From Janitor to Entrepreneur: Mike Cerantes’ Journey from Poverty to Purpose

Born in Masbate to a farming family with limited education, Mike Cerantes knew hardship from an early age. At just eight years old, he was already helping plant rice to support his family. After high school, he worked as a porter in the local market—despite suffering from asthma—and later moved to Manila at 17, determined to change his future.

In Manila, he took on menial jobs—as a lugawan crew member, car wash boy, and janitor—often surviving on scraps and spoiled food. Despite the physical toll, he remained focused on his dream.

At 19, Mike discovered Redinc, a turning point that came with skepticism from family and friends. Yet through persistence, he gradually built a career that would take him far beyond expectations. 

By 24, he had purchased his first car. He later traveled to Papua New Guinea for business, built international teams across Africa and among OFWs, and became a consistent top earner. His work led him to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macau, and he eventually returned to Masbate—not in struggle, but in success—driving his own vehicle and providing his parents with the life he once only imagined.

From living in a rundown apartment, Mike now resides in a condominium and has built a family home. His ambition today is larger than personal success: to produce 100 millionaires within his team and prove that one’s beginnings never define their destination.

“What holds most people back isn’t poverty—it’s the fear of starting,” he says.