- 2 days ago
Alfonso Hortaleza used to go around selling products to sari-sari stores from a van, while his brother, Alexone, started as a Brand Associate for their product.
Before leading Prime Global’s companies, the sons of Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza — the couple behind HBC and Splash Corporation — learned the ropes from the ground up.
As Pia Arcangel recalls, hearing the name Hortaleza brings back memories of the beauty products many Filipinos grew up with, from the small cuticle remover bottles to the classic hairspray. How did the brothers build on that legacy while forging their own path in business? Listen to their full story here in Season 2 of Power Talks with Pia Arcangel.
Before leading Prime Global’s companies, the sons of Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza — the couple behind HBC and Splash Corporation — learned the ropes from the ground up.
As Pia Arcangel recalls, hearing the name Hortaleza brings back memories of the beauty products many Filipinos grew up with, from the small cuticle remover bottles to the classic hairspray. How did the brothers build on that legacy while forging their own path in business? Listen to their full story here in Season 2 of Power Talks with Pia Arcangel.
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00:00I became a van sales, so I went around in the van and went to the store.
00:05After that, I became a team leader of a group.
00:08I started as a brand associate of Skin White.
00:11Eventually, I became the manufacturing head of food.
00:14And after that, I became sales of key accounts similar to his experience.
00:18And then total sales of Philippines, total sales, and then president.
00:23We were instilled of working hard would have results.
00:28So, if you work hard, if you perform, you will be rewarded.
00:33It's not going to be handed to you on a silver platter.
00:36When I found out that I was going to be interviewing you guys, I heard the name Hortales.
00:39And the first thing that came to my mind, the Hortales are products of my youth.
00:42So, cuticle remover and the small bottles, the packaging, plus the hairspray.
00:50This was your dad's original product.
00:54During the family of my dad, there are stores.
00:58So, there are other stores that were given to my dad.
01:01He converted it into this retail company with HPC.
01:05A small home-based lab propelled by a vision and meager capital.
01:15This paved the way for Orlando and Rosalinda Hortalesa to build the business giant that we know as Splash Corporation.
01:22And companies that own well-known brands across the globe.
01:25And now, it's time to meet the next generation that will continue their leadership.
01:30On this episode of Power Talks, we sit down with the Hortalesa brothers, Alfonso and Alexson of Prime Global.
01:37Today, we're sitting down with the Hortalesa brothers.
01:40And it's such a treat to be sitting down with both of them at the same time.
01:45So, we're here in the office of Prime Global and Prime Global Finance Corporation.
01:51So, good morning, Alfonso and Alexson.
01:55Good morning, Pia.
01:56Pleasure, pleasure.
01:57Nice meeting you.
01:58It's so nice to meet you.
01:59Salamat sa, you know, pag-welcome sa amin here inside your office.
02:03So, thanks for sitting down with us.
02:04Has this always been the office of Prime Global?
02:08I mean, ever since you started?
02:10This has been our office since 2019.
02:132019, yes.
02:14When we sold Splash Corporation and its brands way back in 2019, our office was in PGC.
02:20Okay.
02:21But after we sold that company, we transferred here.
02:23Alright.
02:24You mentioned that you transferred after you sold your previous company, Splash.
02:28Alfonso, can you give us a brief background?
02:30Paano ba nag-umpisa yung family business?
02:34Well, it started with my dad.
02:37His family used to have these outlets, Hortalesa outlets.
02:40So, they mainly sold the beauty products.
02:45So, when my sister was born, yung eldest sister namin,
02:49it wasn't enough because they were doctors.
02:51They were doctors, and their income was a little bit.
02:55So, they decided to go into business.
02:57So, they started supplying the stores of beauty products.
03:02So, it started with hairspray,
03:05and eventually, the products were continued.
03:08So, it started with Stringent, facial cleanser, extract.
03:13But the biggest, first biggest product nila is was Extraderm.
03:17So, with that, continuous.
03:19Then, it started with other brands like SkinWhite, Betres, Hygienics.
03:24So, those are the brands that started with our family.
03:29Can you tell us, Alexon,
03:31what was their field, what was their specialty?
03:36It was for the kids and for the eyes, if I remember correctly.
03:39Pediapedia and Ophelia.
03:41So, paano sila napasok sa beauty products?
03:44How did they get into that?
03:45My dad's family was into retailing of beauty products.
03:49They saw the potential of supplying to that store.
03:52So, they started their own manufacturing.
03:54Alright.
03:55Because, you know, when I found out that I was going to be interviewing you guys,
03:58I heard the name Hortales.
03:59And the first thing that came to my mind,
04:01the Hortales are products of my youth.
04:02So, the cuticle remover, and the small bottles, the packaging, plus the hairspray.
04:10This was your dad's original product?
04:14Yes.
04:15Yes.
04:16Quite good.
04:17And during the family of my dad, there are stores.
04:21So, there are other stores that were given to my dad.
04:24He converted it into this retail company at HBC.
04:28Okay.
04:29So, he left it from the Vashador?
04:30Yes.
