Richard Yap on winning his parents over after taking a Filipina wife
When Richard Yap took a Filipina for a wife, he anticipated issues with his traditionally Chinese parents, who would be happier if he chose someone from the same race as lifetime partner.
But Richard knew he found the lady he wanted to spend the rest of his life with in Melody, with whom he has two children. So he chose to be on his own.
“I didn’t go into the family business (a rice and corn plus shipping and lumberyard ventures). I went on my own and proved myself,” he said in an interview at the formal opening of the Wangfu Chinese Bistro UP Town Center branch, which he owns with Lester Pimentel Ong and Ace Wang.
Ideal wife
It helped, of course, that Melody turned out to be an ideal wife who inspired Richard to give his best as husband, padre de familia, businessman, actor and sought-after endorser.
Whatever his parents’ objection to his marriage to a Filipina got buried in the pile of achievements he earned with his wife by his side.
Although he broke tradition, Richard has retained time-honored Chinese values his parents have taught him as the youngest of eight children. One of them is knowing how to handle money and to keep a simple lifestyle.
Frugality
“Hindi kami gumagastos kapag hindi kailangan. We don’t need to flaunt anything. Yung iba, kung may pera, gastos nang gastos. Hindi ganoon ang Chinese mentality. We work hard for the money at kailangan i-save mo para meron ka for the rainy days. Kailangan i-save mo para sa negosyo.”
Lester, who is also Chinese, agrees.
Money, he says, is meant for saving. You can only spend after setting aside a certain amount as savings.
“Marami yung kapag may nakuhang kontrata at alam na may kikitain sila, ginagastos na nila kahit hindi pa dumarating ang pera. Kaya pagdating ng pera, hindi nila nararamdaman. Wala na,” Richard chimes in.
Because they literally and figuratively speak the same language, Richard and Lester click as business partners.
Trust as foundation
“Mabilis kami magkaintidihan. Tiwala kami sa isa’t isa.”
In fact, they started their partnership only through verbal agreement or word of honor. The paperwork followed only after the restaurant business grew.
And because some traditions are forever, the business partners chose what they believe is a lucky day to open their newest branch. A full moon looked down on the lion and dragon dance that greeted everyone outside the entrance of the new Singaporean-Chinese restaurant on Wednesday, February 4.
Like most Chinese, Richard will gladly let his children train and eventually join the restaurant businesses he started.
“Kung gusto nila, pwede sila pumasok dito. Pwede sila mag-train for summer. At least may fallback sila.”
That’s Richard Yap the traditional Chinese and the responsible father for you.
