Natividad “Naty” Cheng’s legacy is one of resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking. Her journey from a high school graduate working to support her family to becoming the leader of the largest foam manufacturer in the Philippines is nothing short of inspirational. Through hard work and a commitment to excellence, she built a business empire that continues to thrive.
Growing up in a poor family, Cheng was only able to complete high school due to financial constraints. At the age of 17, she began working in Binondo as a clerk, which eventually led her to meet Robert Cheng, whom she married three years later.
At that time, Cheng realized that their combined salaries were not enough to support a growing family. Since her husband was earning less than half of what she made, she suggested that he leave his job and start a buy-and-sell business, which required minimal capital.
This new venture provided a steady income, but the couple’s big break came when Sheraton, a major hotel chain, needed a reliable supplier for their construction and furniture materials when its new property was being built in Roxas Boulevard.
The Chengs took on the challenge and demonstrated that they could meet the requirements. However, they encountered a difficulty sourcing foam for mattresses, which was essential for the furniture. Realizing that there were very few suppliers, the Chengs decided to manufacture foam themselves to meet the demand.
Using their savings from their trading business, they imported a machine from Taiwan and established their… (read more)
