MH | I N T E R V I E W
MARK HUANG answers the Manila House Questionnaire
“Success for me is happiness.” Tell us what you do.
I used to be an account associate in Eastwest Bank but resigned earlier this year to help out in the family business instead. I now take part in the daily operations of our plywood factories located in Impasugong and Makilala where I handle financials and corporate paperwork. Our company produces both veneer and plywood which we then ship out to our clients. Although challenging at times, I see great prospects for the overall wood industry in the Philippines as it starts to modernize and operate more efficiently. How do you define success?
Success for me is happiness. And what makes me happy is sitting in the beach on a sunny day, sipping out of a coconut, and staring at the endless waves crashing ashore. There’s just something about the beach that makes me feel satisfied. No roads, no buildings, no deadlines – just plain old nature, with which man was created to commune. Overall, I enjoy simplicity and harmony between us and the world. What life lessons did you derive from the pandemic?
The pandemic helped me shift my focus to the important aspects of life. Particularly my family, friends, and our household. My favorite, however, will probably be learning how to play Mahjong. Mahjong to us is more than just the white tiles we clang together when playing. We find it to be a game of guessing, planning, hustling, and as a cultural exchange between the old to the new generation. In fact, I know some people who started playing at the age of five and are still very eager playing it in their 50s every day!
What would you like to see in the “next normal”?
I would like to see faster economic movement in the country. The recent technology boom caused by the pandemic enabled the whole world, including us, to speed up 10 years ahead in terms of digitization. As an Economics graduate, nothing excites me more than seeing increased sellers, consumers, competition, and an overall healthier market in the country. What’s your favorite thing about Manila House?
Most definitely the Poke Bowl! This is usually where my monthly consumables go to. You will always see me and Nika on a date in the Bonifacio Lounge and topping all that food off with Yema Palitaw. The yema dip is just too good! If you had to be quarantined (again) which country would you choose to be in?
I would love to try out Japan. Aside from the superb food, very clean streets, and well-disciplined locals, their perspective on life is simply amazing. I have recently finished reading Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton and her narrative on this philosophy showcased the deep appreciation of the Japanese for the passage of time. In terms of objects, wabi and sabi celebrate cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. Learning this, I started asking myself which objects in my household could I see using for five? 10 years? And as I look at the worn-out seats of our old, weathered SUV, I think to myself – “We have used this a lot in the past couple of years,” and feel very satisfied with that feeling.
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