Health scare pushed Splash founder Rolan Hortaleza to sell his company

“For 20 years, buyers came to me, and I never showed interest,” he wrote.

But eight years before the 2019 sale, Hortaleza was diagnosed with an undisclosed health condition that made him reconsider his priorities.

“I began to look at longevity,” he admitted.

Hortaleza and his wife, Dr. Rosalinda Ang-Hortaleza, founded their cosmetics business in 1985 with just ₱12,000. What started as a backyard enterprise eventually became one of the country’s biggest homegrown personal care companies, competing against multinational giants.

In 2019, the family sold Splash’s personal care business to Indian conglomerate Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting in a multibillion-peso deal reportedly worth ₱9 billion to ₱11 billion.

Hortaleza explained that the offer finally made sense because it benefited the brands, employees, and his family.

His revelation also stirred nostalgia among Filipinos who grew up using Splash products.

“Know what you are holding on to,” he concluded. “Then you will know when to let go.”