Liberato “Levy” P. Laus was probably one of the most accomplished and most awarded Filipino businessmen of his generation and undoubtedly the most familiar champion of countryside development with a visionary zeal.

Among his prestigious awards are: Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the field of business with civic consciousness given by the province of Pampanga in 1991, Outstanding Fernandino in the field of business and entrepreneurship given by the City of San Fernando in 2009, Most Distinguished Bedan given by the San Beda College Alumni Association in 2008, Most Distinguished Alumnus in the field of business by the Don Bosco Academy in 1983, Outstanding Alumnus given by Don Bosco Academy on its 50th Anniversary in 2007, Distinguished Bosconian Alumnus given by Don Bosco Academy in 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Clark Development Corp. in 2008, Presidential Medal of Merit from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005 and Blessed Philipp Rinaldi Servant Leader from the Salesians of Don Bosco Philippines in 2007.

Coming from humble beginnings, Laus was driven by a personal dream to transform his life not only by achieving success but by building a legacy. In effect, he was a man with an extraordinary mission. Armed with a vision, imbued with the value of hardwork, challenged by innovation and change itself, and inspired by love for his hometown, now the City of San Fernando, Laus set out to cut a distinct path for himself.

In 1978, Laus, already on an upward career trajectory in the banking industry, left his corporate job as bank manager to pursue his dream and mission. He put up a small and obscure automotive dealership -three cars on display and funded with a meager capital – in the backwater capital town and in a business environment threatened by both economic and political uncertainties at the time. That mother company has since grown and expanded into a highly diversified conglomerate now known as the Laus Group of Companies. The group is now the largest multi-brand dealership network in the Philippines, with over 45 dealerships from Metro Manila, Central and Northern Luzon.

Laus had his baptism of fire when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and lahar flow threatened to bury San Fernando and other parts of Pampanga. With his leadership skill, organizational savvy and unmoved conviction, he cobbled a disaster management group called the Save San Fernando Movement that became instrumental in bringing together government leaders, businessmen and other members of civil society to compel government to build a protective dike to stop lahar on its tracks and save the capital town from total disaster.

Today, the LausGroup continues to transform the landscape of countryside business and expand its reach and influence across Northern and Central Luzon hewing as faithful as ever to its avowed role as catalyst for countryside progress.