Self-made billionaire Ramon S. Ang knows whereof he speaks when he tells his children to live a simple life.
In Anthony Taberna's vlog—which was uploaded on YouTube last September 14, 2023—Ramon emphasizes the importance of not living extravagantly.
Segments from the vlog has resurfaced on various social-media platforms, allowing netizens a closer look into the business mogul's philosophy and lifestyle.
Read: How San Miguel President Ramon Ang saves and spends his money
TEACHING HIS KIDS TO LIVE ECONOMICALLY
Ranked No. 4 on Forbes' list of the top 50 richest in the Philippines, he ensures his mindset is passed down to all his children.
The president and CEO of San Miguel Corp. reveals, "I do not allow them to be going around na magyabang ng kung anu-anong sinusuot at kung anu-anong dinadala.
"Kailangan tinuturo sa mga bata na matuto ng simpleng buhay."
He cites his youngest son, Jacob, as an example: "E, yung anak kong bunso, si Jacob, kaka-graduate ng college, pinadala ko sa probinsiya sa Pangasinan sa planta.
"Sabi ko ‘Diyan ka magtatrabaho araw-araw. Diyan ka matutulog. Kasama mo kakain ng lunch at dinner yung lahat ng empleyado.’"
Ramon warns: "‘Wag ka makakain-kain sa labas ng McDo o kung anu-ano ha? Dahil you are going to as if show them na hindi mo sila kapareho.
"‘Kailangan habang nandiyan ka, kasama mo sila kung ano yung kinakain nila, kung ano yung ginagawa nila, pareho lang kayo.
"‘At yung bihis mo, kailangan simpleng damit, T-shirt. At kung ano yung uniform doon, yun din ang susuotin mo.’"
Beaming with pride, he confesses, "Lahat ng anak ko, ganun ko pinalaki.
"Kung pinalaki mo yung mga anak mo na malalaki ang ulo, baka makipagsuntukan sa security guard sa kalye yun.
"Pero, pag pinalaki mong simple na tao, ay, Pare, hahaba na buhay noon."
His tip for first-time parents: "Huwag niyo bibigyan ng malaking baon at wag niyo rin bibigyan ng baon.
"Kailangan magdala sila ng pagkain. Yun ang baon nila sa eskuwela," he asserts.
"Pinalaki ko sila na meron silang laging baon papuntang eskuwela, yun ang kakainin nila.
"At wala silang bibilhing kung anu-anong kalokohan na burloloy. Para matuto!"
He reasons, "Otherwise, Pare, later on, di mo na makakausap iyon. Mas mayabang pa kaysa atin yun."
Ramon shares that he keeps his possessions modest, such as the vehicles he uses, which are "puro lumang kotse."
Also the president and CEO of Petron Corporation, he doesn't even bother about counting how many cars he has, only that he takes special pride in being able to fix the worn-out ones.
He says, "Alam niyo, parang pera iyan, e, hindi mo binibilang, e. Pagka nagbibilang ka ng pera gabi-gabi, e, patay ka na.
"Pag nagbibilang ka ng kung anong meron ka, malapit ka na magpaalam siguro noon."
He stresses, "Siguro kailangan, ano lang, happy ka lang kung anong dumating."
Read: Netizens in awe of casual chat between billionaires Jaime Zobel de Ayala and Lance Gokongwei
RAMON'S REGULAR MEALS
Another testament to Ramon's simple lifestyle is his food choice.
He says matter of factly, "Ano ba ang kinakain ko araw-araw? Kung ano ang kinakain ng empleyado ng San Miguel araw-araw. Iyan ang kinakain ko.
"Puwede mo itanong kahit sinong waiter dito. Ang kinain ko kanina, isang cup na rice, may isang soup, hinalo ko yung sabaw dun sa kanin, kinain ko, tapos na.
"Binigyan ako kanina din diyan, ng isang pirasong bangus. Kinain ko rin yung bangus na yun.
"Busog na nga ako, e. Kinakantyawan na nga ako, e, marami daw akong kumain, e," he adds, smiling.
About his health, he confidently states: "Maayos naman yung health ko. E, ang kinakain ko lang ho ay laging kapirasong isda o sabaw o isang cup na rice may kasamang sabaw.
"Mura nga raw akong pakainin, e," he chuckles.
"At tuwing umaga, dalawang itlog, tatlong itlog. So, good health. So far wala namang problema.
"Wala akong problema sa sugar, wala rin akong problema sa blood pressure," he affirms.
Ramon considers his job as by itself a form of exercise, "Trabaho. Yun ang exercise ko!
"Lakad nang lakad saka daldal nang daldal o, e, di ba exercise din yun?"
As a parting lesson, this he believes, "Yung pera hindi mo madadala. Kaya wag mo diyo-diyosin ang pera.
"Yung pera is meant to be shared, is meant to be used to help our country, our people.
"E, wag tayo magdamot sa mga kababayan natin."
Getting ahead of possible hate-fuelled criticisms, he clarifies, "Wala rin akong planong mamulitika.
"Baka iniisip niyo, kaya ako tumutulong dahil may plano ako. Kahit barangay captain, wala po."
He jokes, "Baka pag 85 years old na ako, puwede na ako mag-barangay captain sa Tondo, ano?"
Kidding aside, the 70-year-old mechanic also mentions the significance of investing as a means to further help the economy of the Philippines.
"Wag niyo rin itatago yung pera sa bangko. Kailangan yung pera gumulong," he says.
"Invest mo yung pera para marami magkaroon ng trabaho [ang mga tao] at para magkaroon ng maraming negosyo at umunlad yung bayan natin."
Read: Hidilyn Diaz receives PHP10 million, business franchise from Ramon Ang
ADVICE TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY
On his secret to becoming successful, he says, "Ang importante, disiplina.
"Huwag mo ipangarap yung hindi mo kaya, number one.
"Number two, mabuhay ka na simple—mag-aral ka, mabuhay ka na simple, huwag ka magarbo, huwag mo pag-interesan yung ari ng ibang tao.
"O, e, di solve ka na. Araw-araw, magtrabaho ka lang. You cannot go wrong with that.
"E, ngayon kung araw-araw, nangungutang ka para gastusin, e, malaking problema yun.
"If you live within your means, kung ang kita mo, ginagastos mo yung kalahati lamang nun, yung kalahati naman, iniipon mo para mapag-aaral mo yung mga anak mo, o pangbili mo ng gamot in the future, wala ka ng problema."
Ramon testifies that being honest and diligent is the faster route to earning the trust of people.
He guarantees, "Ngayon, magtrabaho ka lang mabuti, may suwerteng darating.
"At pagtingin ng lahat ng ka-deal mo sa buhay, ‘A, puwedeng pagkatiwalaan ito, mabuting tao ito,’ you will have more opportunities.
"E, ngayon, kung tingin nila sa iyo, mandurugas ka, manloloko ka, at mang-o-onse ka, iiwasan ka ng mga ka-deal mo."
Regarding partners and collaborators, the father of eight emphasizes the importance of loyalty and trust.
Ramon declares, "Hindi na baleng hindi sila masyado matalino o hindi sila masyado magaling o hindi sila masyado masipag.
"Importante, itong kasamang ito, hindi tayo lolokohin nito, hindi tayo iiwan nito. Ayun, ayos na."
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