04:31He left it.
04:32Okay.
04:33I just want to add that in the history of the family business,
04:37the products that we have made from the family.
04:42So, I mentioned Elphonse, Extraderm.
04:44It was actually the first exfoliating product in the market.
04:47I remember that.
04:48We also launched SkinWhite.
04:49It was actually one of the pioneers of the whitening category.
04:53We also launched Vitres, the cuticle coat product,
04:57which is also first in the industry.
04:59So, throughout that time, the family business was out of innovation.
05:04That all started with your father and your mom.
05:07They were partners in the business.
05:09They were really a tandem.
05:10So, my dad focused on the operations, the marketing.
05:14My mom was in the finance.
05:16So, the decision to create Prime Global and Prime Global Financing
05:21came about after the sale of Splash Corporation, right?
05:26Is that right?
05:27For the financing side, it was done because of the Asian financial crisis.
05:31Back then, in 1997, it was the economy of the Philippines.
05:36So, a lot of our partners and suppliers got into a financial mess.
05:41So, what my parents did was made this company to help them.
05:46So, Prime Global Financing has been around?
05:49Yeah, since 1997.
05:51Okay.
05:52So, basically, it was just catered within the ecosystem of the group.
05:56So, when we sold Splash, like, for five years, six years ago,
05:59we decided to open it up.
06:00So, now, Prime Global Financing is trying to cater to the whole Philippines.
06:05So, for the past few years, our main focus was to try to expand outside our closed market.
06:13And how about?
06:14For the FMCG group, yeah, it was in 2019.
06:18After we sold Splash, the remaining brands was Barrio Festa Manufacturing.
06:22So, we turned that into Prime Global Corporation as the FMCG company.
06:27Okay.
06:28Nung nag-upisa kayo, it was just the Barrio Festa bagoong, tama ba?
06:31Yeah.
06:32And now, nag-venture out na kayo into other products?
06:34Yeah.
06:35As of this year, since we sold Splash way back in 2019, we had a non-competition.
06:40So, we can't compete with Splash for the first five years.
06:43So, no beauty products?
06:44No personal care, no beauty.
06:46But this year, it's exciting because we can go back.
06:49And we're very, very familiar with this category, the market of personal care and beauty.
06:54So, we will be relaunching new brands again.
06:57Ah.
06:58And we're exploring relaunching old brands like Sansan Cosmetics, if you're familiar.
07:03Yeah, of course.
07:04And it's like anong balik yung pagkabata ko.
07:06These are all familiar brands.
07:08And so, these are brands that you're gonna relaunch.
07:11Yes.
07:12But, pero meron na rin kayong na relaunch so far?
07:14We launched the Hortaleza MD.
07:16That's actually also a relaunched brand.
07:18We also relaunched Hair MD.
07:20So, Hortaleza MD is our personal care brand in terms of facial.
07:23So, we have sunscreen, face wash, moisturizing gel, and we have a retinol product.
07:28And we also have Hair MD, that's shampoo, conditioner.
07:32And by next year, we'll have cosmetics.
07:34So, Sansan, and we also have crayons.
07:37Crayons?
07:38Yeah, it's also another brand of Hortaleza.
07:40So, growing up, were you exposed already to the business?
07:43Yes.
07:44Yes.
07:45In what way?
07:46In a way, it's daily because when they get home, in fact, in my early years of my life, I was, we were living inside the plant.
07:54So, I really remember that.
07:55So, that's where your house was in the plant?
07:57Yes, in the plant.
07:58So, it was in Valenzuela.
07:59So, I really remember me eating, playing around with all the employees, all the manufacturing, seeing the lines.
08:07No?
08:08I remember all the manual.
08:10That's eventually being automated.
08:12So, we grew up with that environment.
08:15And you have similar memories?
08:17Yeah.
08:18And just to add to what Alfons was saying, I have memories as a kid.
08:22That's why my values are being grounded.
08:25Because I remember Christmas parties before the manufacturing facility.
08:29And what's one thing that I appreciate about my parents is they continuously engage with the rank and file.
08:35When there are Christmas parties, we have this group called the Kamaligs.
08:40They're like the first 50 employees of Splash.
08:43And even if the company was growing at a very fast rate, my parents always engaged with this group, the first 50.
08:52Even at us, the bigger size of the company.
08:55So, they didn't forget about the Kamaligs.
08:59So, that's one of the main values that I learned growing up was to be grounded.
09:04Don't forget your early employees, your early customers, your early suppliers.
09:09And in fact, some of our suppliers way back in Splash are still our suppliers now to this day.
09:14And some of our distributor partners from way back in Splash is still our distributor partner today.
09:20Were you also involved in the day-to-day operations?
09:24Yeah.
09:25Yeah.
09:26Summer time.
09:27So, more simple stuff in coding.
09:29We went to the office.
09:31It was part of our childhood.
09:33And also, exposure in business.
09:36We also had those.
09:37When we came back from college, some of the parents go,
09:41Oh, you sit in the meetings and attend all the different meetings.
