Pharmacist turns to farming to help secure family's future
Ludivina 'Ludz' Orense Bernardo, the visionary owner of BUKID VERDE Inc.
began her professional career as a licensed pharmacist working for a multinational pharmaceutical company, where she met her husband. However, as they started a family, she discovered a new purpose—one centered on supporting her children and securing their future. With that, her entrepreneurial journey began.
Her venture into hydroponics farming led her to supply fresh produce to major supermarket chains, a milestone for any small business owner. But Orense didn’t stop there. During the pandemic, she embraced innovation and expanded into essential processed products, catering to the growing demand for convenience.
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Ludivina 'Ludz' Orense Bernardo, the visionary owner of BUKID VERDE Inc.
began her professional career as a licensed pharmacist working for a multinational pharmaceutical company, where she met her husband. However, as they started a family, she discovered a new purpose—one centered on supporting her children and securing their future. With that, her entrepreneurial journey began.
Her venture into hydroponics farming led her to supply fresh produce to major supermarket chains, a milestone for any small business owner. But Orense didn’t stop there. During the pandemic, she embraced innovation and expanded into essential processed products, catering to the growing demand for convenience.
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe
Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net
Subscribe to Business Franchise Guru: https://www.youtube.com/@BusinessFranchiseGuru
Follow us:
Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook
Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram
Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter
DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion
Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital
Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters
Check out our Podcasts:
Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify
Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts
Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic
Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer
Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher
Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein
#TheManilaTimes
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Business Mentor Talks is vlog by no other, Armando Buts Bartolome, in cooperation with
00:14the Manila Times.
00:15It aims to bring to life and recognize entrepreneurs who constantly strive to create a living for
00:21the community as well.
00:22Welcome to the Business Mentor Talks, I'm Armando Buts Bartolome, and I'm joined by
00:53Hey, good morning, good afternoon, and again, it's a blessed Sunday, it is 2025, this is
01:20the fourth week, imagine, fourth week, January, but today, we have a friend from being a pharmacist,
01:37she started working her career, and then establishing a family, and soon, becoming a lady with all
01:46the process, bangus, okay, malama natin kung bakit ba bangus ang kanyang pinasok, and
01:54let me introduce to you, Ms. Lodivina Orance Bernardo, hi, Lutz, good morning to you, thank
02:02you for joining us this Sunday, January 2025, kamusta na?
02:07Mabuti na ma'am sir, good morning to you too.
02:11Yes, alam mo ito si Ms. Lutz, matagal ko nang iniimbita, kaya alam mo pagiging entrepreneur,
02:18ay sobrang talagang every second, kung baga millisecond, talagang on the go, but if you
02:26look at Ms. Lutz, parang hindi stressful, malaman natin kung bakit ganun.
02:32So Lutz, paano ka ba nagsimula, you started working, what was your first work before?
02:38The first job that I have po is medical representative, I was assigned in the province
02:44of Cebu, tapos doon ko rin na-meet ang husband ko, so yun ang pinaka-nature na trabaho, I am a
02:50pharmacist, husband is a medtech po.
02:54Wow, from being a pharmacist, siyempre dapat yan, in-expect natin, meron niyang pharmacy,
02:59but naiba yung kanyang landas, okay, so paano ka ba nagsimula, anong naging urge sa'yo para
03:08mag-negosyo? Kasi alam naman natin, pharmacies are all in demand, right? Not only in the Philippines,
03:14but also as well as abroad. But bakit nyo tinahak ang iyong pagiging negosyanting
03:22buhay, yung buhay ng negosyante, Lutz?
03:25Actually sir, hindi siya na-plano. In fact, I did not come from a family of business persons,
03:33or businessmen or women. It just happened lang siguro dahil sa kagusuhan ko,
03:38natunungan ang husband ko, you know, to augment the family income. Basically, yun yung talaga yung
03:44first goal. During that time, I gave way to the family life, so I juggled being a mom,
03:51and naisip ko na, kasi I have four kids, I have four daughters, na pinapaaral ko sa private school,
04:00it's too expensive, and yet si Hatton lang ang nagtatrabaho. So, pag naihatid naman na ang
04:06mga bata sa school, ang dami mo ng free time. So, during that time, nag-aral ako ng mga konting
04:14bagay na medyo interested ako. My first business was hydroponic lettuce. If nakakakita po kayo,
04:22sir, before way back 2005, sa SM, ito yung kulay blue na supermarket na merong
04:30lettuce na nakatanim sa styro cups. Kami po ang nag-start na sa kanila.
