2 entrepreneurs bag Aurelio Periquet Business Leadership Awards

The search for the 6th Aurelio Periquet, Jr. Business Leadership Awards (APJ-BLA) 2003 comes to a striking conclusion, as winners who bagged the awards for the search was unveiled in the 29th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) at the Manila Hotel.

Winners Cecilio Kwok Pedro, CEO and president of Lamoiyan Corp. and Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., president, Lara’s Gift and Decors, received the Pillar and Pearl Awards respectively, were cited not only for their business acumen but also for their humanitarian programs.

According to Anna Marie Periquet, founder and daughter of Aurelio Periquet Jr., the search aims to not just to commend outstanding businessmen for their successful entrepreneurial feats but also set excellent examples for future entrepreneurs as well.

She explained that every year, since the awards were institutionalized in 1998, they’ve been giving two award titles such as the Pillar Award, for the senior business leader; and the Pearl Award, for the junior business achiever.

The Winners

In 1977, Pedro and his associates organized Aluminum Corporation of the Philippines (ACP). Manufacturing aluminum tubes, said company had only two costumers, Colgate Palmolive Philippines and Philippine Refining Corp. After ACP’s expansion, said costumers threw in the axe by shifting from aluminum to plastic tubes in the middle 80’s.

With ACP practically dead, and with more than 300 workers under his wings, Pedro was forced to sell the equipment. However, other foreign manufacturers seeing the futility of going through toothpaste battle against Colgate and PRC, the sale did not materialized.

Finally the idea of producing their own toothpaste brand clicked in. Coming up with the brand name "Happee" and the machinery for the tubes, everything was set, except for the toothpaste itself. His determination paid-off when top honchos of Okina Company Ltd. agreed, under a technical tie-up, to train Filipino staff to compose the paste.

Now back in business under the name Lamoiyan, new doors were opened, and his former staff re-hired. Aside from sponsoring countless medical missions, the company also employs handicapped workers.

Also from toothpaste, Lamoiyan is now developing other personal care products such as toothbrushes, soaps and eventually into other lines.

Pearl awardee and president of Lara's Gift and Decors, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., also heads Lara's Gift and Decors Inc. (USA), Global Merchandising Services Ltd., Digitext Asia Corp., Villafuerte Brotherhood Foundation Inc., and Philippine Association of Medical Transcription Inc., among others.

Only 35, Villafuerte has reaped countless business awards namely: Parangal ng Bayan Award, Outstanding Filipino Achiever on Business and Industry; Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for entrepreneurship in Exports; World Young Business Achiever Award (WYBA) for Excellence in International Operations; Agora Awards for Outstanding Performance in Export Marketing; Golden Shell Awardee for Excellence in Export; and a three-time Katha Awardee for Excellence in Product Design and Manufacturing Craftsmanship.

After graduating with a political science degree at De La Salle in 1990, he pounced on the first job offer he got as a buying agent of jester clowns. With an eye for business, Villafuerte, with his wife Lara, began their entrepreneurial business venture, the Lara Gifts and Decors (LGD) with a minimal amount as capital and a sound advice from his father.

Starting from jester clowns, they evolved into other novelties using iron as raw material; such products are candleholders, picture frames, chandeliers, Christmas decors and furniture.

Now LGD employs more than 3,000 employees and is enjoying an average growth rate of 93 percent albeit currency devaluation, Sept. 11 and the Gulf War.

APJ Foundation

"I would like to continue the legacy left by my father, Mr. Aurelio Periquet Jr. I know that his shoe is too big for me to fit, but I would like to emulate his work through this foundation so that others may follow his lead," expressed the young Periquet.

"The less fortunate always has a soft-spot in him. He told me that it was his way of giving back to the Lord all the blessings he has received in his life," she cited that despite the tight schedules and heavy work demands from the private sector, he unselfishly served the public with his whole heart.

"I knew that he could have done more should he still be with us today. He has so many plans, not for himself or for his name, but for the country and for his fellow Filipinos."

The remarkable feats of Aurelio Periquet Jr. did not just acquire the trust and confidence of our local government officials, but it has also gave access for other Filipino businessmen to gain the respect and admiration of the international community.

"I hope that this foundation will not just immortalize the memory and legacy of my father. I am also hoping that many Filipinos, specially the young and deserving individuals benefit from it," said Periquet.

To date, there are 10 APJ-BLA awardees, two more are now being added Periquet said. "The board of judges selected these outstanding business folks, who are actively involved in a Philippine-based profit organization, who at the same time, never compromised the integrity and principles of their organizations," she ended.