09:45My dad used to joke that you don't have to go to MBA, just sit down in our meetings.
09:50So, that was also one of the early exposures in business that we had.
09:54So, growing up, you already knew that you would be taking over the business one day.
10:00Was it a given or did you?
10:04Personally, I wouldn't say taking over.
10:06I just know that I will be involved in the business.
10:08It's more like that.
10:09Because we were four siblings.
10:10So, we didn't know how it's going to be structured.
10:14Same with you, Afonso.
10:15Same with you.
10:16I didn't expect it.
10:17So, I was there for, you know, day by day in present.
10:21So, whatever is given to me or whatever I had to do, I'll just do it the best of my ability.
10:27So, when I expectation, I'll take over the business.
10:29But the interest was there also because of the exposure.
10:32Yeah.
10:33How would you describe, you know, life, your kids and then you're right there where the business is?
10:41Because I'm so intrigued by your story about how the house is in the plant.
10:45So, when you're here, you're here.
10:47Did it work well also in the session?
10:49That meant your parents would have more time also with you.
10:52Because the house is here.
10:56Personally, I don't remember any much of those memories.
10:59I was too young.
11:00Maybe Afonso can...
11:02They were very busy.
11:04So, admittedly, even though during that time, the early parts, they were very busy.
11:09So, I just understood that it was for work.
11:12So, but when we moved out of the plant, it was like I understood when I was young.
11:17So, it wasn't like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, I kind of understood it.
11:23Yeah.
11:24Similar experience.
11:25My parents were really driven, ambitious people growing up, no?
11:30And they were just very busy.
11:32We didn't spend as much time as I wanted.
11:34But growing up, I understood how much important the sacrifices they did.
11:39Because of all the sacrifices, we are now in this position right now.
11:43So, really just, I'm very grateful for everything that they've done.
11:48They would tell you the stories of their childhood?
11:50Like, like, I mean, siempre you saw how the business was growing, but you were very young then.
11:54When you were much older, did they explain to you just how difficult it was?
11:57Oh, yeah.
11:58Oh, yeah.
11:59We're hearing those stories now.
12:01Oh, really?
12:02What are their favorite stories that they like to tell you?
12:05Hmm.
12:06It's just how hard it was before, right?
12:09Starting the family business with no capital.
12:12Not that much capital.
12:13And the sales were not, was not picking up at the start.
12:16So, just sharing those daily struggles,
12:19it's, you learn a lot, no?
12:22Like, oh, yung stress nyo ngayon, wala pa yun sa stress nyo.
12:27Because I read nga, actually, you mentioned the little capital.
12:32Parang they started with, what, less than 10,000 pesos?
12:35Yeah, 10 to 12,000 pesos.
12:37Just parang gifts from their wedding.
12:38Imagine starting with 12,000.
12:39Ah, wedding gift.
12:40Yes.
12:41Yung wedding gift nila ginamit nila as capital.
12:43Yes.
12:44It started with that much amount and then it became the huge company that it is today.
12:49So, it's crazy.
12:51When you hear stories like that, is there like some sort of pressure on your part
12:55to make sure that you keep the company, you know, healthy, robust?
12:59Of course.
13:00Yes, of course.
13:01Because we want to continue our parents' legacy.
13:03So, namin na, pag, ah, when we grow, we also copy it.
13:08Parang ganyan na mangyara sa amin.
13:10And also for our kids, no?
13:12And parang, kung baga, we continue to grow and innovate and be better.
13:16Yeah.
13:17The ultimate goal is to maintain this business for more decades, for more generations.
13:21I was sharing a while ago that I was really impressed with one of the companies that's
13:26eighth generation already.
13:27And that's the goal, no?
13:28To extend the company more than 10 generations, 20 generations.
13:32And are you hoping that your children will feel the same way, have the same passion that you do?
13:39I hope so.
13:40That's the plan.
13:41That's the plan.
13:42We'll definitely try to educate them to that way.
13:46Yes.
13:47I'll go back to what you said earlier, na, um, from the beginning, parang, you didn't
13:52expect naman, ah, that you would be working for the company.
13:55You knew that somehow you'd be involved.
13:57Um, did this affect your, like, choices in education?
14:00Like, pagdating nyo sa college, were you able to choose which course you wanted?
14:03I mean, did you really go for, like, management-related courses?
14:07It's a huge influence.
14:09So, I'd probably say 80%.
14:11That's why I choose management.
14:13So, it's really big.
14:14Yeah, similar.
14:16They're really highly recommended.
14:18Highly, at least in terms, highly recommended.
14:20No, no, no.
14:21Highly recommended.
14:22So, yeah.
14:23We ended up with management.
14:25Did you, did you study here, or did you, um, to go abroad?
14:29Here, here.
14:30Here.
14:31I studied in Australia.
14:32Okay.
14:33And then, um, did you ever think that parang you wanted to, uh, work somewhere first
14:38before working for the family company?
14:40Uh, during that time, no.
14:43But, right now, if I have any children, I will tell them to work outside.
14:48Oh, okay.