04:36Ito tawag natin hydroponics?
04:38Yes po. The company that I started before is Bukid Verde Hydroponics Farm.
04:44Ah, Bukid Verde. Bukid Verde Hydroponics. Anong year yun?
04:52This was 2005. During that time, ang mga anak ko ay elementary. So, ang ginawa ko,
04:58I have a small garden sa bahay ko. I convert it to a small parang greenhouse wherein doon ko
05:09pinapatubo ang mga buto ng lettuce, tapos iniilagay namin sa styro cups. So, usually,
05:16half day lang naman ng mga bata. So, pagdaling nila sa school sa hapon, tinutulungan nila akong
05:22magtanim. Inilipat namin sa mga styro cups. Pag nailipat na, kinabukasan naman,
05:29gagaling ng staff ko papunta doon sa farm namin sa Tagaytay. So, doon na siya palalakihin.
05:36So, ganun ang cycle namin for a while. So, yun yung supply namin.
05:41At that time, hindi pa masyadong accepted or talagang hindi pa natatutunan yung hydroponics?
05:48Sir, hindi pa. Kasi when I try to research the hydroponics system,
05:55kukunti pa. In fact, when I affiliate myself with agriculture, just to get the details
06:01of kung paano ba ang technology nito ay makakatulong sa atin. But fortunately during that
06:09time, yung municipal agriculture office namin here in Cavite, parang open arms sila na nagtuturo,
06:18they guide you, they teach you. Eventually, ako na ang nagtuturo sa women of Cavite
06:25regarding this. Potential siya. Kasi parang ang nangyari sa akin sir, naging mampreneur ako.
06:33So, napunta ako doon sa side kung saan ang agoning ng mga parents na naghahatid lang ako ng bata
06:40sa eskwela, wala akong additional income. So, itinuro ko sa kanila na may potential,
06:46may additional income. Pwede mo itanim ito sa bahay mo, pwede mo itinim ito sa community mo.
06:51Even yung sir, yung oyster mushroom, naaral ko yung technology na yan. Isa yan sa mga
07:00products na sinusupply namin dati kay ESM. And also mga hydroponic-grown
07:07salad. Like for example, yung mga herbs, yung bell pepper, tomatoes also, the cucumber,
07:14pwede siyang itanim sa hydroponics. So, basically, pagkain talaga ang nasimulan ko.
07:30Prescribed medicines, naman doktor. And all of a sudden you became a pharmacist of soil.
07:47Actually this technology, parang nabamp ko lang siya. Accidentally din sir, I was working in a
07:54call center because during the time talaga I tried to have a career. But apparently hindi napayagan
08:03because of, syempre kailangan ka ng mga bata. Silang priority. But I had an opportunity to work
08:10with Teletech. I'm one of the original bots. I was assigned in Lipa City. Alam naman natin ang Lipa
08:18Coffee Capital. Meron akong isang katrabaho na meron silang kapihan. They supply two Nescafe,
08:26but a small portion of kanilang kapihan may greenhouse. Hindi ko siya nakita na ginagawa
08:33ng nanay niya as a hobby lang. Tapos na-interest ako. Alam mo, hindi ko announce to. Lahat ng
08:40negosyo nagsisimula sa hobby, right? Yes po, yes po. Hindi yung pinipilit ka na kailangan
08:46magnegosyo. Pero ano yung negosyo? Pero it comes from the heart, diba? Tama. Diba? Ikaw,
08:53imagine mo, pharmacist, naging farmer, tapos observe ka lang, nag call center. But you always
08:58see opportunities, correct? Yes po sir. Actually, the very interesting part, it's not the lettuce
09:05itself, but the technology kung paano siya tinatanim. Kasi walang soil. So naka sa coco coir
09:12siya. Tapos yung nutrients niya, ano siya, tinitimpla. As a pharmacist, particular ako sa
09:20ganun. Pumasok yung curiosity mo ng being a pharmacist ngayon. So you're wearing a hat of
09:28a pharmacist ngayon, right? Tapos nung nakita ko yung opportunity na, I take away, pwede ito sa
09:34bahay ko. Pwede ko itong ibenta and then baka pwede kong ipasok sa supermarket. Yung kagadang
