Dimiao was once a sleepy town, until Atty. Sylvia Varquez-Adame left her lofty position at the Philippine Central Bank and became the Mayor of the municipality. But even in the years of sluggishness, the town had produced big names in business and the professions. One thing they have in common... they left heir birthplace and ventured to other places, struggled tooth-and-nail, until they emerged victorious. Jesus Rapirap Quipit (JRQ) used to be a typical boy from sleepy Dimiao; but like many others who dreamed big, he did not like to live in a whimper. He knew that he needed the tight attitude, a good college education, an unconstrained sourcing of motivation, and more than enough supply of intrepidity to define progress in life.

He did not abandon his boat mid-stream, but he changed direction where the need arose, guided by a steady rationality, and a cart-load of luck. In all angles, he is now a successful businessman. If other businessmen did not go through the travails he did, because they had some good backings, Jess made it through his own solitary efforts. He made himself a businessman, and now that I tag him “The Tire Prince,” it's a promising possibility he could be the “The King” in the future. This amiable man is everybody's friend. And all wish him the Kingship soon.

LMP: Who is Jess Quipit?

JRQ: I was born at Dimiao, Bohol. After finishing my elementary and secondary education, I went to Mindanao and studied for two years in college. I came back to Tagbilaran to finish my studies at the University of Bohol, taking up Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accounting, and graduated in the year 1971.

LMP: Why did you go to Mindanao?

JRQ: Well, the reason why I went to Mindanao was to look for a better opportunity.

LMP: Did you find the fortune that you were looking for in the “Land of Promise?”

JRQ: Well, definitely, the brighter future was there; but my mother wanted me to come back to Bohol and finish my studies here.

LMP: From your own point of view, were you in the right timing when you graduated in year 1971, which was also the declaration of Martial Law?

JRQ: The timing was just okay because after graduation I was employed at Coca-Cola. Martial law has not much ill-effects for ordinary law-abiding citizens.

LMP: What were the positions you handled, especially when you first started with Coca-Cola?

JRQ: I was employed as a Relief Salesman, next as Warehouseman, and then as Regular Salesman. In the span of 20 years, I was promoted as Supervisor of the Sales Department until my early retirement in the year 1990.

LMP: You mean to say you started from the lowest position and you did not surrender.

JRQ: It's no retreat, no surrender policy. (Laughs) At that time I was confident I can adjust to anything.

LMP: For 20 years, you molded your life until you reached the Supervisory position. What is a Relief Salesman?

JRQ: Whenever the Salesman was absent, I was the one to take his place.

LMP: Why did you retire that early?

JRQ: I wanted to venture to other opportunity waiting ahead.

LMP: In your 20 years with Coca-Cola, what did you learn?

JRQ: It's basically on the working attitude towards your co-employee, superiors, and customer relationship. I learned a lot in those 2 decades.

LMP: You really believe that in order for a businessman to succeed he needs to have favorable interrelationship with your co-workers and the consumers. You mastered all of these things. There were no mistakes made?

JRQ: Yeah, of course, there were. But I also learned a lot from the mistakes I committed.

LMP: When you retired from Coca-Cola, what was the next thing you did?

JRQ: I ventured to different kinds of business, like car for hire, lumber supply, and general merchandise.

LMP: Why did you not continue these ventures?

JRQ: Since the goods were limited, I didn't push through until such time I found out that there's money in tires.

LMP: What year was that when you realized to venture into tires?

JRQ: I started in the year 1992 at my residence in Booy.

LMP: Before you decided to venture into business, you worked first with Coca-Cola. When you already had enough capital to start on your own, you resigned. But at the start you went through a lot of challenges from the different ventures you entered. Did anyone gave you the idea regarding tire business?

JRQ: Yes, Junior Morgia, a good friend of mine and also the father-in-law of my eldest. He was the first person whom I asked for ideas regarding tire business. I started with recappable tires before I ventured to brand new tires.

LMP: When your business started to prosper, where did you open your second outlet?