14:49Completely?
14:50Ayaw mo na pumasok sila sa...
14:51Yeah, because I really believe in the different perspectives.
14:53Pag meron kang maraming perspective or ibang experience,
14:57nakakatulong siya sa innovation.
14:59So, if you're just, you know,
15:01you know, dito ka agad sa isang family business,
15:03para masyadong,
15:04walang, walang different perspective na manatintag.
15:07So, yeah.
15:08I agree with that one.
15:09So, I would, I would rather, um,
15:11at least have a little exposure outside.
15:13Maybe one to two years would've been, uh, a lot already.
15:16Um, at the start, after college,
15:19we had a family consultant before that helps us,
15:22uh, in, uh, setting up the family business.
15:24Uh-huh.
15:25And they were recommending that we should, um, study out of the family business.
15:29Ah, okay.
15:30Uh-huh.
15:31Uh-huh.
15:32So, before coming back in.
15:33Yeah.
15:34Okay.
15:35And, um, so the business has been around,
15:36well, I mean, kasi nga nag-evolved na yung business, di ba?
15:39So, technically nga, you didn't, um, take over what was started,
15:44kasi it's already a different thing, di ba?
15:46So, maybe we can talk about what you're both doing now.
15:49Um, you've, uh, established, ventured out into financing
15:54and into the fast-moving consumer goods.
15:57So, how would you describe your work on a day-to-day basis?
16:00We'll start with, uh, Alfonso.
16:01So, my work involves in, basically, looking for accounts for financing, no?
16:06So, our position is to help the Philippine SME.
16:09Uh-huh.
16:10So, we have a digital team that looks for clients.
16:13We have partnered with some agents to farm clients to us, you know,
16:17and we provide the financial solutions or loans to them.
16:20We also have an insurance platform that's all online insurance.
16:23So, basically, mainly it's more of a B2C type of website
16:27that just put your car model, then seven or eight insurance companies
16:32you can, uh, buy all online.
16:35So, that's basically my focus.
16:37So, my day-to-day is just trying to reach the customer
16:42and provide the service and product.
16:46Uh-huh. And very different ang FMCG.
16:48In FMCG, we focus on the market.
16:50We look what the gaps in the market,
16:52what are potential products that we can produce.
16:54So, we either produce it in our manufacturing
16:58or we look for our tall suppliers to produce that product.
17:01And then, we communicate through marketing to our customers.
17:04I'm curious as to how this, parang, division of labor, so to speak, came about.
17:08I mean, like, how did you end up with FMCG and how did you end up with financing?
17:14Personally, I don't know.
17:16That's more of our parents.
17:18But at that time, 2019, I was actually handling the manufacturing unit of food already.
17:23Okay.
17:24So, I think that's the easier choice that, okay, you manage the food
17:27because you're already handling the food manufacturing.
17:29Okay.
17:30I mean, I was, uh, back then, I was, uh, sales in Splash.
17:33So, I was an account officer.
17:35Okay.
17:36Do you remember your first job?
17:38I mean, like, your first destination?
17:40Your first job was with Splash?
17:41No.
17:42My first job, during that time, it was a different thing.
17:45It was a take of my dad.
17:46At that time, he did an EA.
17:48So, I probably realized after a while that, like, I was going to start from the corner.
17:53So, I became a van sales.
17:55So, I went around the van that I was selling at SariSari store.
17:58So, after that time, I became a team leader of a group.
18:03Okay.
18:04So, when you say that you went around, as in, you really wanted to sell?
18:07Or, like, when you order, you're going to deliver?
18:10Uh, that's it.
18:11Because it's called a general trade.
18:13Like, the SariSari stores, like, the supermarkets of aircon.
18:19You literally have to go there and get their order.
18:22Ah.
18:23So, that's a way of selling.
18:24Back then.
18:25So, one truck, it's filled with our inventory.
18:28So, on the spot, you can sell it.
18:32Okay.
18:33Okay.
18:34So, did you go to the Philippines then?
18:36No.
18:37We went to the Southwest Zone.
18:38Okay.
18:39So, Cavite, Laguna area.
18:40Alright.
18:41So, after the van sales, then you moved to accounts?
18:44Um, there's a modern trade.
18:46So, it's like chains.
18:47So, it's like chains.
18:48So, it's chains in the supermarkets.
18:50It's bigger.
18:51So, regional chains.
18:53Plus, after that, I went to national accounts.
18:55So, these are the nationwide chains.
18:57Ah.
18:58Okay.
18:59How about you, Alexson?
19:00Do you remember your first assignment?
19:02I also worked directly to Splash already.
19:05So, I started as a brand associate of SkinWhite.
19:08Okay.
19:09And then, after that, I transitioned to the manufacturing, which is a production supervisor.
19:13Ah.
19:14I became a production planner.
19:16Ah.
19:17I became a production manager.
19:19Eventually, I became the manufacturing head of food.
19:21Ah.
19:22And after that, I became sales of key accounts, similar to his experience.
19:26Ah.
19:27And then, total sales of Philippines.
