The heart & core of Dennis Uy

What is the most overrated thing in the world? When people think of business as their life and equate their wealth to happiness.

MANILA, Philippines — How does it feel to be the new rock star in business?” we ask Dennis Uy as we sit down for dinner at Inagiku of Shangri-La Makati. “How do you deal with your being a business superstar?”

“Naku, I am not a superstar,” Dennis blushes a bit, his eyes disappearing as he flashes his boyish smile. “Ang yabang ko naman kung ganoon. I am not high profile, I don’t deserve to be high profile at all. I haven’t changed, I still enjoy the same things in life.”

   But like it or not, all eyes are on him right now, because of the many companies growing and glowing in his dynamic business empire.

This businessman happens to be a diplomat as well, having been Honorary Consul to Kazakhstan for many years now. “My job is to promote bilateral ties and better relations between the Philippines and Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic.”

  To say that Dennis is a sports enthusiast is an understatement. He would like to help Philippine sports flex muscle, which he can likely do, having been appointed as a Presidential Sports Adviser.

With me during the interview is Adel Tamano, another looker who used to have a corporate life with Coca-Cola after he quit TV hosting. Adel is now Dennis’s chief of staff. Why the shift? “I wanted to work with a Filipino company,” Adel explains. “I was inspired by what the boss (Dennis) was doing. I want to learn from the best.”

With us at the dinner table is Dennis’ fellow diplomat, Agnes Huibonhoa, Honorary Consul to Gambia, herself a business dynamo with advocacies helping cancer warriors and building churches.

“All stories about you are centered on your businesses,” I tell Dennis. “So for a change, let’s look at your inner side, your heart and soul.”

I bring out the Proust Questionnaire and ask: What is your chief trait? How do you describe yourself?

“I’m easy,” Dennis replies.

“I’d say he is passionate. Authentic,” says Adel.

“Very cool,” says Agnes. “He is handsome, but more importantly, he is sincere, down-to-earth and prefers to be low-key, successful as he is. No airs at all.”

Agnes adds: “His wife Cherylyn is also so down-to-earth, and so beautiful! I’ve been trying to convince her to walk the ramp as one of Manila’s Best Dressed Women for our Philippine Cancer Society benefit project, but up to now she hasn’t agreed.”

Cherylyn’s elegant and classy beauty is a perfect match to the chinito charm of Dennis. More than good looks, Dennis has charisma and substance. He has purposeful dreams. He has humility.

Philippine Star: What is your idea of success? How do you know you’re successful?

Dennis Uy: When you have the freedom to do more and bigger things. When Phoenix Petroleum went public 10 years ago, I considered that a big success on my part. When you have a listed company, a growing business that can take care of your day-to-day needs, that’s success. However, success is not just about business. Business is just one part of success.

What is your idea of happiness?

Being with my family and friends. Happiness is about experiences, not just about possessions or wealth. I’m happy sharing good stories and laughter over a good drink. I tell my friends — then when we were in high school and now that we are successful — it’s still the same food that we enjoy.

And what are your favorite foods and drinks?

Nothing beats Filipino food. Especially seafood from Davao. And Kampangan food. For drinks, I like single malt and gin.

You have done so much. What haven’t you achieved?

Oh, I have a bucket list. Skydiving, bungee jumping. I have friends who do skydiving, and when I asked permission from my wife Cherylyn, she said: “Please remember you have three children.”

So what’s the most daring thing you have ever done?

Physically? Well, taking those rides in theme parks with my kids... yung mga Space Mountain... That’s why I want to go skydiving from the Macau Tower.

What about non-physical daring things?

Going into business is a risk. You can lose your shirt, you can lose everything if you don’t manage it properly.

Have you had failures in the past?

Lots of failures. We’ve closed companies, we’ve lost businesses in the past.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?

In business, half of the reason it will fail is because of the people... the diligence management, you have to work hard at it. You just don’t open a business and expect it to roll.

What is your advice to young entrepreneurs?

First, determine: Do you have the guts, the balls to do business? Because it’s a competitive world out there. You have to have discipline, determination and the ability to work hard. Focus. Then the rest would depend on market forces. Are you in a business where you can compete?

Who are your business icons?

Locally, there are so many. Internationally, people who have the vision are the likes of Jack Ma. Then there was Steve Jobs.

Let’s go to some Proustian questions. What is your favorite virtue?

Discipline.

Dinner with the new rock star: Honorary Consul to Gamboa Agnes Huibonhoa, Dennis Uy, author Millet Mananquil and chief of staff Adel Tamano.

Favorite quality in a man?

Principled.

Favorite quality in a woman?

Loyalty.

