Two dragons, one name

There he stood inconspicuously somewhere in the mammoth crowd of Palace officials, bankers and businessmen.

It was a frenzied afternoon. MerryMart Store in Ayala Mall Manila Bay had just opened but the man who may have started it all just stood quietly in the jam-packed supermarket. 

And yet he is the man whose grocery business may have been the DNA that would form MerryMart, the country’s newest supermarket chain.

His name is Edgar Sia I, the father of property tycoon Edgar “Injap” Sia II. 

Wearing a simple white polo and dark blue jeans, Edgar, 67, looked more like Injap’s older brother especially with his smiling face, wide grin and mild demeanor. 

Veteran business journalist Roel Landingin introduced me to him and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he is Injap’s father. While there’s a striking resemblance, he really looked more like an older brother. 

But in reality, Edgar Sia I is very much a father to Injap, mentoring him and molding him into the astute businessman that he is now.

The older Edgar shared with me in our brief chat that until now, Injap continues to consult with him when he has to make major business decisions. His father is always ready to lend a helping hand or to give advice. 

Standing there in the middle of the MerryMart crowd, the older Edgar is visibly beaming with pride. 

He is happy to see his son’s business grow to where it is now.

It’s been a long way after all from the time when Injap, then just a teenager, was just helping in the family-run grocery store his father put up in Capiz. 

Indeed, Injap’s supermarket business marks a homecoming of sorts because his family has been operating a grocery chain in Capiz where he grew up.

“This is going back to our basics. My grandfather started his grocery store in the 1950s in our hometown. My parents as well opened their own  grocery business way back in 1989 and have been operating successfully for 30 years and counting. This background gives our family extensive experience in the retail business,” Injap tells me.

MerryMart is a company under Injap Investments Inc.

As a child, Injap knew the value of hard work. He and his siblings often spent weekends and the summer working – like the rest of the employees – in the small grocery his father put up in Roxas City.

That learning experience has paid off. 

MerryMart to list in the stock market

Injap is now braving the supermarket business with the MerryMart brand. MerryMart has already filed an application for a P1.6 billion initial public offering with a target listing date on April 2, 2020.

In its application filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, MerryMart said it aims to sell 1.6 million primary shares at up to P1.00 per share to raise up to P1.6 billion.

Proceeds would be used to grow the supermarket chain to have 1,200 MerryMart branches nationwide by 2030.

At present, the MerryMart Group already operates four full-sized supermarkets and has a target of 27 operating branches by the second quarter this year. 

The newly opened Ayala Mall branch is a three-in-one MerryMart Store with grocery, personal care section and pharmacy.

Raising a dragon

Injap, like his father was born under the Chinese dragon sign, said to be the luckiest among the signs. His father was born in 1952 while Injap was born in 1977. 

Dragons are said to be fearless, ambitious, energetic, driven and relentless.

It’s no wonder that Injap, at a young age, fearlessly continues to grow his business.

But more than the success that Injap has achieved as a businessman, his father is especially proud that his son remains the same humble and respectful person that he raised. 

“Makikita mo talagang hardworking and makikita mo how he treats people very well and how he treats us, his parents,” his father says with pride.

And that, clearly is what brought Injap to where he is now. The young boy born in Iloilo 43 years ago has grown to become a fire-spewing dragon that has taken on giants in this country.

But he does not forget his roots and also believes in helping others along the way. 

That’s Injap, a benevolent dragon just like his father. 

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com