” she shared.
Even food expenses added up. “I usually eat at Pancake House at the Ground floor of Kings Court or I go to Greenbelt to eat,” she added.
Despite the grind, she kept going. “There are rejections but my goals are bigger and my desire to help people is bigger as well. I have to grow up and get out of my comfort zone. I have to be mentally, physically and emotionally tough,” she said.
Her husband played a critical role, working night shifts to care for their children during the day. “My husband take the night shift at work to be with the kids in the morning while I’m in the field, he also attends most of the school programs, we hire tutors for our kids,” she shared.
With IMG’s support, Dada grew not just in knowledge but in mission. “IMG has a unique system. Run the system and the system will run your business. IMG also provides the platform where you can learn about the financial concepts, apply the concepts thru our providers.”
Today, nearly two decades later, Dada continues to educate others on the importance of financial literacy. Her story is proof that sometimes, the most powerful career moves aren’t those planned out in med school—but the ones born from a single lecture that changes everything.
