In this era of globalization where boundaries are becoming obsolete, entrepreneurs like Lucio Tan are aware that global competitiveness and internationalization of business enterprises will ensure future survival and long-term success in the fast-changing new world order.
Tan’s Micronesia Mall is the largest of its kind in the whole Western Pacific region. It has 120 high-end retail stores such as Macy’s (America’s most famous department store), Payless Supermarket, Denny’s Restaurant, Radio Shack, Quiksilver, Foot Locker, Gameshop, GNC, Bestseller bookstore (which has a vast selection of 2,000 magazines) and others. Among the diverse Lucio Tan investments in the stable, pro-business Guam economy include the century-old American Bakery (which he bought), the Oceanic Bank (which he established with San Francisco, California headquarters), as well as vast real estate holdings.
Another pioneer in Guam is SM Group founder Henry Sy with his Agana Shopping Center at the heart of Hagatna. Sources in the Guam business community told Philippine STAR that Sy may soon renovate this old shopping center to match Tan’s giant mall and another one owned by a Hawaiian business group. Agana Shopping Center has over 20 specialty stores aside from food joints like Shirley’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s, among others.
Other Filipino entrepreneurs who have succeeded in Guam are mostly immigrants who have roots in Pampanga such as M. V. Pangilinan who owns Mark’s Shopping Center, Mark’s Insurance, Ace Hardware, Acura Motor Co., Sinajana Shopping Mall, Guam Amusement Park, Inc., the Guam Tribune, Mark’s Sporting Goods, and other establishments.
Another exceptional success story from the Philippines is the low-key migrant Tan Siu Lin, who is now considered the wealthiest taipan in the whole Micronesia or Western Pacific region. Originally a "rags-to-riches" migrant to Guam with little capital and a small business, Tan pursued various enterprises and eventually established over 10 garment and textile exporting corporations in Saipan where he maintains other diverse companies. Despite the US recession, Tan Siu Lin reportedly bought a number of new properties in the Western Pacific this year, including the Dai-ichi hotels in Guam and Saipan.
Tan has also expanded to Sabah. Incidentally, when Lucio Tan visited Kota Kinabalu as head of a business delegation from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., he was received by the younger brother of Tan Siu Lin.
He added that whether in Guam, the Philippines or in other places his companies operate, the thrust has always been good corporate citizenship. "There is only so little we human beings can do in this life, we should make the most of all opportunities to help others. I have been investing in Guam since 1966. The name of my first company was Columbus, in honor of that great explorer and seafarer."
When asked what was the most difficult crisis in his colorful and sometimes controversial business career, Tan answered: "Did you know that my first business went bankrupt? In the mid-’50s, my first business was taken over by my competitors – Gokongwei and another rival, the Ludo and Luym copra business clan of Cebu. I owned only 10 percent of the Royal Corn Starch Factory. I was the head of the engineering department at that time. We struggled for a few years but eventually surrendered to the competition."
But Tan was not at all discouraged by the setback.
"After this difficult failure, I started a chemicals business," he recounted. "I gained inspiration from the tales of great heroes in ancient Chinese history. When you study 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, you will learn that even the great achievers suffer setbacks. I learned by heart their stories and gained the insight that the more bitter the lessons from defeats, the greater one’s future victories will become."
When this writer half-jokingly told Tan that he should thank Gokongwei for the setback since Tan would’ve remained a minority shareholder in a cornstarch factory instead of the tycoon he is today if not for Gokongwei.
Tan laughed and replied, "Yes, I fully agree with you. Because of what happened, I shifted to other businesses which turned out to be more profitable. Please tell him I owe him a debt of gratitude."
"Mr. Tan once asked Philippine Airlines to fly in emergency electric generators to Guam free of charge during the big typhoon disaster in July," shared Gutierrez. "This generosity helped saved many lives in the hospitals and the rural villages when electric power was interrupted. His resumption of direct flights of Philippine Airlines to Guam three times a week is also a big boost to Guam tourism, and it helped cut down costs of air travel by encouraging the competition to lower their rates. Before PAL came here, other airlines were charging US$800 roundtrip Manila to Guam, now PAL is charging only US$299 for the same route. Lucio Tan is also the biggest investor in Guam."
Guam Senator Mark C. Charfauros said that the government and people of Guam admire Lucio Tan for his entrepreneurial career, for his investments here and all over Asia, and most especially for his philanthropy and support for education. He added, "We believe he can be a role model for entrepreneurs and young people of Asia."
Former Bangko Sentral Governor Gabriel "Gabby" Singson and M. V. Pangilinan congratulated Tan for his achievement.
Preciosa S. Soliven, president of O.B. Montessori Center, Inc. and chairman of Ristorante La Dolce Fontana, said, "I think we should also proclaim a Lucio Tan Day in the Philippines. Not many fully understand Lucio Tan and his inspiring life story. I think his best trait is humility. Greatness must be accompanied by humility, because humility acknowledges that all the gifts of a person are bestowed by God."
Philippine STAR publisher Max V. Soliven said: "Lucio Tan really deserves to be honored. I’ve known him for many years. He’s a man who’s very modest. He has many charities in the Philippines and other places that he never mentioned to me, but I was able to discover them from others. Tan employs over 50,000 Filipinos, his enterprises benefit over a million Filipino farmers. He has done more for Philippine economic progress than 99.9 percent of our loud-talking politicians."
Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) honorary president Jimmy Tang; president John. K. C. Ng; EVP Robin Sy; VP Robert Siy Chin; VP Vicente Sitosta; director Henry Lim Bon Liong; as well as regional officials George Cham, Guilbert Go, Francisco Chua, and Tirso Limbonhai were one in saying that Tan’s awards are not only a personal triumph for the man who has overcome so much hardships in the past, they also augur well for the Philippines and its reputation throughout Asia.
All praises for Tan were Cardinal Santos Medical Center CEO Dr. Charles Chante; Manila Broadcasting Co. president Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. of the F.J. Elizalde Group; and Citadel Holdings, Inc. vice president Jose Ricardo Delgado.
As PAL president Avelino Zapanta succinctly put it, "Most of the news about the Philippines for the past few months have been very negative; the awards received by Mr. Lucio Tan come across as very positive – good news for us, indeed."