Peculiar Eyewear: I wasn’t Crazy. I just couldn’t see
In 2014, a young man from humble beginnings took a simple dream and turned it into one of the most loved eyewear brands in the Philippines. His name is Isaac M. Saliendra, founder of Peculiar Eyewear, a brand built on resilience, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to making quality eyewear accessible to all.
Isaac’s story begins in grade school. As a child, he often struggled to see the blackboard and would inch closer to televisions screens. Teachers and classmates misunderstood his behavior, labeling him “lazy,” “noisy,” even “crazy” as he was not able to finish his work and had difficulty studying. The truth was far from it—his eyesight was deteriorating. By the time his mother Tess, brought him to the Malacañang Clinic, doctors discovered he already had a grade of 350, at a young age of 9.
“Finding out I had poor vision was life-changing,” Isaac recalls. “I wasn’t dumb. I just couldn’t see.”
But getting a pair of glasses was another battle. His father Ariel, a farmer, couldn’t afford the steep prices of PhP3,000 to PhP10,000 for prescription eyewear. Eventually, they discovered a shop offering a full set for only PhP500. For young Isaac—who frequently broke his glasses—this was a lifeline. That experience planted a seed: the belief that eyewear should be affordable, practical, and within reach of every Filipino.
From Street Lessons to Entrepreneurship
Isaac’s entrepreneurial spirit started early. In Grade 2, where his grandmother Susan, would buy chocolates for him, he repacked the chocolates in ice candy wrappers and sold them at school. Later, he walked the streets with his father, selling Good Morning Towels in Luneta Park—sometimes even facing the risk of being apprehended as informal vendors.
“These were tough years,” Isaac admits. “But selling on the streets taught me perseverance, grit, and how to see opportunity in struggle.”
Those lessons would later shape Peculiar Eyewear, which has grown from an online venture into a respected optical brand with a store in SM North Edsa—a dream Isaac once visualized as a child wandering the aisles of optical shops.
Peculiar Eyewear: A Mission Beyond Business
For Isaac, Peculiar Eyewear is more than just a business. It’s a movement. The brand carries a strong social responsibility mission, rooted in his own experiences and values:
- Free graded eyewear for children in need – ensuring no child is mislabeled or misjudged simply because of poor vision.
- Art supplies donations for aspiring young creatives –as Isaac puts it, “I am peculiar myself, so why not nurture creativity in others?”
- Livelihood programs for farmers – honoring his family’s farming roots by supporting communities in Talolong, Quezon Province and beyond.
But Peculiar’s commitment doesn’t stop there. The company is equally socially and environmentally aware, making sustainability part of its DNA. Peculiar Eyewear:
- Recycles raw materials – even broken lenses are repurposed into pots and other usable items, reducing waste and giving new life to old products.
- Utilizes solar energy – integrating solar panels in operations to lessen carbon footprint.
- Redesigns packaging sustainably – from using bubble wraps in packaging its eyewear products, Peculiar shifted to using decorative boxes for its products. Likewise, shipping boxes are recycled into wrappers for orders, minimizing waste while ensuring every delivery reflects the brand’s eco-conscious vision.
“Our brand is called Peculiar for a reason,” Isaac explains. “It’s about embracing what makes us different—and that includes how we care for people and for the planet. Affordability, responsibility, and sustainability should always go hand in hand.”
Challenges that Shaped a Founder
Isaac’s journey wasn’t without personal battles. He has dyslexia, making spelling and writing a daily challenge. Emails often require auto-correct tools, and he relies on voice-to-text when drafting longer texts.
But beyond his personal struggles, Isaac and his family endured hardships that tested their resilience. Twice, the Saliendra family was evicted from their ancestral home in Sta Mesa, Manila by a non-relative. “Being forced out not once, but twice, was painful,” Isaac shares. “But I told myself: the long run will prove that our family will make it someday.”
These experiences, rather than breaking him, built his determination. “I didn’t want bitterness to define me. I wanted perseverance to define me,” he adds.
Corporate life, too, was a mismatch. After working for nine months in human resources, he was told he wasn’t cut out for the corporate world. A professor even once dismissed him as “crazy” and unlikely to succeed. The worst words were “…you will be in asylum in 3 years.” Instead of breaking him, these words became fuel.
“People said I wouldn’t make it,” Isaac reflects, “but here we are, ten years strong.”
Collaborations and Vision for the Future
Over the years, Peculiar Eyewear has collaborated with different personalities and organizations at the local and international level. In the Philippines, Peculiar teamed up with journalists, local actors and actresses, media influences, and e-gaming enthusiasts to promote its products. At the international level, they had global franchises like Warner Bros., rolling out special Harry Potter and Justice League collections. But Isaac’s proudest collaboration, as of date, is with Ms. Glenda Dela Cruz, founder of Brilliant Skin Essentials.
“What inspires me about Glenda is her perseverance and generosity,” Isaac shares. “She reminds me that business is not just about growth—it’s about lifting others up, too.”
Together, they launched a Miss Glenda X Peculiar collection that celebrates resilience, creativity, and authenticity. For Isaac, the partnership wasn’t just about the product—it was about being inspired by Glenda’s story and leadership.
“She reminds me of a genie,” Isaac says, his voice filled with admiration. “She makes everything seem possible. It’s not just about the collaboration; it’s about how she influences me, how she nurtures my creativity. She genuinely wants to help others, and that’s something I deeply admire.”
”Because Miss Glenda is Peculiar!”
Looking Ahead
Today, Isaac stands as proof that dreams—no matter how peculiar—can become reality, with the help of his sister Dyan and their employees. From a boy who couldn’t see the blackboard, to being labeled as “different,” to building a brand that champions affordability, inclusivity, and social responsibility, Isaac has redefined what eyewear can mean to Filipinos.
“Vision isn’t just about eyesight,” Isaac says with a smile. “It’s about seeing possibilities where others see limits. And that’s what Peculiar Eyewear is all about.”
