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PSSLAI Paved the Way for the Good Fortune of PO1 Cliff Harold B. Nahe

By: Lovely Ann Cerda

The affiliation of PO1 Cliff Harold B. Nahe (PO1 Nahe) with the PNP Escort and Honor Guard Service is a match made in heaven; after all, the man embodies “honor” and “service” not only for dignitaries, officials and other high ranking officials, but with the civilians whom he bowed TO SERVE and TO PROTECT.

PO1 Nahe worked as a delivery man and train operator before joining the ranks of the PNP, Despite his hard work, income was still stiff to support his family, which led PO1 Nahe to a new direction to start his own business. As a policeman and bonafide member of PSSLAI, PO1 Nahe applied for a P135,000.00 loan with PSSLAI in 2008 and bought an out modeled Nissan Vanette to start his buy and sell business.

In a twist of fate, the father of PO1 Nahe passed away which led him to a good fortune that he would have never imagined. It all started when PO1 Nahe and his family were asked to wait for a day before formally opening their father’s remains for viewing because all funeral chapels were occupied. Despite the inconvenience, PO1 Nahe and his family paid for almost Php200,000.00 for their father’s memorial services. It was then that PO1 Nahe resolved that he will one day open up his own memorial service business to cater to the many ordinary Filipinos who do not have enough to pay for memorial services.

To learn about the business, PO1 Nahe visited various funeral homes and inquired of casket types and prices, different services offered, set-up on morgues, funeral cars and others which the people he approached happily shares with him seeing he’s interest and enthusiasm in the subject. He was also given the chance to see different kinds of carpets, lights, curtains and other items used in funeral servicing. There he found out that the almost P200, 000.00 they paid for their father’s memorial services could be provided by ordinary funeral houses for a much lower price.

When PO2 Nahe discussed his plan with his family however, it was laughed about and rejected citing issues on sanitation and oddity. But PO2 Nahe was not discouraged.

PO1 Nahe set aside his buy and sell business, used his mini-van instead as a service vehicle for his new business venture, utilized the Php500,000 insurance money he received from his father, and started Arch Michael Memorial Services, named after St. Michael, the archangel, patron saint of policemen.

PO2 Nahe opened Arch Michael Memorial Services with only 2 sets of burial paraphernalia [light, carpet, and curtain], 14 caskets, a mini-van and 3 personnel (marketer/manager, driver, all around helper). He has set its opening on February 15, 2009. But as if a sign of upcoming opulence from heaven, on 13 February 2009 days before scheduled opening, Arch Michael Memorial Services had its first ever customer.

To promote his business, he sent a marketing staff into different baranggays. Nahe on the other hand, did his own share of marketing by paying all his friends and acquaintances a visit, giving away calling cards and introducing them to his business. With limited manpower, Nahe experienced hauling of corpses himself. Hard work and determination eventually paid of. Quite soon after, Arch Michael Memorial Services has been the word of mouth when it comes to funeral service.

With the funeral business proven to be fruitful, Nahe saw the need to have his own funeral car. On June 2009, he bought a 1990 model Toyota Crown car for P70,000.00 and had it converted into a funeral car for P220,000.00. Eight (8) months after he started his business, Arch Michael had its very own funeral car (“karo”).

Nahe’s mind exhibits creativity. Rather than pay for advertisement, he got himself a Kia car thru financing, had “Arch Michael 24/7” printed on the car’s body and turned it into a taxi. That way, he gets to promote his business and earn at the same time.

It was probably because of Nahe’s sympathetic nature that Arch Michael Memorial Services was chosen to be one of the three, amongst 139 funeral houses to take part in the project Libre! Ang Serbisyong Punerarya spearheaded by Cong. Sandy Ocampo. The program provides free complete funeral service for indigent families subject to qualification and certain requirements in the 6th District of Manila.

For PO1 Nahe, business is not all about making money. He acknowledges the need to share the good fortune he is blessed with by helping people in need. There are 6 key essential qualities to success: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity. PO1 Cliff Harold B. Nahe definitely has all of it. And more.

From only 3 personnel PO1 Nahe now has six; from 1 mini van to 6 vehicles which includes 2 ambulance, 2 funeral car, an adventure and a taxi.

Nahe is living a happy life with wife Maylene and daughter Quincy Nicole. As his business continues to prosper, Nahe has his attention on securing a lot to build his office because he still rents as of date. And judging on the growth of his business, it will be in the near future.

When asked what has been his motivation all along, he answered, “Gusto ko makita ng father ko na naging responsible ako, na napagyaman ko ang mga naiwan nya. Gusto ko maging proud sya sakin.” Without a doubt, his father is giving him the “thumbs up” sign and is proud of him for a job well done.

Kudos to PO1 Cliff Harold B. Nahe!

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