MAN OF THE HOUR

Robbie Antonio is trying to beat the clock. The Filipino founder and CEO of prefabricated designer structures retail start-up Revolution Precrafted sweeps into the studio and immediately sets the shoot in motion. There are interview questions whizzing about, offers of various articles of clothing to try on, a request for a shaving kit, and instructions handed to Antonio’s PR manager to move that evening’s meeting to the following morning — before the real estate developer and art collector jets off to Malaysia. He visits Singapore about six times a year, but takes a long, long pause before naming hotel food as his favourite local delicacy. And life looks set to get even busier: He snagged the 2018 Philippines Real Estate Personality of the Year award for turning Revolution Precrafted into a “unicorn” (a start-up valued at more than US$1 billion) and announced a deal to build apartments and villas on The World Islands in Dubai. With his status as a tech entrepreneur cemented, he’s no longer a suit-and-tie person. “That’s my past life,” he quips. “I’m always in sneakers and casual clothes now. I have to be part of the disruptive world — never take yourself too seriously.” Visit prestigeonline.com for our video interview with Robbie Antonio