Long before Marvin Agustin became a household name in showbiz, he was already making moves in the business world—at just 14 years old.
“When I was 14 years old, I was already helping my mom and the family,” Marvin shared. “Taga-tinda kami ng mga tocino, tapa, dressed chicken in the neighborhood.” This early exposure to sales and community trading didn’t just help support the family—it laid the groundwork for Marvin’s lifelong entrepreneurial spirit.
In fact, Marvin wasn’t content just helping with the family’s food stall. “Parang ako yung pinakamalakas ang loob sa family,” he said. Taking initiative, he ventured into buying and selling. “I would go to Tutuban and buy clothes there, T-shirts, pants, and sell it in our small village in Muntinlupa.” His early trading experience taught him not just salesmanship but also the importance of margins, customer relationships, and spotting demand—skills that would later prove vital.
Even though his small ventures helped put food on the table, Marvin found himself looking up to his two older siblings. “Naiinggit ako lagi dun sa dalawa kong kapatid because they were both working in the food business, which was Dunkin’ Donuts and Shakey’s,” he said. That envy eventually led him to take his first job in food service—as a mascot for Shakey’s, then later as a waiter for Tia Maria’s.
“Naging local store marketing staff ako. I was 16 then and I became the youngest regular staff,” he recalled. “One of my duties noon was to go to TV stations because we would do bar hosting… and promote our brand.” This early role helped Marvin understand not just food service, but branding and marketing—a skillset that would later help him build his own name in F&B.
Even when his showbiz career took off, Marvin never lost sight of his passion for food. “Deep in my heart, alam ko pang food ako eh,” he said. “I enjoyed the service. I know it’s hard working in the restaurant, standing for long hours, but I didn’t see it as something na hard work.”
That deep-rooted love for food turned into bold moves. When Mister Donut asked him to be a brand ambassador, Marvin replied, “Don’t pay me anymore. Just give me two stores because I wanted to learn the food business.”
From tocino in Muntinlupa to Cochi and other successful ventures, Marvin Agustin’s journey shows how early hustle, grit, and passion can grow into a full-blown restaurant empire.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
