To many Filipinos, taipan Henry Sy Sr. is more of a legend - the Chinese immigrant who went on to establish the giant SM retail chain through dint of hard work and unshakable belief in the growth prospects of the Philippines.
But to the entrepreneurs who were fortunate enough to have personally known him, Sy was so much more than just the Father of Philippine Retailing, who eventually became the country’s wealthiest man and founder of one of the country’s largest conglomerates with interests not just in retail but also in banking, property and infrastructure development.
To this lucky band of enterprising individuals, Sy, fondly called “Tatang”, was very much human, a warm and generous spirit who was a constant source of motivation, a visionary who helped them on their own journey into becoming leaders and trailblazers in their chosen markets.
Precy Ramos, who worked side-by-side for many years with her mother-in-law and National Bookstore founder Socorro Ramos, recalls fondly how Tatang personally supervised the construction of SM North Edsa - the first SM Supermall that opened in 1985 - with an eagle eye on the smallest of details to make sure that they were up to his exacting standards.
Tatang also made the extra effort through many years to ensure that SM malls would have the right space for a National Bookstore, a revered name as well in Philippine retailing.
This solid partnership was a testament to the close personal and professional relationship that Tatang had shared with Nanay Coring who saw Tatang flourish from their early days in what used to be the commercial district of Avenida.
“During Tatang’s 80th birthday celebration, for example, he sent somebody over to get Nanay. She sat beside him [during the party], katabi niya the whole time,” shared Ramos, “They really had a lot of respect for each other.”
National Bookstore’s Precy Ramos
Tatang’s close attention to detail likewise struck Bernie Liu, Chairman and CEO of the Penshoppe Group, the proudly Filipino-owned and run fashion enterprise behind such brands as Penshoppe, OXGN, Regatta, Forme, Memo and Bocu.
Liu can still vividly remember how Tatang would walk around the department store – where Penshoppe started in 1986 - with a team behind him noting his observations and taking down his instructions.
“He was very particular about the display. I remember when we opened our display module in SM Makati, there was a portion that he thought was too dark. He said that should be changed.” Liu said.
He added that Tatang was “really hands-on and very down to earth.”
Liu noted that it was largely expected that successful people like Tatang would control his growing enterprise from an ivory tower. But that was not Tatang’s style. He preferred instead to walk the floor and keep his ears close to the ground in anticipation of the next growth opportunities.
The Penshoppe Group believed in that growth vision, too, a major reason why they have made it a point to open their stores together with the new mall. Today, the Penshoppe Group has over 350 sites in SM malls across the Philippines, accounting for about a third of its extensive national footprint.
“They’ve always been part of our growth. I always tell their team, if you invite me, of course I will go,” said Liu.
Golden ABC Inc.’s Bernie Liu, wife Alice and kids Bryan, Brandon and Amanda
Like Liu and Ramos, Victor Siasat, CEO of Trimark Group Holdings that represents a multitude of leading international brands across a wide range of industries from high fashion to streetwear, fitness and new media, deeply admired and respected Tatang’s famous attention to detail.
To him, it was an indication of how seriously Tatang looked at business.
Siasat considers Tatang a pivotal figure in his life as he got his major break as a retailer and distributor at SM, first with Guess in 1991 at Megamall, followed by the second branch at the annex of SM North Edsa.
From that first brand, Siasat’s Trimark handles some 60 brands, including Mossimo, Mango, Vans, Carolina Herrera, as well as Gold’s Gym, and employs approximately 5,000 people.
Siasat took business very seriously, too, but he has loosened his grip on the company reins and his children have come on board.
His son, Fergus, for example, is looking at introducing better efficiencies across the group as well as bringing in more brands that may appeal more to the higher-income markets. Tatang’s life story always helps keep them grounded and at the same time inspired to reach for more, even if they have already made a mark in the local retail industry.
“A lot of people I meet always tie Tatang’s story with inspiration. How did one man take his company to where it is? It is kind of unfathomable. He impacted many lives,” said Fergus.
Trimark Group Holdings CEO, Victor Siasat
Toby’s group founder and chairman emeritus Roberto Claudio, for his part, remembers Tatang for being encouraging to entrepreneurs like him who were just starting out in the retail world when they were invited to lease space at SM North Edsa.
“He was really an inspiration, he would always prod you on when you talk to him about potential problems or when you are having doubts,” shared Claudio, “He would always say, don’t mind the problems, face them, go around them. I am sure you will succeed.”
Fortunately, the Claudio family heeded Tatang’s sage advice to persevere and forge ahead through hard work, grit and perseverance. This helped the Toby’s Group grow into a network of 68 branches, more than half of which are in the SM Malls.
“He told us then, huwag kayo matakot sa failure. You guys are young, you can afford to fail. If you just persist, you will succeed,” said Claudio, who also heads the Philippine Retailers Association.
TOBY’S SPORTS ROBERTO CLAUDIO
But of the entrepreneurs who got to interact with Tatang, perhaps Lydia de Roca, founder of the 58-year-old Lydia’s Lechon, had the most unique encounter.
De Roca shared that back in 1989, she noticed that on Sundays, a Chinese gentleman would religiously order and quietly enjoy his own 1/4 kilo lechon with rice in a little corner of her first store in Baclaran.
He wore a simple shirt with shorts and slippers and had an empty bayong by his side. After having his fill of Lydia’s already popular lechon, he would take his bayong and then proceed to the nearby stalls and fill his bayong with seafood.
After several weeks, de Roca got curious about the gentleman and eventually asked the driver who he was.
“Di nyo siya kilala?”, sabi sa akin. Sabi ko ‘hindi’. Siya si Henry Sy, yung may ari ng SM, lahat ng SM sa kanila,” recounted de Roca, who was taken aback that such a rich and influential person would be so simple and unassuming.
The following Sunday, de Roca approached him and introduced herself, sharing how she owned the branch but that she started with a small stall outside the Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Pasay City.
To her surprise, Tatang asked her if she wanted to also have a stall in the SM Food Court. De Roca took him up on his offer and opened in 1990 the first Lydia’s in the food court of SM Sta. Mesa.
She has not looked back since and Lydia’s has grown into a chain of 28 branches, a far cry from where the bangketa where she started.
“Kaya lagi ko siya pinagdarasal noon, sabi ko wag Mo po siya pababayaan,” shared de Roca, adding that because of him, the centavos that she used to keep as profit had turned into thousands, and eventually, millions.
Indeed, Tatang profoundly changed her life and fortunes, much how he similarly changed for the better those of countless others, both those who knew him well and those inspired by his enduring example.
Lydia’s Lechon founder Lydia de Roca
In honor of its 65th anniversary, SM is reconnecting with their tenants, who have gained valuable insights from Mr. Henry Sy, Sr.