09:39naisip ko. Kasi kakaiba yung technology eh. Maganda siya. Tapos very interesting. Parang iba
09:46siya sa mata than the usual. Exactly. Exactly. Tapos yun din ang ginawa ko, I offered to SF
09:53and I was fortunate enough to be given a slot. So, um, nag-deliver kami from SM Kubao until dunsa
10:02na-open na pinakalas namin was, um, Kalamba. SM Kalamba, SBI. So the blue one. So nagdi-display
10:10kami dun. So we're there from 2005 to 2000 and early 2009. But, uh, something happened. Kasi
10:19biglang lumaki si SM. Apparently dun sa paglaki ni SM, hindi ako nakasabay dun. Ah, because of the
10:26progress, no? The progress, the capital, so ganun eh. Malaki, malaki capital. Oo, kasi, uh,
10:33siyempre, supplier ka, ang question dun eh. Ako, ang cliente mo, kaya mo. Oo. It's one learning,
10:40diba? One, one lesson that you, you probably have, can share with our, our viewers. Actually,
10:46sir, isa yun sa mga na-encounter kong challenge as, um, um, entrepreneur during that time. Because
10:53I don't have yung tinatawag nila na malalim na kaban para to, to capitalize whatever parang
11:00big change. But, um, SM offer naman. However, during that time kasi I also have a consideration
11:07as a mom. Ang mga anak ko ay pa-college. So, ang iniisip ko, yung kinita ko ba,
11:13iikutin ko pa sa negosyo o ilalaan ko na lang sa education ng mga anak ko. Kasi sugal yun,
11:20sir, eh. Exactly. During that time, medyo bata-bata pa ako. So, takot akong sumugan.
11:26Lagi ako nandun sa, sa side na medyo safe. Kasi may tinatawag naman tayong, uh, controlled risk.
11:33Exactly. Pero when it comes to the family, at lalo na sa education ng mga bata, talagang,
11:38uh, paalam muna ako kay SM. Sabi ko, sir, baka pwedeng bumaba muna ako. Kasi may consideration
11:45akong ganito. And then babalik na lang ako once, uh, kaya ko na makarecover.
11:51But, um, it's, it's very hard on my part because alam nyo naman, pag nagsimula kayo ng negosyo ay,
11:57uh, it's all. Tuloy-tuloy yan, eh. Oo, tsaka lahat ibinibigay mo, eh. Hindi na siya katulad
12:03ng empleyado ka na ang thinking mo lang is parang eight hours, eight to five. Correct. After five,
12:09uwi ka na. Ito, pag negosyante ka, kahit tulog ka, once may naisip ka, gigisin at gigisin ko,
12:15magsusulat ka talaga hanggang sa figure out. That's a big challenge to you, ha? Yes, sir.
12:21Because, uh, kumbaga yung from mindset mo, from employee, naging entrepreneur ka,
12:27yung gumugulong ng gumugulong ng gumugulong, then all of a sudden there is a pak, time out,
12:33whoops, ang hirap itigil yung gulong na yan. There's a momentum. Correct. So anong ginawa mo?
12:39That's a very dark decision, Luz, ha? Oo, sir. So I stepped back. Nung bumaba ako,
12:46pinag-aralan ko kung ano ang naging problema, anong pwede kong gawin. But of course,
12:51meron din akong parang initial need during that time na tumulong pa rin sa family when it comes
12:58to expenses. So nag-negosyo pa rin ako. The next business that I have, na kasama ko na ang mga
13:04anak ko, is naging wedding planner ako, sir. Actually, I work with my sister. Then eventually,
13:10nung hindi na gusto ng kapatid ko, I took over. And then dito ko sa area ng Tagaytay,
13:16ang aking pinaka-niche market was, ang mga client ko is mga OFW na gusto umuwi ng Pilipinas at
13:25magpapakasal. So usually, ano ito, vacation lang nila to eh, for about a month and a month and a
13:32half vacation. So inaayos namin yung wedding nila na pagdating nila dito, magpapakasal na lang
13:38sila. Wala na silang nangyayarihan. So naging masaya ako doon kasi parang, of course, again,
13:44natitikil na mind ko, coordination, plus kasama ko yung mga anak ko magtatrabaho kasi during that
13:49time, college na sila. So they are taking care of some of the responsibilities sa business.
