Close Menu

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    She Moved Abroad at 20 With No Connections—Now She Leads HR Across Southeast Asia

    May 23, 2025

    What Makes a Standout Job Candidate, According to This CFO

    May 22, 2025

    He Studied Accountancy—But Found His True Calling in Developing People

    May 22, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn
    Financial AdviserFinancial Adviser
    • Home
    • Success
      • Leadership & Growth
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Business Strategy
      • Inspiring Stories
    • Money
      • Investing
      • Personal Finance
      • Wealth Building
      • Financial Planning
    • Work
      • Career Development
      • Workplace Culture
      • Productivity & Efficiency
      • Management & Performance
    • Life
      • Relationships & Family
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mindfulness & Balance
      • Personal Growth
    • Inspiration
      • Vision & Purpose
      • Overcoming Adversity
      • Motivational Stories
      • Mindset & Motivation
    Financial AdviserFinancial Adviser
    Home»Work»Career Development»He Lost Money for Three Months—Then His Wife Convinced Him to Keep Going
    Career Development

    He Lost Money for Three Months—Then His Wife Convinced Him to Keep Going

    FinancialAdviser.phMarch 3, 20252 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link

    When Lester Pimentel Ong first launched his chao fan food stall in 2000, he had no idea how tough it would be. He had already pivoted careers multiple times—from a world wushu champion to a film stuntman, to a stockbroker—only to be hit by the Asian financial crisis. Desperate to find a stable income, he took a chance on the food business.

    He found a high-traffic location in Pasay, right in front of a palengke (wet market). The rent was reasonable, and the concept—serving chao fan in a takeout box—was something he had seen in China and Taiwan.

    But there was a problem—no one knew what chao fan was.

    “We were in front of the palengke, talagang masang-masa yung market ko. They did not have any idea what chao fan was, and they did not know how to eat it, so I started struggling until I made it work,” he recalls.

    For three months, the business bled money. Ong’s life savings—and his wife’s—were rapidly depleting.

    “Sabi ko sa misis ko, ‘Isara na natin ito kasi it’s not doing well,’” he admits.

    But his wife refused to quit.

    “Sabi ng misis ko, ‘Hindi, sustain pa natin ng another three months, and after three months, lugi pa rin tsaka na tayo mag decide,’” he shares.

    So, they pushed forward. And on the fourth month, they broke even.

    By the fifth and sixth month, the stall started making a small profit. That was all the confirmation Ong needed—this could work.

    Then, a breakthrough came when his sister opened the same concept in front of a medical school in Valenzuela. Unlike the palengke crowd, students were more adventurous—they lined up on day one.

    Seeing the potential, Ong shifted his strategy—focusing on locations near schools instead of markets. It worked. His business grew, and even the struggling first stall became profitable.

    Today, Ong’s chao fan concept, Rice in a Box, has expanded into multiple locations, proving that sometimes, all a business needs is perseverance—and the right location.

    This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.

    Loading

    Related

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleHis Mom Took a Job in Italy—And Came Home With a Recipe That Built a Business
    Next Article He Failed Three Times in the Food Business—Then Found the Recipe for Success

    Related Posts

    Career Development

    What Makes a Standout Job Candidate, According to This CFO

    May 22, 2025
    Inspiring Stories

    He Studied Accountancy—But Found His True Calling in Developing People

    May 22, 2025
    Inspiring Stories

    She Wanted to Be a News Anchor—Then Found Her Voice in HR Instead

    May 22, 2025
    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Demo
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Updates

      Get the latest updates from Financial Adviser about financial literacy and business acumen. Subscribe to our mailing list!

      By checking this, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies.
      I agree to the Terms and Conditions

      Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS

      Home

      Sucess

      • Leadership & Growth
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Business Strategy
      • Inspiring Stories

      Money

      • Investing
      • Personal Finance
      • Wealth Building
      • Financial Planning

      Work

      • Career Development
      • Workplace Culture
      • Productivity & Efficiency
      • Leadership & Management

      Life

      • Relationships & Family
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mindfullness & Balance
      • Personal Growth

      Inspiration

      • Vision & Purpose
      • Overcoming Adversity
      • Motivational Stories
      • Mindset & Motivation

      Contact Us

      Subscribe to Updates

        Get the latest updates from Financial Adviser about financial literacy and business acumen. Subscribe to our mailing list!

        By checking this, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies.
        I agree to the Terms and Conditions

        Copyright © 2025 Financial Adviser. All rights reserved.

        • Privacy Policy

        Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

        FINANCIALADVISER.PH USES COOKIES TO ENSURE YOU GET THE BEST EXPERIENCE WHILE BROWSING THE SITE.

        By continued use, you agree to our Data Privacy Consent/Agreement and accept our use of such cookies. For further information, click the link Data Privacy Consent/Agreement.