LESSONS WITH MR. "SIPAG AT TIYAGA."

It was another incredible evening of learning life lessons with the enigmatic Manny Villar, as he enlightened the members of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club)on the true nature and dynamics of entrepreneurship first hand during its 11th Business Exchange Forum for the year. The event was also graced by the Honorable Wu Yonxin (吳 永 新 領 事), Consul from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, among many other luminaries in the business circles.

Facing an almost two-hundred member audience of young businessmen and guests, the boy who grew up in modest beginnings in the slums of Moriones,Tondo – and rose to become the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the Forbes Magazine's list of the world's billionaires – shared his experiences, as he predicated his story on the day he realized he lost the 2010 Presidential Elections. "On the same day that I conceded to then President-elect Benigno Aquino, I immediately called my senior officers to a meeting to chart the growth path and review the company’s strategies," he mused. "After studying the business landscape, I realized that our company is placed in a unique position, as our properties covered 60 cities and municipalities all over the country, something that no other developer has achieved." Banking on this advantage, he embarked on an aggressive move of expanding their presence nationwide. "Today, Vista Land covers 92 cities and municipalities and we shall hit more than a hundred by year-end," he declared.
Riding on the country’s bright economic prospects, the former Senate President plans to launch more business process outsourcing buildings and shopping malls both through Starmalls Inc. and Vista Malls. Having already embarked on a wave of accelerated expansion – as if to make up for the lost time of 16 years that he spent in politics – his venture in the retail market is marked with unprecedented growth. His target was to have 100 commercial centers upon his 10th year in retailing, which is 2021; he is planning to spend P15 billion in the next five years to grow Vista Malls and also Star Malls, a listed firm that took over the then-ailing Manuela malls of his wife’s family in 2011. His All Value Holdings Corporation (which he hopes to list) will expand his "All Day" convenience stores to more than 150 outlets by the end of 2015; he also hired French executives from Carrefour to expand his All Day supermarkets. He also wants to grow his All Shoppe department stores.
"The fundamentals of the business were still there when I rejoined (the business). I haven't lost it. I'm more convinced I should really be a businessman, to help the country... at least dito, kontrolado mo ang area mo, kung ano magagawa mo, mas mako-control mo ang destiny mo. Unlike in politics, hindi masyado" ("At least here, you control your area, whatever you can do, you are in a better position to control your destiny. Unlike in politics, not so much"), he said.
"I was always asked by my children why I would enter into businesses where there are already very dominant players," he said, " but I am always reminded about the success story of Henry Sy, my favorite business tycoon." He relates the story of Henry Sy when bought an ailing thrift bank called the Acme Savings Bank and changed the name to Banco de Oro; at that time, banking was already peppered by a lot of dominant giants. "Today, Banco de Oro is the country's biggest bank," he said. "This goes to show that a big company today can be nothing tomorrow; conversely, a small player today can become a big player soon."
While Mr. Villar was a well-known as a renowned legislator for 16 years – having been a three-term Congressman, later becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives; was thereafter elected Senator, then Senate President, before trying his luck as a viable presidential contender – his first love will always be business.
And while he remains optimistic about the economy, he predicted that the next President of the Philippines will face a much difficult job, than when the incumbent President faced in 2010. He mentioned five crucial issues that will be very, very difficult to solve: (1) The growing drug problem; (2) The worsening peace and order situation; (3) The unchecked insurgency in the countryside; (4) The tension on the West Philippine Sea; and (5) The passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. He said that the country needs a leader who can negotiate in a position of strength; not of weakness. And when asked who among the presidential aspirants he would endorse, he kept mum, saying, "all of them have their strengths and weaknesses."
The Anvil Business Club is incredibly fortunate to have a a billionaire businessman of his caliber grace its forum – his third time since he graced previous forums in July 1997 and August 2007. His is a story of sheer grit and focus, coupled by his belief in investing in education. His modest beginnings have imbibed in him a “winner’s attitude,” a “fire-in-the-belly” disposition, and a tenacity unparalleled even in today’s successful businessmen. . His is a story of sheer grit and focus, coupled by his belief in investing in education. His modest beginnings have imbibed in him a “winner’s attitude,” a “fire-in-the-belly” disposition, and a tenacity unparalleled even in today’s successful businessmen.
“At the age of 65, people always ask me when will I ever retire," he said. "I always tell them that I don't think I will ever retire. I love what I'm doing. I feel I’ve only just begun. I am red hot. I don’t feel my age,” he quipped.