19:28Ah.
19:29Total sales.
19:30Ah.
19:31And then, president.
19:32Wow.
19:33So, it's like your first job.
19:34Like your first designation in Splash.
19:37Ah.
19:38Ah.
19:39So, you're all still living in the same household?
19:43Yes.
19:44Yeah.
19:45Is that hard?
19:46That's the dynamic that you're working with at work.
19:48Then, when you're leaving, you're still working with them.
19:50Ah.
19:51I think, yeah.
19:52I think, at that time, it was easy.
19:53Because, we were young.
19:55You know.
19:56Ah.
19:57It was not that, that, that, that, that.
20:00So, we didn't have children.
20:01Ah.
20:02So, it was, yeah.
20:03It was peaceful and okay.
20:05Ah.
20:06Peaceful is the key operative term.
20:09Is it the same for you, Alexander?
20:10The same sentiment?
20:11I think so.
20:12And we weren't really directly reporting to the family or the parents.
20:15So, I think.
20:16Ah.
20:17It was a different experience.
20:18Ah.
20:19But, I think it was, ah, it was the right choice.
20:22We learned from the bottom to top.
20:23We weren't directly being the president.
20:25Ah.
20:26It gave me a deeper understanding of all of the different departments and what they do.
20:30Ah.
20:31So, when I became the president, I understood the limits of each department and the roles of each department.
20:36Were you allowed to talk about work at home?
20:39Dinner table?
20:40It's part of it.
20:41Because if it's family business, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's,
20:45it's part of our lives.
20:48Exactly.
20:4980% of our life is work.
20:51Did you say 80 or 18?
20:5380.
20:54What else could you talk about?
20:56Because most of your day is work, right?
20:58And so, now that, um, you know, you're handling two different, um, companies, but working in the same office,
21:03how would you describe your working relationship?
21:06I think it's solid.
21:08At the end of the day, we're, we're handling different companies.
21:11So, we, we both present to the board with our presentations.
21:15But we have to, I have to thank my parents because they established a culture and our processes is very arms-linked, very, very process-oriented.
21:23So, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, there's no, because it's like, um, uh, we operate in a separate business.
21:30So, so everything's smooth.
21:32Well, you mentioned that, um, you have your kids already.
21:35Siyempre, ngayon, uh, you, you guys are both family men, uh, married with kids.
21:40Um, how has that, uh, affected your, you know, your, your lifestyle now?
21:46Parang, nagbago bang buhay when you became a husband and a father, Alfonso?
21:50Uh, yes, nagbago in a good way because I'm more inspired and driven.
21:54Um, it's, gives me purpose.
21:57So, um, it made, made me more excited to go to work, tapos umuwi na ng bahay at the same time.
22:03So, overall, it made me, um, parang, uh, a better person.
22:08Overall.
22:09Can you tell us a little bit about, how, how long have you been married?
22:12Uh, four years.
22:13Four years. Can you tell us what it's been like so far?
22:15Yung ano ah, yung, safe for your wife to hear.
22:18But, syempre yung totoo, but safe for your wife to hear.
22:21Well, there's no, uh, there's no change, eh, because there's no parang big difference.
22:28Because if you meet a partner naman na okay, it's, it'll, it'll just, uh, add up, eh.
22:33So, it's like a one plus one equals four situation.
22:35So, so, there's no change because I'm married to someone that's a fit with me.
22:42So, parang ganon siya.
22:44Sweet.
22:45Ay, dun sa podcast, sabi mo, the secret to a happy life is a happy wife.
22:49Na parang, um, dinadamayan mo.
22:51Hahaha.
22:52Hahaha.
22:53Sabi mo, dinadamayan mo yung wife mo even while she's breastfeeding.
22:58Kailangan gising ka rin.
22:59Sana lahat ng husband ganon, di ba?
23:01Hahaha.
23:02Pero, ano yun, um, did she request that ba, or?
23:05I kind of understood naman.
23:07Understood.
23:08Um, for me, kasi, it's a partnership, di ba?
23:12So, so, dapat, uh, in a way, you try to parang, uh, work together.
23:18So, parang ganon lang naman yung take, take away with that.
23:21So, that's how, that's how I approached, approach our relationship then.
23:26Aha.
23:27And same with you, Alex?
23:28So, ganon din ba?
23:29Happy wife, happy life?
23:30Yeah, I think that's the main point.
23:31Well, happy life is happy wife.
23:33And the second thing is the one plus one equals four.
23:38I think you're both individuals that support each other to grow.
23:42That's it.
23:43So, as long as your marriage thinks about it that way,
23:46I think you'll be in a good spot.
23:49Well, sabi mo, Alfonso, it's important that you,
23:51siyempre, choose the right person, marry the right partner.
23:54Can you tell us, um, paano ba kayo nagkakilala ni Angel?
23:58Angel, of course, is from a...
24:00See, her background is entertainment, di ba?
24:03Yeah, yeah, yeah.
24:04But, yeah, also business.
24:05Business also.
24:06They own the Ensai Mada.
