For more than 30 years now, they have built a dynamic partnership, raised three wonderful daughters and run several thriving businesses. The Rustias did this by supporting each other all the way.
By ALEX Y. VERGARA
Their love story started at South Street Seaport, New York City, in 1992, where Joy Wambangco and Joel Rustia had their first-ever encounter. Although their respective fates started to change before the night was over, they weren’t even supposed to be the principal players on that rather cold early summer evening.
Rather, it was Joy’s good friend Willie Lazaro, who was out looking for a potential girlfriend from among the bevy of young ladies Joel brought along with him.
Both Joy and Joel, who didn’t even know of each other before that fateful evening, were working in New York then. But it was Joy, who merely tagged along at Willie’s request, and not Willie, who eventually ended up meeting her future husband in the person of the shy Joel.
“Joel was the one arranging the introductions. Ironically, Willie didn’t find a connection with any of Joel’s women friends. It was Joel and I who ended up hitting it off instead,” says an amused Joy. The funny part was, Joel also brought along his date that night, another kababayan (Filipino), who, in Joy’s words, was “trying to drop the biggest hints in the history of hints,” as the group later stepped outside after watching a Spyro Gyra concert.
It’s cold outside
“She was shivering a bit too dramatically and said, ‘Oh, it’s cold out here!’ Clearly, she was angling for his jacket,” Joy recalls.
Joel seemed oblivious to it, or was probably too distracted to even take notice. Because to everyone’s surprise, the tall and dashing young man walked past his date, took off his jacket and draped it over Joy’s pretty little shoulders.
“I was stunned — and honestly, a little embarrassed,” Joy confesses. As for Joel’s date, she wore an expression that could only be best described in Filipino as mukhang di maipinta.
“She looked like she was plotting Joel’s demise right there and then,” says Joy in between giggles.
“Looking back, maybe it was his way of making a bold statement. Or maybe he just thought I felt colder! Either way, that jacket ended up being the first sign that this guy might be worth keeping around.”
That started the ball rolling. The fact that the pair shared a passion for skiing, which later became a perfect excuse for them to go out on weekend dates, hastened the process.
“He was tall and cute. Easy to get attracted to,” says Joy. As they got to know each other better, she also began to see his loyal and loving side. “I knew even then that he would be a good father to our (future) children.”
For his part, one of Joel’s most vivid recollections during those early days of courtship happened as he and Joy bid each other goodbye after spending an evening of music and drinks. As Joy was heading towards the lobby of her condo unit, she turned around and without even saying a word, planted her first kiss on Joel’s cheek.
“Right there and then, I knew that that was the start of our very long relationship,” says Joel.
First date
He may have appeared shy and soft-spoken, but Joel had dated quite a number of girls back then. What set Joy apart from most of the rest of them became apparent during their first date as a couple at a Brazilian restaurant.
While most girls he went out with would hardly touch their plates, insisting or pretending that they were full, Joy was one rare exception.
“She knew what to order even before I asked her, and when the food arrived she ate to her heart and stomach’s content. Joy was real and free of any pretensions nor was she trying too hard to put her best foot forward. In short, she’s a true human being. Ah, I said to myself back then, this is the girl for me,” Joel says.
Having lived, studied and worked in the Big Apple for 18 years, Joel was set on spending the best years of his life there. That was until Joy, who wanted to go back to the Philippines to raise a family, came along. They were initially married in civil rites in the United States in 1993 before again exchanging wedding vows in church a year later in the Philippines.
Even then, Joel, who, to this day, subscribes to it, believes that a happy wife leads to a happy life.
“At first, I didn’t like the idea of leaving New York, but I had to follow and do whatever would make my wife happy,” he says. “Thank God, I compromised. Not only is my wife happy, our three daughters grew up to be respectful, grounded, motivated and God-fearing individuals. And I’m happy with how our life turned out in the Philippines.”
