CIMB Bank Philippines brand ambassador Ruru Madrid is one of the country’s most in-demand and award-winning actors. Known for his talent, discipline, and drive, Ruru has always believed in dreaming big and working hard to fulfill his life purpose. But beyond the bright lights of showbiz, he is also carving his path in a different role: as an entrepreneur.
He co-founded Transcend Studios, a production company that creates social content, and started Aksyon, a stunt team dedicated to raising the standard of action sequences in local productions.
In building his own ventures, Ruru has picked up valuable lessons that aspiring business owners can learn from and apply in their own journeys. Here are some of his top tips:
Start with something you are genuinely passionate about
Businesses are a long-term commitment. Starting one isn’t just about creating a source of income – it means building something that requires time, effort, and focus. There will be late nights, tough calls, and moments when things don’t go as planned.
For Ruru, his passion to support the stunt community in the country was a key step to entrepreneurship.
“We want to help the stunt community here in the Philippines, because parang hindi sila nabibigyan ng tamang credit sa mga ginagawa nila,” he said. “Inaalay nila ang buhay nila every shoot and wala silang benepisyo… Gusto namin magsilbing boses para sa stunt community here in the Philippines to help them na magkaroon ng benefits.” (We want to help the stunt community here in the Philippines because they do not get proper credit for the things they do. They put their lives on the line for every shoot without receiving any employee benefits. We want to serve as the voice of the stunt community here in the Philippines to help them receive benefits.”
His genuine interest and passion for his business shines through and keeps him going, as he takes great pride in the quality of work that his team produces and always speaks highly of their achievements.
There is no such thing as perfect timing
When the pandemic hit, many businesses suffered losses. Starting a new venture in such uncertain times was especially risky. Still, Ruru chose to take small steps forward rather than wait for the “right” moment.
“We started mga two, three years ago. During that time, mahigpit pa nung pandemic…Pero for me, ang kagandahan is nagsimula agad kami. Hindi kami naghintay ng perfect timing kasi for me, wala naman talagang perfect timing. You need to start now and take small steps…as long as you’re moving. I know that someday may mapupuntahan ‘yan,” Ruru shared. (We started around two, three years ago. During that time, pandemic protocols were still strict. But for me, it’s good that we started immediately. We did not wait for the perfect timing, because there’s no such thing. You need to start now and take small steps…as long as you’re moving. I know that someday we will achieve something.”
Value your hard work and manage your finances wisely
As the eldest child and the breadwinner since he was 14 years old, Ruru has always understood the value of money and the sacrifices it takes to earn it.
He shared, “The moment na natanggap ko ‘yung first paycheck ko, I told my parents na ako na ‘yung bahala. And simula noon, ‘yun ‘yung nagsilbing motivation sa akin to work harder and mas maging focused sa ginagawa ko…meron akong goal na gusto ma-achieve, not just for myself, but also for my family and loved ones.” (The moment I received my first paycheck, I told my parents that I’ll take care of everything. Since then, this has served as my motivation to work harder and focus on what I’m doing. I had a goal that I wanted to achieve, not just for myself, but also for my family and loved ones.)
This mindset and sense of responsibility shaped how he approached both his career and his business. It helped him truly value the fruits of his labor and spurred him to be smart with his money, a trait that all entrepreneurs can learn from.
“Doon ko natutunan na ‘pag alam mo ‘yung hirap na ginawa mo, yung trabaho na ginawa mo, aalagaan mo siya. ‘Yung smart sa money, parang peace of mind siya. At least alam mo sa sarili mo na secure ‘yung future mo because naging matalino ka today,” he said. (That’s where I learned that you don’t take something for granted when you know the effort it took to build it… Being smart with money brings peace of mind. At least you’ll know that your future is secure because you were smart with money today.”
Partnering with CIMB Bank PH
For someone as hardworking and goal-driven as Ruru, choosing a trusted banking partner was a natural step. He found this in CIMB Bank PH, which was awarded by The Asian Banker as the Best Digital Bank in the country.
Through CIMB Biz, the Bank’s new segment tailored for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), entrepreneurs like Ruru now have better access to financial tools that can help them grow their ventures.
With CIMB Biz, business owners with active CIMB Bank PH savings accounts can sign up directly through the CIMB Bank PH mobile app and get an exclusive savings interest rate of up to 4% per annum with no cap, higher interest rates on their MaxSave Time Deposit account, and up to 10 free Instapay transfers daily. Select CIMB Biz customers can also enjoy higher credit limits and lower interest rates for REVI Credit, CIMB Bank PH’s first-of-its-kind revolving credit line.
CIMB Biz is part of the Bank’s mission to democratize financial access and empower MSMEs by giving them the tools they need to manage their business more effectively, as well as borrow funds with dignity.
Be part of CIM Biz today. Simply tap the CIMB Biz button on the CIMB Bank PH mobile app dashboard to get started. For more information, visit cimbbank.com.ph/biz