Naty Cheng didn’t have a college degree, family money, or a head start in business. But what she did have—grit, vision, and unshakable determination—was enough to build one of the Philippines’ most successful manufacturing companies: Uratex.
“I finished only high school,” Cheng says. “Dahil sa kahirapan, we could not afford to study in a private school.” After graduation, she got her first job through a cousin who introduced her to a broker. “Nag-umpisa ako from clerk hanggang naging taga-gawa rin ng tseke niya,” she recalls. “Madali akong matuto eh, kasi interested ako matuto lahat.”
At just 18 years old, she was already earning more than her future husband, Robert, who was working in his family’s corporation for just ₱20 a week. “Sabi ko mabuti pa mag-trading ka na lang. Bumili ka ng goods, mag buy-and-sell tayo para kumita,” she advised him. With her own salary ranging between ₱120 to ₱150, she was determined not to be stuck in poverty.
Their early years as newlyweds were tough. Living in Mandaluyong, they had to commute long distances daily and stay at Robert’s family’s factory. “Sobrang hirap kaya sabi ko alis na lang tayo, mag buy-and-sell ka na lang,” she said. “At that time, yun ang pinaka madaling negosyo.”
Cheng was driven by a simple but powerful desire: “I didn’t want to be poor. Gusto ko kumita ako. Unang-unang intention ko, I have my family, kailangan ko kumita.” For her, business wasn’t about ambition or prestige—it was about survival and giving her family a better life.
Their big break came while the Sheraton Hotel in Roxas Boulevard was under construction. The hotel needed construction and upholstery supplies, and Naty’s husband saw an opportunity. “Naghanap siya ng supplier, tapos bibili ako sayo, dedeliver ko doon, makikiusap ako bayaran ako kaagad,” she explains. “At that time, malaki kinikita namin a day—mga ₱2,000—but we spend only ₱200. Kaya mabilis kami nakaipon.”
But when their supplier couldn’t meet the growing demand for foam materials, Robert suggested they make foam themselves. It was a bold idea—but they didn’t have the money.
“Sabi ko may pera ka ba? Bahala na. Sangla ko yung hikaw ko, singsing ko,” she says. “Kahit maliit, nasasangla ko.”
Unable to afford the German machines used by big manufacturers, they searched for an alternative. A contact told them about improvised foam machines made in Taiwan. “Compared to today, pipitsugin na lang yun,” Cheng admits. “Pero dati, at least nakakagawa ng foam.”
They bought the machine, learned how to adjust the settings for quality output, and reinvested their earnings back into the business. Eventually, they were able to upgrade their equipment. “Sa awa ng Diyos nakaipon kami, marami,” she says. “Then we decided to buy yung good machine. Kaya yung mga makina namin ngayon sa foaming, lahat from Europe.”
Today, Uratex is synonymous with high-quality foam products in the Philippines—serving everyone from five-star hotels to furniture makers and everyday Filipino households. What started from a pawned pair of earrings grew into a foam manufacturing powerhouse.
Cheng credits their growth not just to hard work, but also to knowing when to seize opportunity. “Sa buy-and-sell, walang lugi. Kailangan masipag ka lang,” she says.
For Naty Cheng, entrepreneurship was never about titles or accolades. It was about grit, sacrifice, and believing that even with limited resources, you could build something lasting—if you were willing to risk what little you had to make it happen.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
