Determined to succeed, 30-year-old Illac Diaz is focused on managing his enterprise, Pier 1 Dorms. His dormitories are located in Ermita and Intramuros, serving students who have come to Manila from the provinces to study. A total of 700 bed spaces to fill up is the challenge that Illac is facing as he adds value to his venture by offering employment and training advice to his boarders.
A fashion model, yoga enthusiast and frequent television guest, our Eurasian bachelor has physical features inherited from his Italian mother and Filipino father. His scholastic achievements as a true-blue Atenean and his recent completion of a Masteral in Entrepreneurship from AIM complement his ambition.
With lots of laughter, Illac reflects on throwing a tantrum, chicken breasts and Rocky Balboa.
On what occasion do you lie?
All the time. White lies. Life is a mountain of lies.
What is your most fervent wish?
That people will remember me two generations from now for something good that I did. If not, then for something really scandalous.
Where would you like to live?
By the beach with my Rosario and my Gracia. Of course, I have to balance this off with time for konting penitensya.
What book influenced your life?
The memoirs of my hero, Winston Churchill.
Which fictional hero can you most identify with?
Rocky Balboa because life gives me a lot of beatings. I have learned that life involves getting beaten up a lot in order to gain that one success.
What is your greatest fear?
To believe in a really great business and not have done it.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
It has become so easy for people to say things they don’t mean.
How do you start your day?
Go down to the ground floor of my apartment building on Roxas Boulevard, jog up 12 floors, shower and go to work. Breakfast in the car.
What is your motto?
If you never, never go, you’ll never, never know.
What is your current state of mind?
Hungry for success.
If you were to die, who or what would you like to come back as?
I’m not coming back. I want Nirvana on the first shot.
What is your greatest regret?
That I shouted at my father and threw a tantrum at my grandmother. I should have known then that the first thing to do after having an argument with my family is to apologize.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Ordering every item on the menu.
What words or phrases do you overuse?
"No, really. This time, this idea is going to make me a millionaire."
What is the first thing you look at when you see a woman?
When I see a woman, I always wonder why I order breast instead of legs in Kentucky’s.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That I am self-employed.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having the ideal mate and finding out that she is passionately in love with me as well.
Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?
"There is nothing wrong with you. It’s me..."
What makes you laugh?
How seriously I regard myself.
What was your favorite journey?
From Alexandria to Aswan in Egypt, I traveled by train, a felucca sailboat and by bicycle around Luxor in the Valley of the Kings.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
I thought it was the dream to be rich but now that I really think of it, it’s my mom, Silvana.