CESAR T. LEE is not just a visionary. He is also into culinary. And if Cesar’s vision in life is as endearing and as epoch-changing as Henry Ford’s, Cesar being also a culinarian transcends even boodle-boodle borders. So enamored is Cesar with food that he would see himself putting up his own restaurant even as his work is already neck-deep, 365 days a year, piloting directions for his Toyota Alabang Inc., now one of the biggest Toyota dealerships nationwide.
Cesar’s unpredictability easily makes him a paradox. Even an enigma.
In Tokyo, one time, during the biennial Tokyo Motor Show (was it 2011 or 2009?), Cesar sidled up to me and said, “Al, it would be a great honor and privilege if you could have lunch with me.”
Of all people, why me?
I barely knew him, actually. All our meetings before this chance encounter were inscrutably casual. So that I have to confess I was taken aback a bit. What have I done to deserve such distinct invite?
But the way Cesar dished out his perfectly profound proposal, it seemed like we’ve been friends for ages. In an instant, I was happily stunned.
“Sure,” I said. “I’m deeply honored by your kindness, Sir.”
“Don’t ‘Sir’ me, please?” Cesar said. “Just call me, Cesar.”
“When do we have our lunch?” I said.
“Now,” he said, without batting an eyelash, and looking me straight in the eye.
Free day
IT was free day that sunny November day and everybody, almost, was raring to go out of the hotel to see the sights on foot—and go shopping maybe. With Cesar coming in from nowhere, that was torpedoed—almost immediately.
I was actually in the hotel lobby already, ready to go, when Cesar suddenly materialized, with Mike his beloved son in tow.
Oh, this handsome Mike. The most dutiful son I’ve ever seen in my life.
When you see Cesar, Mike won’t be far behind.
When you see Mike, Cesar won’t be far behind.
Inseparable. Like horse and carriage, cup and saucer, if not John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the perennial Beatles era.
However, before I could say yes to Cesar’s lunch-invite, I needed to get the green light from Danny M. Isla, the affable Lexus Manila Inc. president. It was Danny, fondly called Sir John by those close to him, who had actually scheduled the walk around the block for the two of us not far from Matsuzakaya, that multistory shopping complex where vintage Japanese cheese is in abundance.
“Sir Paul,” said Sir John to me, “if it’s CTL extending the invite, it means you are extraspecial to him.”
“But what happens now to our walk, look-see in the city?”
“Canceled,” Sir John said.
Most sumptuous meal
WHAT happened in the next two hours or so saw me wallowing in the luxury of one of the most sumptuous meals I’ve ever had in Japan since I first set foot on the Land of the Rising Sun in 1978.
From that day on, Cesar has carved a special niche in my heart.
Just recently—only last Monday to be exact—I was CTL’s guest again. This time, I was just one humble soul from among a huge throng of almost 800 invitees. But even from the virtual sea of humanity that trooped to the renovated, six-story Toyota Alabang Inc. building, Cesar would still endeavor to seek each and every one to extend that hand of his in handshake for a warm welcome to his state-of-the art edifice.
In his speech (I was fortunate to have a copy of it through the ever-reliable Jade B. Sison), the eminent Yasumori Ihara, the executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corp. in Tokyo, paid tribute to how Cesar values people.
Private jet
IHARA, who flew in onboard a special private jet from Tokyo “just to be with my friend Mr. Cesar Lee” on the day of the inauguration of CTL’s new building, said: “When I was assigned here in the ’90s, I would regularly visit Mr. Lee’s showroom and there was a neon signage that flashes the names of guests coming in. There were times when one of those would be my own. I truly appreciate Mr. Cesar Lee’s genuine hospitality and attention to detail. These traits clearly show he values guests…that they should be treated like friends. With his example, his people are then inspired to do the same.”
The high-powered guest list that included Senators Nancy Binay (representing her father, Vice President Jojo Binay) and Gringo Honasan, Davao City Mayor Rudy Duterte, tycoons Cesar Buenaventura and Mario Sy, and San Miguel Corp.’s innovative mogul Ramon S. Ang joined Toyota Philippines vice chairman Alfred Ty and TMP president Michinobu “The Rocker” Sugata in giving Ihara a warm applause, even as Santos Guerrero, the chieftain at Toyota Tech’s School in Santa Rosa City, did his applauding in his own quiet way from the fringes.
From the building inauguration that was timed on the 25th year of Toyota Alabang Inc., the crowd repaired to a sprawling, gaudily decorated tent nearby for a tummy-filling lauriat dinner meticulously prepared by Cesar himself. As guests partook of virtual food for the gods in the strictest traditions of Chinese cuisine, balladeer Arthur Manuntag (where did his ponytail go?) belted nostalgia songs popularized by Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Andy Williams and even Billy Joel with gusto. And when after-meal drinks were flooding the night, the famed Reo Brothers of Tacloban City, with Sir John himself as the unseen musical director, sizzled with their now-patented Beatles ditties mixed with their rendition of hits by the Beach Boys, Cascades and Bee Gees.
25 years of service
SINCE it was a silver sting, CTL’s employees were honored in lavish ceremonies, with 20-yearners sharing the spotlight with manpower that completed 25 years of work at Toyota Alabang Inc.
And who were the twenty-fivers?
First to climb the stage was Mike Lee. Lusty applause greeted him.
“I am an original,” Mike said. “And there is another original, the most original of all. He’s none other than my father.”
Cheers shook the very foundations of the tent.
As Cesar was on his way to join his son on stage, Mike said, “Boss, I love you.”
The father-and-son locked in tight embrace on stage was the most touching moment of the night.
‘Fifty-five’
WHEN it was time to say goodbye, I shook Cesar’s hand one last time and I asked him, “How old are you now, Sir.”
“Fifty-five,” he said.
I thought I didn’t hear him right. So, I asked the same question. This time, slowly and a little louder.
Cesar’s answer? “Fifty-five.”
When he said that, never did he bat an eyelash. Again, as in Tokyo, he looked me straight in the eye.
Again, as in Tokyo, did I hear him say, “Don’t ‘Sir’ me, please?”
Indeed, seemingly, visionaries never grow old.
Pee stop
On record, CTL’s Toyota Alabang, area-wise, is now the biggest Toyota dealership, eclipsing Rene So’s Toyota Dagupan. The true sportsman that he is, Rene took it in stride. “I bow to Cesar and I give credit to his leadership,” said Rene, who is now the president of the Toyota Dealers Association of the Philippines.