Favorite occupation?

Businessman. It’s a never-ending journey.

If not a businessman, what would you be?

An athlete.

Favorite place:

There’s no place like the Philippines.

Favorite artist?

Ang Kiukok.

Favorite musician? Composer?

George Canseco. Basil Valdes. Gary Valenciano.

Favorite authors?

The inspirational ones: Norman Vincent Peale, Dale Carnegie.

What book is on your night table right now?

I started reading but never finished The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.

In other words, you don’t give a f*ck about the book?

I used to read one or two books a month. And I do prefer reading hard books, iba ang feel...

What do you watch on TV?

I used to watch Bloomberg every morning when I woke up, but then all the numbers add stress to your life. Watching news used to be my habit, but not anymore. Puro negative. Tanggalin mo yan, ang sarap ng feeling.

So now, what do you watch?

Mostly sports, basketball — PBA, NBA.

My fave team is, of course, the Phoenix Fuel Masters, our very own. From NBA, the Warriors, Lakers.

Your Phoenix Fuel Masters recently won a game (against Blackwater). How does it feel to rack up a win, considering that you are a new player in the PBA and that it wasn’t easy getting in. What are your hopes and dreams for your team?

I feel proud every time our team wins. I hope that we can contend for a championship someday .

How often do you watch your team play? Do you get heart attacks?

I try to watch every game if I’m in town and I get nervous (laughs).

Your favorite heroes in fiction?

Voltes V when I was young... the Marvel heroes up to now. Wonder Woman — not Gal Gadot ha, but the role she is playing.

Who are your favorite heroes in real life?

Andres Bonifacio, Juan Luna... but my real everyday heroes are the ordinary people. In Phoenix Petroleum, we have a program called Tsuper Hero which we started about four years ago. One Christmas, I told myself — here I am at home, waiting for noche buena, while out there in the bus terminals, there are bus drivers working and braving traffic and difficult roads to bring home people to their loved ones, as far as Baguio. You can nominate your Tsuper Hero, whether he is a bus driver or a tricycle driver. We have partnered with Bayan and ABS Foundation for this.

 And who are your favorite heroines in real life?

The women entrepreneurs. It’s not easy to be a male entrepreneur; what more to be a female entrepreneur who has to take care of her children, her family at the same time.

 What is your pet peeve?

Yung mabagal. I want people who are action agad.

Which characters in history do you dislike?

The ISIS, the terrorists. On the business side, businessmen without a conscience.

Your present state of mind?

Grounded, always.

What was your favorite motto or mantra when you were a student?

Up to now: “Seize the day.” And also: “Live more, laugh often, love passionately.”

How would you like to die?

Happy. That’s why I always seize the day. So that when the time comes, I don’t regret anything. The saddest feeling in the world is regret.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a man who lived and loved. I want to leave a legacy, which is forever. Everything we do is temporary. When you make money, you can’t bring it with you.

This is a question Ricky Lo would probably ask you: If a movie were to be made about your life, what would be the title and which actor should portray you?

Hindi makulay ang buhay ko, it’s boring. But right now we are making a movie for Marawi. Piolo Pascual is producing. Robin Padilla is starring in it and Joyce Bernal is directing. This is for the Metro Manila Film Fest in December.

What makes you cry?

Watching a love story.

What are your cheap thrills?

Eating at Jollibee. My kids love it. I’m happy just eating out in such places with my family.

What is your favorite advice to your children and young people?

Pursue your own happiness and passions, as long as they’re legal. And always be respectful.

What is the most overrated thing in the world?

When people think of business as their life and equate their wealth to happiness.

The most underrated thing?

Simple things in life we used to enjoy — experiences without the cellphone. Dati, kwentuhan lang, masaya na. Corny as it may seem, simple things we take for granted like sunshine, good weather.

What fault do you have the least tolerance for?

Being maawain to a fault. If you have too much of it (taking pity on someone), you lose your objectivity. In business, sometimes relationships come into play.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

I drink one to two glasses of water.

Last thing you do before going to sleep?

I can’t sleep without watching TV. Mostly sports. Sometimes, HBO.

What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

Retiring. I can retire tomorrow — from work, from business. And go into another passion. Maybe help in sports. Maybe travel. I haven’t been to Africa and Egypt. I want to see the Northern Lights.

I want to take a vacation and travel for three months. I also want to try another passion — maybe join a marathon. Though that would take more than three months of training.

Do you pray? What do you pray for?

Yes, I pray. And I pray for my family, good health and for God to protect us from harm.

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Follow the author on Instagram and Facebook@milletmartinezmananquil. Email her at mmmananquil@philstarmedia.com.