Dong Ronquillo loves travel, luxury and a good mystery

By profession, Dong Ronquillo is Globe VP for Nomadic Broadband Business; by inclination, he’s a world-class marketing consultant; and by nature, he’s a health and fitness enthusiast (but in truth a travel junkie). In between his trips I asked him to share his favorite books.

1. It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden. “The book inspired me to dream and make a vision of my own. It allowed me not to be bound by my environment but to see beyond it because of the limitless possibilities and opportunities.”

2. The Rules of Life by Richard Templar. “This book reminded me about the essential things in life and taught me basic things that I’ve never even realized. It’s a very practical book for self-awareness and self-improvement. I like it also because it’s direct, to the point, and explained through relatable and relevant examples.”

3. Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas. “I love luxury, there is no point in denying it. One reason why I work hard. This book gave me the right perspective on what is real luxury and changed my view of the value of luxury products. It’s not about how expensive it is but the quality, the attention to detail, the experience and how it changes and impacts lives.”

4. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. “I sublimely enjoyed the cheesiness of the book. Kilig! I’m team Edward! I love the story and how the romance unfolded. It’s shallow but pure. The book that I’ve read the quickest even on the subway and during breaks in the office when I was still an expat in Japan. This is also the first book series that I’ve finished.”

5. Marketing War-Fare by Al Ries and Jack Trout. “When you are a marketing practitioner for a long time, you want to learn something new. This book taught me a lot of new ways to look at situations and innovative ways to address market needs and opportunities.”

6. Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello. “This book is as real as it can get. It’s funny and entertaining! The story is so interesting. I couldn’t say much about this book but I loved reading it from start to finish.”

7. Time Out Top Ten. “I love to travel. And when I do, I make sure that I maximize the trip. And since I don’t have enough time to research and read a lot of travel books and websites, this book gives me all the essential knowledge of where to stay, what to see and what to do and experience in a short time. It has never failed me so far in terms of letting me enjoy every trip and giving me only the best of what’s out there.”

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“The Reading Club” recommends Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook since August 2013, available in all National Book Store and Powerbooks branches and Oprah Magazine from Emerald Headway.

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You may reach me for your comments and suggestions at gr.rodis@gmail.com.