Rafael Alfonso Salvador Garcia Ongpin earned his MBA from Insead in Fontainebleu where he developed his passion for Paris and the French countryside. His desire for upgrading academic standards here led him to be involved with setting up The Beacon School. Apa pauses to reflect on Nelson Mandela, MH del Pilar and being reincarnated as his Lhasa Apso dog.
On what occasion do you lie?
Whenever a girl asks me, "Do I look fat to you?"
Which living person do you admire most?
Nelson Mandela. There are so many ways he could have gone wrong but he is still going the right way.
What is your most fervent wish?
That the Philippines becomes a successful, mature country.
What is your motto?
Why not?
Where would you like to go for a romantic evening?
Paris, with all its nooks and corners to discover.
How do you resolve your conflicts?
I always have to think about it first. Doing the right thing becomes even more important when it is a moral issue.
What is your greatest extravagance?
The occasional bottle of very good wine.
Where would you like to live?
I like living in Malate. It’s great. Dividing my time between Malate and Puerto Galera would be ideal.
What film influenced your life?
The Last Battle is a French film where people have lost their ability to speak. Only one word is spoken at the end of the movie: "out." Taught me that communication is so much more than words.
What’s your greatest fear?
That life is futile.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Lack of discipline.
What do you most value in your friends?
Tolerance.
If you were to die, what would you like to come back as?
I’d like to come back as my Lhasa Apso dog. People look after him all day. He gets treats. He is pretty fixed.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I could lose some weight.
When and where were you happiest?
Many times I am happy and more consistently when in Puerto Galera.
Which historical figure do you identify with?
Marcelo H. del Pilar. He was a very eloquent writer and editor of La Solidaridad.
If you had the chance to change something in your life, what would that be?
I wouldn’t have gone to La Salle or Ateneo. The friends are good but the style of teaching is terrible.