Angkas CEO George Royeca is Ernst and Young’s 2022 Emerging Entrepreneur

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MANILA, Philippines — Angkas CEO George Royeca was recognized as Emerging Entrepreneur of 2022 during the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines awarding ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Manila on Monday night.

The transport advocate was given the prestigious recognition because of his invaluable efforts in establishing the country’s first motorcycle ride-hailing platform as well as pushing for the professionalization of motorcycles as a form of transport. “

I stand here on a collective struggle of thousands, millions, of motorcycle owners na araw-araw nag ne-negosyo para kanilang sa pamilya. Maraming nasa informal sector ang hindi nare-recognize ng ating lipunan at yun po ang ginawa namin sa Angkas—ni-recognize lang po natin na if you invest in the Filipino people, they will become productive citizens of the country,” Royeca said during his acceptance speech.

In all of his interviews, Royeca, 40, never fails to mention the phrase “solve a problem.” It has been a staple in all of his answers and casual statements not because it’s part of a calculated spiel but because it’s among the many things that keep his engine running; to full throttle at that.

As someone who’s accustomed to constantly thinking of solutions in any given situation, it is no surprise that George, also known as “Mister Angkas”, has accomplished a multitude of plans, projects, and advocacies that didn’t only serve his businesses but its positive effects have trickled down to the community that surrounded him as well. In fact, Royeca through Angkas has created 30,000 livelihood opportunities. And over the next 10 years, he wants to create millions more jobs for over 18 million motorcycle owners in the country.

Angkas, a homegrown brand, has received various recognitions such as the Airspeed Service Excellence Company of the Year in the Asia CEO Awards 2022 Circle of Excellence. It was also a winner of gold and two bronze Stevie Awards in the 2019 International Business Awards and the Digital Disruptor for the Philippines in the 2019 Philippines IDC Digital Transformation Awards.

READ: Angkas wins best campaign to improve quality of people’s access to work

As if his above-mentioned achievements and awards weren’t enough, Royeca was also a Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awardee of the 2020 “Pandemic batch”.

As a passionate advocate and an innovative entrepreneur, the former Chief Investment Officer of Solar Entertainment, CFO of an airline company called Skyjet, and founder of Group of Five Creative Concepts never imagined he would be receiving such a prestigious award like TOYM for simply pouring his heart and talents out for the benefit of his fellow Filipinos.

“I’m simply a figurehead of a community on whose shoulders I stand on,” shared Royeca. “I spent these years helping to push for rights and recognition of motorcycle riders and passengers, but it is because of our collective struggle that I am recognized.”

READ: Angkas CEO George Royeca: Everyone can now be a ‘negosyante’

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On making ‘habal-habal’ a cooler and safer ride

It is no mystery that Angkas was born out of Royeca’s and, his wife, Angeline Tham’s desire to professionalize the existing “habal-habal” or motorcycle taxi, which was mainly utilized in the provinces before it became a staple in the metro. Habal-habal is risky despite the many advantages it presents, one being an answer to the country’s worsening traffic situation.

But the problem-solving Royeca saw the hump as an opportunity. Having experienced the terrible traffic, Royeca and wife Angeline invested in the idea of professionalizing the existing habal-habal, innovating it using new technology, and making it safer for the masses to use as one of the primary modes of transportation in the country.

With this, he did not only pour his efforts into ensuring that Angkas riders are fully-trained for safety and security but he also made sure that Angkas passengers are well informed about how to properly and safely mount and ride a motorcycle.

READ: Angkas CEO George Royeca : MSMEs have the power to help drive PH economy forward

On life lessons and biggest inspiration

Hardly seeing himself as self-made, Royeca was proud to say that he went through different moments of highs and lows – from laudable achievements and inspiring failures – and was given life lessons from dinner table conversations with his late father.

For him, growing up was also about hard work versus pure talent. Having dyslexia at an early age, he was aware that he had to re-read and double his efforts in most of the things he does.

“When I started to accept the fact that I had to work harder than anybody else, that’s what really made a difference,” Royeca, the third of four siblings, noted in one of his interviews.

When asked about the lessons he could share with budding entrepreneurs and everyone else in general, he always has these to say: “Solve a problem,” “Learn to adapt and pivot,” and “Know when your idea sucks. Criticism is a blessing, take it well.”