13:57But again, another challenge, after 11 years, nagkaroon ako ng malaking challenge,
14:03ito yung pumutok ang pinatubo. It was 2019 of January. So inisip namin after New Year,
14:13pumutok. Sabi ko, sige, 1 buwan lang, recover. But nung babalik na kami, another dagok, pandemic.
14:21Kami ang unang industry na tinamaan. Bawal ang events. Bawal ang gathering. Bawal ang
14:29hininga ko, sir, narito.
14:36Ano feeling mo nung ikaw ay sunod-sunod ng dagok? Ano ba ang pumasok sa isip mo?
14:43During that time, sir, parang wala kang time to feel sorry for yourself because
14:50there are people under your wing that you have to manage. For example, when I was in the event
14:57industry, I have more or less 50 people na nagkatulong ko. The florist, the caterer,
15:05yung mga nag-ayos sa amin sa wedding. So yung mga ganyan, umaasa sila sayo kasi may booking ka.
15:14So biglang nawala yun, pinagbawal yun. So paano ang daily lives? Kasi parang biglaan everything, sir.
15:23So anong ngyari nung tinamaan ka, sunod-sunod ng mga dagok? Ano ang pumapasok sa isip mo?
15:29This is typical of a lot of people.
15:45During that time, kahit you feel sorry for yourself, you don't have time
15:49to feel sorry. Kasi unang-unang maraming taong umaasa sayo. Plus, yung situation mo,
15:56hindi lang ikaw, marami kayo. So how can you differ yourself from others?
16:04Instead of me feeling sorry for myself, tumayo ako, sir. Hindi ako, wala akong magganong kalaking
16:12perang naipon because walang may handa during that time. Ang isip mo, tuloy-tuloy ang negosyo mo,
16:17may mga booking ka, hindi naman ito maka-cancel. Biglang na-cancel, biglang wala nang magbabayad
16:24sayo. So paano na ako next month? So mahabang usapan ito. But what's nice about the industry is
16:43when a strategy katulad na ito nangyari, like for example, pagpotok ng taal, tulungan talaga lahat.
16:50Hindi pwedeng mag-ipitan. As in talagang magbibigay ka kung maluwag ka, magbibigay ka
16:56doon sa medyo na hihirapan. So dumating kami sa punto nun. But ang isip ko is how can my people,
17:05those under my wings, survive on a daily basis? Kasi wala kaming trabaho eh. May ayuda galing sa
17:12gobyerno pero kaka-perangot. May bigas galing kay kapitan, kay mayor. Paano? Akulang. So inisip ko
17:21kagad. Sir meron akong I think 100,000 cash na hawak kasi biglang magsarado din ng banko and all.
17:29Alam mo, una kong naisip is i-bili ito ng bagay na pwede kong paikutin. Alam mo sir,
17:36very basic ang isip ko. Ano naisip mo? Daing na bangus. Kasi ang isip ko during that time, may
17:44bigas ka na. Kung hindi mo ito mabibenta, pwede mo ulamin. Hindi tayo talo. Chaka hindi ka lang
17:50kailangan magluto. Exactly. Yung daing is actually preserved. Chaka during that time,
17:59ang nakakagalaw lang if I remember well is that lahat na nasa pagkain. Hindi sila binabawalan
18:06pumunta sa ibang lugar to transfer food. Lahat during that time, remember sir, bawal. Hindi
18:14ka pwede pumunta sa kabilang bayan. Bawal may checkpoint. Pero kami dahil kukuha kami ng supply
18:21from Pangasinan, nagpa-deliver ako rito sa Cavite, isang van, bumili ako ng mga freezer,
18:27parang ganyan, inilagay namin doon. Then I asked yung mga tao ko na, o eto muna,
18:33ibenta ninyo halagang 10,000. Pag nabenta, ibalik niyo sa akin ang capital, ino nang tubo.
18:40Parang ganyan. Tapos kung hindi nyo mabibenta, wag nisirain ulamin nyo.
