Oscar & Mercy Catoto

The Catotos were recipients of the Ambassador for Peace Award given by The Universal Peace Federation in Auckland, New Zealand.

They presently own and operate the family business, Tres Marias Trading Ltd., Tranfex New Zealand Ltd., and Catoto Investments Ltd. They also are directors of Freightwise International Global Logistics in Auckland, New Zealand.

Oscar, a former seaman, moved to New Zealand in August 1987 in search of greener pastures. Oscar, together with his wife, Mercy, established a reputation as successful importers of Filipino food products from the Philippines and Director of Tres Marias Trading Ltd. in Auckland. Tres Marias has 110 distributors of the Filipino products all over New Zealand to date, and still growing. Oscar also renders services for freight forwarding of balikbayan boxes from New Zealand to the Philippines thru their company, Tranfex NZ Ltd. Oscar travels to and from NZ to the Philippines, as he also is slowly developing his beach resort, Aroha Beach Resort in Himamaylan, Bacolod, where he hopefully wants to relax in his future retirement. Oscar loves boxing, basketball, and watching movies for his pastime.

Meanwhile, Mercedes holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She and Oscar have four children. In 2004, she was one of the judges for Miss Young Teen New Zealand. She's been practicing as a Geriatric Nurse in Auckland for 12 years and 10 years as a Paediatric Nurse in Manila.

Mercy, a nurse by profession, has always had a heart for the sick and the needy children, that’s why she enjoyed ten years of serving as a Paediatric Nurse in Manila. The move to New Zealand to join his entrepreneur husband, Oscar, paved the way to turn her attention from looking after sick children in Manila to providing elderly care. But after being a Geriatric Nurse in Auckland for 12 years, Mercy gave full attention to their family business of over 15 years importing Filipino food products from the Philippines and became Managing Director of Tres Marias Trading Ltd. in Auckland, whilst also attending to their freight forwarding company, Tranfex NZ Ltd. Mercy juggles her time between their family businesses, looking after four grown-up children and sweating it out with her love for gardening.