This 32-year-old man from Laguna started working as a “mag bobote” at an early age. During that time, he started envisioning himself as a business owner.
With determination and perseverance, he was able to establish his own burger stand in 2015.
“At the age of six years old, kumikita na talaga ako, nakapagtapos ako dahil scholar ako sa university. So naglalaro ako ng basketball. So after ko ng career ko sa basketball, ang first work ko is head coach ng mga university. Nagsimula ako magnegosyo no’ng 2015. Nagsimula sa isa, ngayon may walo nang branches,” Roy Carlo Villegas told The Philippine STAR.
“‘Yung kariton, nakatali sa poste ng kadena,hiningi ko. Kasi, bata pa ‘ko nando’n na ‘yun eh. Parang five years old palang ako, ando’n na ‘yon. Bumalik ako nang 23 [years old], nando’n pa rin. So wala na, kinuha ko na. Tas ni-repair ko lang, nilagay ko diyan sa tapat ng garahe diyan sa tapat then do’n na ‘ko nagsimula ng stall,” he added.
After working as a basketball coach, Roy decided to resign to focus on building his own business. “I gave up coaching for business. Nag-ipon lang ako nang konte. Nagsimula ako nang 15,000. So kumuha lang ako ng mga scraps para makapagsimula nang maayos.”
But just like other business owners, Roy experienced ups and downs in establishing his own brand. During the first few months in the business, no one bought his P70 gourmet burger.
“One day, road manager ng Parokya ni Edgar, bumili ng 15 kasi naghahanap daw sila ng meryenda. So na-stuck sila sa traffic kasi may patay. Bumili sila ng 15 burgers. Dinocument ko sa IG then nakita ng mga tao. So after no’n, ‘yung pila hindi na tumigil. Sales a day that time siguro mga 60,000 [pesos] a day,” Roy recalled.
It seems Roy found his luck on his business. He would sell around 500 burgers in a day. Until the pandemic took a toll on his business. They were forced to close down due to the implemented restrictions.
“March 17 dito sa Calamba, sarado. Wala. Wala talagang any centavo that pumasok. During pandemic, it went down. So drop lahat ng sales. As in. Kasi, we have to follow the guidelines eh and napakahirap. Sobrang hirap and ‘yung struggle no’n is iba ‘yung feeling kasi kas-stablish lang namin eh. From Kariton, naging corporate nang konte biglang gano’n ‘yung nangyayari,” he shared.
“Sisingilin ka eh ng mga pinag-uupahan mo. Kasi kailangan din nila. And wala kang magawa. So it’s okay na masaktan ka muna for closing. Kasi para sa isang businessman, closing is not an option. You can do whatever it takes para lang mag-grow siya, magbukas ulit, magsimula ulit” he added.
Despite the challenges, however, Roy did not give up.
“Wala sa pagkatao kong sumuko,” he said.
Roy decided to close his stores and apply for a day job to continue his business.” Nilabanan namin ‘yung COVID for a year. Nilabanan namin hanggang sa wala na talaga ‘to. Sinuko talaga.”
During the lockdown, they were able to sell burgers inside their home by accepting pick-up or delivery orders.
Roy stressed that his mindset in life and business helped him bounce back.
“Naka-help talaga ‘yung personality ko in order for me to really stand up over and over again. I’m here to not just to start the race, but to finish it. That’s my goal, and wala nang iba. So I’ll do whatever it takes para lang maging successful and maabot ‘yung mga goals na kailangan kong abutin. No matter what,” he added.
“To all na naka-experience ng downfall diyan, I know it’s hard. Sobrang hard and lahat na ng stress, tatanggapin mo. But kung titigil ka, that would be the end of it. So guys, keep pushing. All you have to do ‘pag bumagsak ka, just stand up again,” Roy said when asked about his message to fellow business owners.
