From borrowed Mercedes to billions: George Yang's unlikely journey

The story of George T. Yang, the visionary brought who McDonald's to the Philippines, is a tale of an underdog defying the odds.

- CHINO S. LEYCO

In the cutthroat world of international franchising, success often seems reserved for those with immense wealth and established power.

In the 1970s, Yang, a freshly minted Wharton Business School graduate, found himself competing for the coveted McDonald's franchise rights against some of the Philippines' most formidable business magnates.

"I'm the most nobody among all the applicants," Yang candidly admitted in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

He recounted having to borrow a relative's old Mercedes-Benz just to chauffeur the McDonald's representatives, who were in Manila to interview potential franchisees. His well-heeled competitors, meanwhile, were rolling out limousines.

But then, their drive took an unexpected turn. "It was in the middle of summer, they were all in coats and ties, three big guys in the back," Yang recalled. "When all of a sudden, the aircon went off in Ortigas.

They all sweated." A wave of panic washed over him. "Patay na ito [we're doomed]," Yang thought.

It was an uphill battle. He revealed that applicants ranged from people who controlled a large brewery to titans in real estate and retail.

"When they were trying to convince [McDonald's], they'd say, 'Our company is big...our companies are doing this and that..we're a big corporation..we have the assets and the capital etc.' I did not have that," he recounted.

Personal touch: Yang's secret weapon

Despite the imposing display of wealth from his competitors, Yang held onto an inner conviction. "Somehow, I was confident," he recalled, sensing an edge over his rivals.

The critical moment arrived when the president of McDonald's International touched down in Manila, prepared to personally interview the select few who had made the shortlist.