JRQ: In 1995, I opened my second outlet at the ground floor of Slim Pension House.

LMP: How long did you stay there?

JRQ: Thirteen years.

LMP: Why did you transfer?

JRQ: I cannot do any expansion because the space is limited, and so I transferred in Tamblot Street.

LMP: As of now, how many outlets do you have?

JRQ: I have three outlets. The first two are named Tagbilaran City Tyres Sale and Service Center and the third one is named by my daughter, the Northway Tyres.

LMP: How much capital is needed on the kind of business you are into?

JRQ: Well, at the start I invested P 50,000.

LMP: Where is your main outlet now?

JRQ: The main outlet of Tagbilaran City Tyres Sale and Service Center is located at Tamblot Street.

LMP: When you say service center, what are the services you are offering aside from tire selling?

JRQ: We offer pre-mounting services, vulcanizing, and change oil service.

LMP: What are the types of tires you are selling?

JRQ: We have tires for multicab, pick-up, SUV, truck tires, ten-wheelers, tractor tires, and many more.

LMP: How are your prices compared to the others?

JRQ: Well, we have the same margin of prices.

LMP: From where are your suppliers?

JRQ: Mostly from Cebu, then Manila.

LMP: How many staff do you have?

JRQ: For my three outlets, all in all they are twenty.

LMP: Let's go now to your personal life. How many children do you have?

JRQ: We are blessed with five children.

LMP: Are they all graduated from college?

JRQ: Yes. Jessie finished Industrial Electricity at CVSCAFT (now BISU). He manages one of the outlets. Jenny is a Registered Nurse, for the meantime while waiting for her application abroad, she is helping the family business. Jerry is a Commerce graduate, major in Management, and is now managing the outlet in Tamblot. Jane Ann is a Certified Public Accountant; she manages the Northway Tyres. Jill May is the youngest and is also a Registered Nurse. She is working at the Community Hospital.

LMP: What kind of life are you living now after all the sacrifices and now you have succeeded?

JRQ: I am contented with what I have now.

LMP: Looking back, what is your feeling towards your struggling years?

JRQ: Despite all the hardships and sacrifices I had before, I am very thankful to God for all the blessings and for making me a better person that I am today.

LMP: You have mentioned earlier that your children are helping manage the tire business. Are you preparing them to take over?

JRQ: Yes, in fact, the Northway Tyres is already owned by my daughter Jane Ann. The main branch in Tamblot, I am planning to give it to my son Jerry. My other three children are still feeling their way around.

LMP: A part of your life, you have been a member of some organizations and was the President of the Kiwanis Club.

JRQ: Yes, I was the President of Kiwanis Club of Metro Tagbilaran in 2003. I am also affiliated with Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

LMP: As a businessman, is it important to be affiliated with organizations most especially when it is associated with business?

JRQ: For me, it is necessary, for exposure and to get acquainted with other businessmen.

LMP: What made you decide to join Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry?

JRQ: A friend of mine encouraged me to join the organization. I think I made the right move.

LMP: Let me ask you, who is Jess Quipit now, and what else do he wanted to achieve in life?

JRQ: As of now, I am not asking for more because I am already contented with what I have. All my sacrifices and hardships resulted into a blissful life and I am very thankful to God for all the wonderful opportunities He had given me and to my family. What I am asking right now is good health and a happy living.

Jess Quipit is a stalwart in a few socio-civic and business organizations, not because he has a commanding presence but because he easily gets along with anybody. Simple in his means, and simpler in his ways, he bonds easily with his peers because of his humility and congeniality.

At the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) he has been appointed Comelec Chairman “for life,” although there is no such thing. It's just that he has been continuously designated the position year after year, with nary a complaint, either from the Chamber or from him. Although this means he has to forego any plan of being an elected officer of BCCI.

For he is not that ambitious he just wants to lend a helping hand to the organization. That's how he has earned the trust of his co-members, and with it immeasurable respect.

(Website: www.loypalapos.com ; Email: loy.pal@gmail.com ; Cellphone: 09981701129)