24:07Yes, Mulaki, Ensai Mada.
24:08So, um, how have we met?
24:10We met through a friend naman.
24:11Okay.
24:12Of all places.
24:13Um, online friend ko siya.
24:15Tapos, right now, he's my partner, actually.
24:17Tapos, uh, pinakalala niyo lang sa akin, so.
24:20And, uh, we met in a bar, tapos, kantuhan lang.
24:24Then, it prospered from there.
24:27And, um, so, was it a long courtship?
24:30Uh, probably a few months.
24:33Ah, okay.
24:34Then, matalal kaming naging together.
24:36Probably three years, I think.
24:37Three or four years.
24:38Uh.
24:39Parang yun yung ideal amount of time bago, ano,
24:42before deciding to settling down?
24:44Uh, I think, well, an idea settling down.
24:46But, I, I don't, kasi put,
24:48I mean, I tell advice that,
24:50you shouldn't put time on these kinds of relationships.
24:52So, if you just feel it right, just feel it right.
24:53But, you have to be committed on
24:55the first few months pa lang na parang,
24:57is she the one for marriage eh.
24:59So, parang, yun yung magsayangan na oras.
25:02So, during that time, I, I believe na,
25:04na, she was the one kagad.
25:08Simula pa lang.
25:09Oh, love at first sight pala.
25:11Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
25:13Ha, ha, ha, ha.
25:14Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
25:15Ha, ha, ha, ha.
25:16How about you, Alexon?
25:17Was it a long courtship for you and your wife?
25:19Can you tell us a little bit about that also?
25:21So, Kim and I met actually in Ateneo.
25:23I studied in Ateneo for one year.
25:25And we were actually seat mates.
25:28Um, I was hospitalized as she was goh.
25:30Ha, GH.
25:31Okay.
25:32So, um, at that time, um,
25:34talagang mahihayin ako sa mabahay.
25:36He lo kaya makipag-uusap si girls.
25:38Wala ka pang girlfriend?
25:39Never pa nagka-girlfriend on?
25:40Never pa.
25:41And, syempre, parang sheltered kid from high school to college.
25:44Puro guys lang kasama mo.
25:46So, nahihirapan ako engage ya.
25:48Eventually, throughout sa pangunit ko sa pag-text ko sa amin and all that,
25:52na-convince ko naman.
25:54Na-convince mo na?
25:55Na-convince ko rin naman.
25:57Na-convince ko rin naman.
25:58Na-convince ko rin naman.
25:59Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:00Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:01Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:02Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:03Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:04Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:05Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:06Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:07Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:08Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:09Na-convince ko rin naman.
26:10Wow!
26:11So, you mean nung pag-alist mo for three years of college, hindi mo pa siya girlfriend nun?
26:14Ah, hindi.
26:15Hindi pa.
26:16Wow!
26:17Pero friends.
26:18You stayed friends.
26:19Yeah, we stayed friends.
26:20And we usually chat and call.
26:21And yun nga, sa pangunulit ko.
26:23Oh!
26:24Ang galing ha!
26:25Pero wala kayong, ano, agreement or understanding na,
26:27oh, we won't date anyone else.
26:29Kasi hindi pa kayo mag boyfriend-girlfriend na dating.
26:31Wala naman.
26:32Oo.
26:33But it's just that, you had nobody else you wanted to be with.
26:37Yeah.
26:38And then, so when you came back, you got together,
26:40naging mag-boyfriend and girlfriend kayo.
26:42Even before I came back officially,
26:45one of my visits here, I asked her to be my girlfriend.
26:48Ah!
26:49So we had a long-distance relationship for a while.
26:51Okay.
26:52For a bit.
26:53Okay.
26:54And then, so when you got back,
26:55and then,
26:56pakasal na agad, gano'n?
26:58Yeah.
26:59A few years, I think.
27:00But it was two years.
27:02Um,
27:03and then,
27:04nagpasal kami after.
27:05Okay.
27:06And how's it like now with your, no,
27:07with your son,
27:08who's a year and a half?
27:10One year and a half.
27:11Very fun.
27:12Very fun.
27:13Just, um,
27:14you hear stories about the,
27:15the parents or the fathers of my friends.
27:17They're just saying that,
27:18if you have a kid,
27:19something that's very exciting,
27:21matutuwa ka talaga pag nakikita mo sila.
27:23Um,
27:24it's,
27:25it's,
27:26gano'n talaga eh.
27:27Pag nakikita mo yung kids mo,
27:28matutuwa ka eh.
27:29It's,
27:30a different experience.
27:31Only parents could understand.
27:32Oh.
27:33That kind of experience.
27:34So,
27:35sila ba yung first apos ng mga,
27:37magulang nyo?
27:38Or,
27:39your sisters already have kids before you?
27:40My sister.
27:41My sister has.
27:42Ah, okay.
27:43So how would you describe your parents as grandparents?
27:46Parang,
27:47is it the same?
27:48Diba minsan kasi parang sweet naman sa'yo yung parents mo,
27:50pero pagdating ng apo,
27:51grabe,
27:52pwede pala palang,
27:53sweet naman.
