"Our family was born to be working in the business, our father gave us no choice, " chuckles Sy-Coson (known as Tessie to her friends), who first worked part-time as a cashier in an sm store while a college student.

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But Sy did little talking, instead deferring to Sy-Coson, who was by his side at all times.

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"It is his baby, " says his eldest child, Teresita Sy-Coson, 56.

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