FIVE BUSINESS LESSONS is a selection of twenty-one interviews by financial analyst Henry Ong, who has been writing for publications such as the Inquirer and Esquire Philippines for the past decade. These interviews are culled from Ong’s Esquire Philippines column Financial Adviser , but also feature two brand new ones found at the very start of the book.

These new interviews are the ones of Lance Gokongwei (JG Summit Holdings) and Injap Sia (Mang Inasal / DoubleDragon Properties), followed by an array of household names like Dennis Anthony Uy (Converge ICT Solutions), Vic Del Rosario (Viva Entertainment), Atty. Felipe Gozon (GMA Network), and Sid Consunji (DMCI Holdings).

The book features names that have perhaps less recall for the lay consumer, but their businesses are definitely well-known, such as Abba Napa (Moment Group), Wilson Ledesma (Mann Hann), Kim and Abi Sy (BLK 513), and Nonoy Quimbo (Novellino Wines).

It is a book with lessons for everyone. After all, who isn’t interested in success stories? And while the people interviewed are very different (with some having taken advanced degrees abroad while others did not even finish high school; some inherited a family business while others put theirs up from scratch), there are a lot of commonalities.

The number one theme is that of passion, dedication, and hard work. According to these interviewees, there truly is no substitute. And we might think that everyone knows that, but it’s one thing to know something, and quite another to read of the specific details. It’s inspiring to read of how one business owner had to sell his house (and nearly that of his father-in-law’s), or how another started by selling their product at the Tutuban night market, with daily setup and dismantling of their small stand.

There are memorable moments, such as one business owner who used artistic license when crafting a story for the background of his product, or the owner who advised his people to buy Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags, and Mercedes Benz cars in order to sell the image of success. There was also specialized insight into objects that might seem mundane but are the building blocks of civilization: quality toilet paper, the difference between Vitamins C and D, and how healthy chicharon can actually be.

Readers need to know that Henry Ong faithfully transcribed his interviews, so a good portion of the interviews were in Filipino/Taglish. Since it’s divided into 21 short interviews, it’s easy to put the book down and pick up again even days later, a blessing for busy readers who have only a few minutes to spare for light reading. Ong writes in a very reader-friendly way, translating the business jargon into everyday language, and thankfully making the book accessible even to this lay reader.

More than a “how to get rich” manual, this is a welcome guidebook on how to live a productive life. Again and again, this reader was struck by how a lot of the businessmen bounced back from losing their jobs or incurring debilitating losses during the Asian Financial Crisis, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s part of the game, these players say. And their rising from dark days gives the rest of us hope, especially in these difficult times.

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[The reviewer received a copy of FIVE BUSINESS LESSONS for review. It is readily available for P685.00 from Summit Books ]

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

Gabi Francisco is a classically trained soprano who now performs in the English / Music / Drama classroom. On weekends she soaks in as much art and literature as she can, so she can pass her love for the arts on to her students. She passionately believes in the transformative role of arts education in nation-building. (IG: teacher.gabi.reads )