27:54Yeah.
27:55Grabe yung,
27:56sweet naman.
27:57Talaga?
27:58It's also a function of time and the busyness.
28:00Busyness, yeah.
28:01Because,
28:02in the time that we were kids,
28:03they were growing the business.
28:04Busyness, yeah.
28:05Now,
28:06they've retired,
28:07or semi-retired na sila.
28:08They have enough time to share with their apos.
28:11Mabawi naman sila.
28:12Mabawi naman sila.
28:13Anong ano nila,
28:14parang activities that they do,
28:16that they like to do with the grandchildren?
28:18Going around,
28:19walking,
28:20you know,
28:21eating,
28:22spending time,
28:23and,
28:24you know,
28:25buying gifts.
28:26Buying toys.
28:27Buying toys.
28:28Buying toys.
28:29But it's more of time.
28:30Time with the kids.
28:31You know,
28:32my dad always texts me like,
28:33by the bay yung mga,
28:34no?
28:35Anak mo ganyan ganyan.
28:36Oh, okay.
28:37Puntayin mo naman dito sa bahay.
28:38Okay.
28:39So, we have like regular barbecue moments
28:41sa bahay ng dad ko.
28:42Bringing all the apos.
28:44Mostly, it's more of time with the apos.
28:46Tama yun.
28:47So.
28:48Ano ba tawag siya kaila?
28:49Lolo and Lola?
28:50Grandpa.
28:51Grandpa.
28:52And then Ama.
28:53And Ama.
28:54Ah, Grandpa and Ama.
28:55So,
28:56you mentioned the barbecue.
28:57I saw that nga sa isang episode mo,
28:58di ba?
28:59You said you wanted to have family traditions
29:02based on yung family traditions ninyo growing up.
29:05Ano ba yung family traditions ninyo growing up?
29:07So, that's one, no?
29:08The barbecue thing.
29:09We had barbecues every Saturday.
29:12Every Sunday?
29:13Sunday.
29:14And then I just wanted to repeat that experience.
29:17So, sino nagbabarbecue?
29:19Ikaw ba?
29:20Kasi sabi mo,
29:21niregaluhan ka ng barbecue grill.
29:23So, ikaw ba ang nagbabarbecue?
29:24So, for our family,
29:25pag kami lang ni Kim,
29:26ako nagbabarbecue.
29:27Pero pagkasama yung dad ko,
29:28may chef siya na gumawa.
29:29Ah, okay.
29:30Hindi na, hindi na kaya.
29:31Masyado maraming tao.
29:32Masyado maraming bisita.
29:34Kayo rin ba, Afonso?
29:35I mean,
29:36do you have your own
29:37little family traditions now?
29:38Yes, yes.
29:39We're trying to do that nga.
29:41Actually,
29:42our tradition naman is,
29:43we're trying to have that
29:44going to our grandparents.
29:46So,
29:47Sunday, parang dapat bisitahan talaga yung grandparents namin.
29:49So, yun ang tradition
29:50na gusto namin gawin.
29:51Well, going back also to
29:52your traditions growing up
29:54with your parents,
29:55what are some of the things
29:56that they taught you,
29:57at a very early age,
29:58that you'd want to teach your kids to?
30:02Well, I think one of the most basic naman
30:04is punctuality.
30:05So,
30:06yun ang tinuro talaga sa amin,
30:07na huwag maging late,
30:08regardless.
30:09And,
30:10it kinda carries,
30:11medyo nadami lahat eh,
30:12if you do that.
30:13You know, like,
30:14be on time early,
30:15that small thing,
30:16affects a lot eh.
30:19Kasi,
30:20if ganun ka,
30:21that basic thing,
30:23it affects every study,
30:24it affects,
30:25it affects,
30:26but,
30:27yun ang isa sa pinaka,
30:28pinensilin sa amin,
30:29when I was very young.
30:31Yeah.
30:32I agree.
30:33One of,
30:34two things for me is major.
30:35One, the punctuality,
30:36once I mentioned already,
30:37and two,
30:38is being grounded.
30:39Even if we are,
30:40very fortunate,
30:41my parents didn't miss out
30:43on talking to the rank and file,
30:45talking to the people,
30:46our employees.
30:47So,
30:48I want that kind of value
30:49still instilled to my kids.
30:50Now,
30:51hindi parang elitista,
30:53if you understand.
30:54Diba?
30:55Kahit sino,
30:56pwede ka usabi.
30:57Well,
30:58speaking of being very grounded,
30:59a lot of people say na,
31:02kapag kasi when you grow up,
31:03privileged or fortunate,
31:04parang minsan,
31:05sasabihin nila,
31:06ah, kulang na sa drive,
31:08or kulang sa ambisyon.
31:09How would you,
31:10um,
31:11respond to that?
31:12We were instilled kasi of,
31:13parang,
31:14working hard would have results eh.
31:16So,
31:17parang,
31:18if,
31:19if you work hard,
31:20perform,
31:21you will be rewarded eh.
