Most people say that poverty is not a hindrance to success, and Roy Villegas’ life story quite affirms with that adage. From picking and selling garbage for a profit as a kid, Roy Villegas is now a successful businessman by selling everyone’s favorite snack – burgers.

Photo from My Puhunan via ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel

Starting with a capital of only P10,000, Roy now runs six burger joints with an average income of P300,000 per month. With this success, Roy has been able to live his dreams of having his own house, buying many cars and of course, having a comfortable life.

Recalling from an interview with Pep, he said that he used to do various odd jobs while growing up in Calamba, Laguna, “So dati kasi, may barkada ako, yung best friend ko si JC. Kung anu-ano ang ginagawa namin. Minsan, nag-aalok kami ng linis-puntod. Kahit ano basta magkaroon lang ng pagkakakitaan,” he said.

Photo from Unang Hirit via GMA Public Affairs YouTube Channel
Photo from Unang Hirit via GMA Public Affairs YouTube Channel

Then on, Roy managed to get into college, and used his talents in basketball by becoming one of the university’s basketball varsities. Eventually, he became a basketball coach for different schools.

But despite having a stable job, Roy still dreams of having his own business, admitting at that time that such dreams weren’t possible if he stayed on with his stable job. So, he made a decision that would forever change his life.

After his wife gave birth, Roy took the risk of venturing to a burger business with just P10,000 from the couple’s savings. He decided to use it to build a burger shop and called it Uncle Roy’s Burger, which he ultimately found that starting a business is really hard, recalling that the first three months he literally had no profit.

“Three months iyon lugi, e. So, walang bumibili. So, parang nalulugi pa ako ng PHP 2,000 a month,” he recalled.

Photo from My Puhunan via ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel


But with determination and perseverance, Roy’s hard work succeeded and prevailed where fast forward to now, he now has six branches for his Uncle Roy Burgers stores. Having finally lived the life he used to dream of, Roy is now very successful with his business.

He said, “Dati wala kang bahay and yun talaga yung finorsee ko, yun ang number one dream ko talaga, e, magkaroon ng sariling bahay. Nagkaroon tayo ng mga kotse, at kung anu-ano.”

Photo from My Puhunan via ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel
Photo from My Puhunan via ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel

Reflecting, Roy mentioned that venturing in any business, especially if you have no safety nets to fall back on is really hard. He mentioned that his ultimate lesson in taking such risks was not to blindly take them.

He said, “If meron kayong naiisip, do a calculated risk. Never back down. Lagi mong piliin na maniwala sa sarili mo, at eventually yung hard work mo, with honesty, magbubunga iyan, no matter what.”


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