Today, the couple is on top of five companies under the Wamrus Group, with Joel as its president and Joy its VP. Wamrus Trading, Inc., develops various innovative products for retailers both here and abroad, including SM, while Dynamic Trestia, their youngest company at two years old, specializes in beauty gadgets and serums. They also own and manage Wamrus TKG Realty, Inc. and Kegitar Home, Inc.
Apart from being blessed with three daughters — Tara, 29; Keana, 27, and Gilly, 25 — the couple couldn’t be happier that they all decided to be involved in various capacities in the family business.
Joy, thanks to her amiable, outgoing nature, is the company’s PR-in-chief, head marketer and overall in charge of networking, while Joel is more focused on the physical and operations side of the family enterprise.
Extrovert and introvert
“Joy is an extrovert while I’m an introvert. Not only can she talk for hours, other people also find her easy to talk to and confide with. Me, I can live alone in the mountains amidst nature and be fine with it. These opposite traits complement and have helped us both in our personal and professional lives,” says Joel, who traces his reserved and sometimes unconventional nature to growing up as an only child with very busy parents.
Interacting with other people, especially strangers and children, was initially difficult for Joel until he met Joy who “gave and blessed me with three daughters.” His entire life has changed since then, as he credits his wife not only as a partner but also as a mentor. As a father himself, he now easily gravitates toward children and finds it easy to relate with them.
“Since we have been in business for 31 years, I think our partnership works well,” Joel continues. “Now, we’re so happy that all our children have decided to be involved in the business. Its continuity is now intact and in great hands with the next generation.”
“Now that our daughters are part of the business, we’ve taken a step back to let them take the floor and make certain decisions,” says Joy. “We actively listen to their ideas, recognizing that their understanding of the tech-driven age and the evolving dynamics of the industry brings invaluable insights. It’s been both humbling and rewarding to see them take charge, blending their modern approach with the foundations we’ve built together.”
The couple considers such a development a “beautiful evolution” of teamwork, both as parents and as business partners.
But no marriage is perfect. Even one as blessed and as beautiful as Joy and Joel’s. “You just have to work around each other’s quirks and flaws,” Joy continues. “But one thing has always been constant — Joel is loyal, loving and would drop everything for our three daughters.”
Joy appreciates the fact that Joel is the kind of father who thrives on family time. As the only thorn in the rose-filled Rustia home, Joel has no problem traveling and keeping up with Joy and their three girls.
Anything for his girls
“And during special occasions, he’ll do anything for his girls,” Joy shares with a laugh. “Need him to sing? He’s on it. Want him to dance? He’s game! Does he have the talent for either? Not even close. But that’s what makes the effort so unforgettable. He does it anyway with all the enthusiasm of someone who thinks he’s amazing. And honestly, we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Turning serious again, Joy, speaking from experience, attests that marriage involves countless compromises and adjustments from both parties — from communication and decision-making to conflict resolution. Most of all, it’s about always finding common ground in matters relating both to family and business.
“When we were starting our family, we had to juggle the demands of parenting alongside the pressures of running a business. Despite the challenges, I made it a priority never to sacrifice family time. Mentoring my daughters in all aspects of life became a key focus for me, especially when Joel was occupied with other responsibilities,” she says.
“In any marriage or business, for that matter, disagreements are bound to happen. Like in most relationships, it’s often said that women win the arguments — and I won’t deny that I tend to have the final say! But I’ve always made it a point to truly listen to Joel, value his perspective and respect his suggestions, knowing that his insights often bring a fresh angle to the discussion.”
Joy may be a people person, but she’s hats off to Joel’s meticulous nature and attention to detail. A stickler for order, to the point of being obsessive, he balances out Joy’s “big-picture, go-getter approach.”
And together, Joel and Joy Rustia have managed to build a dynamic partnership, with each of them filling in the gaps where the other might fall short and proving once more that a couple’s differences are truly its greatest strengths.
Photography by DIX PEREZ
Art direction by DEXTER FRANCIS DE VERA
Hair, makeup and grooming by MICAH ODESSA and ERICO TIONGSON