31:22So,
31:23I think back,
31:24parang kumbaga,
31:25um,
31:26ah,
31:27deserve mo siya.
31:28Parang siya.
31:29So,
31:30with,
31:31with my parents,
31:32they worked hard so,
31:33for just a long time.
31:34We saw the fruits in their labor.
31:35And ganon din yung nanasamin na,
31:36parang,
31:37you,
31:38you will not,
31:39um,
31:40enjoy the fruits,
31:41unless you work hard.
31:42Parang,
31:43that's what,
31:44what I felt.
31:45Kumbaga,
31:46it's not gonna be handed to you
31:47on a silver platter.
31:48For me naman,
31:49external comments,
31:50right?
31:51You're mentioning that people would say that,
31:52kulang yung tao,
31:53kulang yung ambition.
31:54I don't really focus on the comments of other people.
31:57I'm just focused on myself.
31:58I'm just focused on my company.
32:00As long as I'm continuously improving through growth and all of the different things,
32:04and also the company continues to improve.
32:06That's what's important to me.
32:07Speaking to you and seeing how you are,
32:09Parang,
32:10I don't see or feel like that you guys were pressured into this.
32:15I mean, it feels like you guys are truly enjoying the work that you do,
32:18that you're happy with your roles and that you've grown into your roles.
32:22Am I correct in assuming that?
32:25Yeah.
32:26Yes.
32:27Yes.
32:28I'm really happy,
32:29you know, inspired,
32:30and I really want,
32:31actually one of my goals is to really help uplift my people,
32:34yung mga tao ko,
32:35yung employees that have a better life.
32:36That's true.
32:37and like with my parents with Dorika Malik,
32:40we want to really help the way we can with our employee shareholders,
32:46stakeholders,
32:47you know, partners,
32:48clients.
32:49They really help them.
32:51I totally agree.
32:52At the end of the day,
32:53why are we doing all of this,
32:54starting a company and all that?
32:56It's about providing value to your customers
32:58and also value to your employees.
33:00So as long as we can continue to do that,
33:03I think.
33:05That's good.
33:06To what do you attribute,
33:08you know,
33:09this healthy,
33:10positive attitude that you have towards your work?
33:15I don't know.
33:16I'm enjoying the work right now,
33:17because at the end of the day,
33:18we're being able to provide customers good value
33:22and also providing jobs to our employees.
33:24So there's a good purpose behind the company.
33:26Purpose.
33:27Yeah.
33:28It's mainly purpose,
33:29you know,
33:30we want to have a bet
33:31to make the lives of our employees,
33:35the lives of our partners and everyone better.
33:38Yeah.
33:39Yeah.
33:40So, okay.
33:41My last question would be,
33:42you know,
33:43given everything that you have learned,
33:44how would you describe
33:47the situation that you're in now?
33:49And what is the most important thing you have to do
33:52as, you know,
33:53the second generation running the company?
33:56I think it's just continue.
33:58Be grand.
33:59Because if you have this purpose and goal,
34:05you'll hit it.
34:07So just continue,
34:08attack day by day.
34:10For me,
34:11it's just continue the business
34:13and to dream big.
34:15Dream big.
34:16That's also one of the main values
34:17that my parents keep on saying,
34:19that you should dream big.
34:20When you go into business,
34:22always play as the first,
34:23the target to be the first and the best.
34:26And that's the mindset.
34:28So it's a combination of dreaming big
34:30and staying grounded.
34:31It's a perfect combination.
34:33What do you want to say to your parents?
34:35And what do you want to say to your kids?
34:38If they watch this in the future,
34:40what message do you want to impart to them?
34:42To parents, sure.
34:45I love you.
34:46Thank you for everything.
34:48And don't worry.
34:50I think that I'll do my best to,
34:52you know,
34:53to be a good person.
34:56How about to your kids?
34:58In the future?
35:00Hopefully you learn something about what they say
35:03and hopefully that we can spend more time together.
35:06For me, to my parents,
35:10thank you for everything.
35:13I appreciate all the sacrifices you've done
35:15for the past multiple years.
35:17We won't be in this position without you.
35:19We're here, right?
35:23And for my kids,
35:25Cairo,
35:26I hope you'll learn something here.
35:28You're great, huh?
35:30You're the third generation.
35:32You know the statistics?
35:33So, I hope you learn.
35:37I'm sure you'll be good.
35:40It'll be great.
35:41They'll go back.
35:43Thank you so much.
35:44Thank you, Alex.
35:45Thank you, Alfonso,
35:46for spending time with us today.
35:47Thank you very much.
35:48It was fun.
35:49I hope you had fun.
35:51Our pleasure.
35:52Thank you so much.
35:53Thanks for watching.
35:54Don't forget to like, subscribe,
35:56and download PowerTalks with Pia Arcangel
35:58on Spotify,
35:59Apple Podcasts,
36:00GMA Integrated News streaming platforms,
36:03or wherever you listen.
36:04Till the next episode.
36:23Bye.
36:24Bye.
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