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Saturday, November 20, 2004
Dan Dungao: Through the windows of success
By Albert B. Lacanlale
PERHAPS one of the province's most successful business ventures is Dan's Marketing, which established six branches located in strategic places in the City of San Fernando, Guagua, Apalit, Tarlac and Cabanatuan City.
To date, Dan's Marketing could be considered a byword in the appliance retail industry, thanks to one man - Clodualdo "Dan" Dungao - whose faith in God and love for his family propped up a trade from its humble beginnings to what it is today.
Start of something big
Coming from a laboring family from Buas, Candaba, Dan grew up working, together with his other nine siblings, with their parents who eked out a living cooking and selling native rice cakes (kalamay). Barely three years old then, Dan had not the slightest idea that this was to become one of his earliest exposures to the business world.
Saving a few hundred pesos, Dan's family left Candaba in search of greener pastures. The town (now city) of San Fernando became their abode to start a new source of livelihood-a family-owned eatery they named "Candaba Kitchenette."
At the outbreak of World War II, which ravaged Pampanga and its capital town, 14-year old Dan volunteered to assist nurses attending to wounded and sick Filipino and American soldiers at the Pampanga Provincial Hospital (now Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital). During his stint at the hospital, Dan was exposed to various diseases like dysentery, malaria and tuberculosis but remained insusceptible to illnesses as he was called to clean the bloodied and putrid excrement or vomit of those afflicted soldiers.
When peace was finally restored in 1946, the young man was once more seen doing hard labor working for Manila Railroad (MRR) in the early construction of the railroad tracks between San Fernando and Floridablanca.
In the years following the Liberation, with his high school education disrupted by the war, Dan, like many other Kapampangan youth, managed to go back to school to finish his secondary education. But without enough money to go through college, he had to content himself with a vocational course in Electronic Technology. He was thereafter employed at the Pampanga Provincial Capitol and later by the Clark Air Base Control Tower.
Ten years of tedious but dedicated work as an employee soon took its toll on Dan at the same time as the seed of entrepreneurship planted in him as a young boy reckoned. In 1961, he resigned from his job and opened a one-room, one-table electronic repair shop at Del Pilar until he made a name for himself and increased his number of clientele in a short span of two years.
"I even had to take the risk of climbing high roofs to install television antennas," Dan reminisced.
Though adversities prove to be a part of every thriving businesses, Dan's trade was not totally dumped even after a fire that razed his shop left him "bloodied but unbowed."
Soon enough, gaining for himself a reputation for good service, fair dealing and rectitude, the doors for bigger opportunities began to open, giving birth to Dan's Marketing.
As an employer, "Tatang Dan", as he is fondly called, was at all times sensitive to his employees' needs. For all his efforts, unquestionable work ethics and sound entrepreneurship, Dan's Marketing was awarded the distinction of "Nationwide Dealer of the Year" in 1992 by the National Panasonic Corporation on the occasion of its Silver Anniversary in the appliance retail business. Not long after that, he widened the scope of service to cater to the needs of fast changing world of Cable TV-viewing public by establishing the Satellite Cable Network Inc., in the City of San Fernando in 1993.
A family-man, public servant
Though fully dedicated to his labor and committed to sustain his business success, Tatang Dan just as devoutly cared for his family. His wife Teresita, with whom he sired seven children, was by his side through all his triumphs, and failures. With all sincerity, he would lovingly declare that he is "a one-woman man".
In the same vein, the love and nurturing he bestowed on his children was to him rewarded a hundred-fold. Seeing all of them ending up as professionals, and like history repeating itself, "pitching in their share of labor" just as how it was when he was a young boy selling rice cakes with his siblings and loving parents in Buas, Candaba.
Contemplating in his life as a whole, though he was not bereft of afflictions, his life has, in many respects been full of joy and blessings. Imbued with the Christian spirit of love, charity and service, he returns all the graces her receives through genuine Christian and socio-civic work.
"To whom much is give, much is also expected." Tatang Dan took his dictum very seriously--his life now being intensely intertwined with religious and civic work, charitable activities and humanitarian projects. In any of the organizations he is connected with, he was not contented with merely being a sedentary member. He would, in most cases lead the group rather than just follow. And his efforts were not left unnoticed-as proven by the numerous awards he has garnered through the years from many respectable religious and civic organizations, like the Knights of Columbus, San Fernando Capitol Lions Club and Pampanga Lions Club, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Federation of PHS/JASHS Alumni Association Foundation, Inc. to name a few.
Tatang Dan has proven that a college degree nor scholastic credential is not always the assurances to bring one to greater heights in life. What it takes to succeed in life are love of work, determination, perseverance and hard work that brought him to where he is now.
(November 20, 2004 issue)
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