Rey Beltran | ExecutiveChronicles.com
Vic Puyat traces his simple living back to his grandfather, who was prudent. “He gave value to every last centavo. He would say, mahalaga ang bawat sentimo kasi alisan mo ng isang sentimo ang piso, hindi na piso. I would hear that from my grandfather. I am influenced by those ideas.”
“My father was like that, too. But it doesn’t work for all of us. I am halfway in between,” Vic assessed. “You know until now, I drive myself. I dress well but not excessively. I’d like to be neat, I like to look good. But not brand conscious. They should pay me for wearing them.”
[Read more: Finding a Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow: An interview with Vic G. Puyat]
The sun has set already and it seemed that there were so many things Vic wanted to share. At 75, he has seen a lot of things, experienced life to the fullest. Would he change anything if he had a chance to live it again?
“I don’t know. It all depends. I never planned my life. Things fell into my hands and took advantage of whatever was presented to me. Hindi kamukha ng mga iba na, “Oh, by the time I am 30, I’m going to be like this, by the time I’m 40, I going to be like this… walang ganun. Life is never what you plan it to be. So I take things in stride. What appears to be bad, sometimes is good. So what is that? Divine. God has a plan for each one of us. I know that to be true.”
While he’s “been there, done that” already, his words of advice for the budding entrepreneurs are applicable for all of us.
“Do something you really like doing. Don’t do it just for the money. Do it because you like to do it. It is something that makes you fulfilled. Start small and grow it. When I started the life plan, I only had five people. You know how much my capital was? I only had P150,000.00 (1980s). Do something you like to do and work with people who are as excited and passionate as you.”
Vic G. Puyat has carved a name for himself and made his mark as an entrepreneur who knows a very good opportunity when he sees one. Throughout his career as a businessman, he was tempered by time, honed by the ups and downs of life, and has persevered, emerging triumphant from the challenges, eventually finding his pot of gold at rainbow’s end. At present, the two businesses — Rainbow Philippines and Roto-Rooter Philippines he brought to the Philippines are both the leading name in its respective industries
