HE is the perennial eagle in flight, scouting and exploring the skies and great beyond for every opportunity that will make life better for others and his countryside nest a bastion of development, a beacon of hope that eternally shines and guides people of all races and creed.
In his lifetime, Levy P. Laus, the eagle with colorful feathers and keen eyes that seize every uplifting chance, has been branded as a tycoon, corporate statesman, public servant and community volunteer.
More importantly, he is a humanitarian, action man and primemover as the founder and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Laus Group of Companies, founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., former head of the San Fernando Heritage Foundation, and the spirit behind a host of non-government organizations that has lifted Pampanga off the ground for the longest time. He was the wind beneath the wings of every great advocacy Kapampangans and Filipinos across the country revere.
In his very first lift off, he took the Laus Group of Companies to tremendous growth in the last four decades, an egg that started as a small office in the City of San Fernando which has now flourished into an empire of more than 50 auto dealerships located across Central and Northern Luzon.
His success was a flight filled utmost perseverance and hard work as well as sharing the blessings, a reason why he was keen on giving back to the community, and ultimately created lasting change.
Like any extraordinary specie and breed of his kind, he valued the relationship he has gained through the years and he beamed with joy with the many opportunities he has helped not only kabalens but also brothers and sisters from across the globe.
He looked at life in a continuum, not stages, more mindful of the future than of the past because that’s where the action and challenge are, and that’s where he made a living. If success precedes significance, then he is one of those that have definitely discovered the true meaning of success after giving up a part of it.
To him, one doesn’t get comfort simply to be comforted but to comfort others. He worked hard to keep his multi-businesses open, let alone growing, because so many people depended on him. It was paternalism akin to humanitarianism.
And along his flight, was born a strong, solid legacy to talk about for himself, especially in his home city where obviously his name is now part of the lore. For one thing, the epical struggle that he led to save it from lahar destruction has been immortalized in the book “Pinatubo: Triumph of the Kapampangan Spirit.”
As an action man, he was relentlessly involved in community affairs, where the high regard for the lives of others is foremost on his mind. Optimism abounded in him.
He and his flock of eagles soar into action each time communities are put to risk, but each time too, he looked back at every occasion with optimism and untiring resolve. Crises after crises, he shifted gears and shared hope with others.
It was his sheer love for Pampanga and the countryside that has driven him passionately to serve his kabalens. He was but a simple son of San Fernando, a typical “palengke boy who sold sweepstakes at the public market where he learned the rudiments of life. Even with the lure of better opportunities elsewhere, he chose to stay in Pampanga, starting small and overcoming challenge after challenge. Lessons were learned the hard way and he discovered success had its price.
But the daring and the passion to take risks has its rewards, too, which are now shared by all. He has always said that peace of mind is the root of happiness and contentment.
In his last flight on April 25, 2019, the eagle, the humble servant of the times, left a legacy that will forever be written in the heavenly skies where he now peacefully rests. (JTD with excerpts from an article by JCS)