18:47Di ba? Parang. Opo. Kung baga, kung baga, pag hindi mo na,
18:51hindi mo nabenta, kainin nyo. May pangkain kayo. Di ba? I mean, survival. Actually survival yan
18:58during that time. Everybody thinks about, you know, the basic instinct of human is actually
19:03survival. Pero ikaw, ito yung isa pang nakikita ko na ginawa mo, you have a cash for, you know,
19:12you have cash that you can turn around because of the amount. But you're able to think outside
19:19the box. At the same time, pinaikot mo. Kasi hindi ka kain ng iba. Meron ka ng pera. Pero
19:25gastos ka naman gastos. Palabas ng palabas ng pera. Hindi umiikot. Di ba? So ikaw, and then
19:32the inquisitive on your part. Again, siguro naglaro na naman ang pagiging pharmacist mo
19:37dito, Lhuds, no? The chemical composition, di ba? O nga, ano ba ang kailangan? So meron ka
19:46ng bigas, ano susunod? Ulam. Ulam. Kung ano ulam, ano mo yung ready-made? Di ba? Hindi naman
19:53dilata. Oo. Di ba? Kasi dilata mahal. Pero naisip mo, I mean, basic staple, di ba? It's either tuyog,
20:01daing na bangus, di ba? So, fantastic na. By accident. Oo, by accident pala talaga ito. Oo,
20:10tapos sa mga Prado ko, sir, lahat ng bangus, lumpiang bangus, daing na bangus, relleno,
20:17fresh bangus kung kailangan nila. Kaya lang during the time, because again, meron kang
20:24thinking na negosyante, hindi ako na-contento ng online. Sabi ko I have to have a steady market.
20:33Kasi eventually itong pinapaikot ko mawawala to eh. So I have to keep it. And then I decided na
20:41take away kaling ako sa supermarket. Bakit hindi ko i-offer to sa supermarket? Tapos naghanap ako,
20:48usually ang dating Prado ko, sir, is, yung da-issue bangus na nakikita nyo sa palengkid na
20:54naka-plastic ng manipis, na when subjected to the very low temperature, pumuputok siya.
21:00Making the product, parang nai-expose. So ang concern ko is safety. So naghanap ako ng
21:06kumpanya na ang plastic packaging ay international standard, na can stand a negative 16 degree
21:15para pwede siyang i-offer sa supermarket. And fortunate enough, isang kasi pag-bless ka talaga,
21:22bless ka eh. Nakakatisod ka ng mga tao na kailangan mo. That's when I discovered the brand
21:30Bunoan. They're from the Pangasinan. Tapos during that time, ang concern naman nila is
21:38because they're from the north, they cannot sustain their market sa south because nobody is
21:43helping them to have a cold storage. Ako kinausap ko kaagad yung owner,
21:49sir, kung makapagkatayo ba ako ng cold storage, pwede akong exclusive distributor ng produkto
21:55nyo sa south? They said yes. Kasi during that time, pandemic eh. Everybody is open to be minded.
22:02May mga freezer na ako, dagdag ako ng freezer. Sabi ng buso ko, kasi tiniklop ko yung dining ko,
22:08tiniklop ko ang sala ko, doon ko nilagay ang freezer ko. Siyempre maliit pa yung buso ko,
22:14sabi niya, mami, paano tayo manunod ng TV? Ay, doon sa ibabaw ng freezer ko manunod ng TV.
22:20Because the TV mounted on the wall, pero walang dining table, walang living room, parang ganyan.
22:27Sabi ko, doon, gumitin ninyo for the time being. Let's adjust. Pinuno ko yung mga freezer ko ng
22:33mga bunoan na bangus and then I start to offer it to the supermarket. So nag-apply ako ng DTI online,
22:41nag-apply ako ng lahat ng permits online na approved kami. And then I offer it to the first
22:49supermarket na sa area ko and they accept. Fortunate again that my old business associate to SM
23:00was being asked naman na lumipat sa ibang supermarket. So na-encounter niya ako kasi
23:07pinento ko yung gati kong ano, yung company ko na Bukid Verde ako. In fact ang pangalan ng
23:12kumpanya ko nung na-approve siya sa DTI is Bunoan, D-R-N-R-D. So nalaman nila, sabi niya,
23:21oh ma'am, babalikas Bukid Verde? Sabi ko, no, this time Bunoan na ako, bangus na ako.
23:27Then nakapasok siya again. Pumasok, naka-deliver kami. Kaya lang sir, I think 2021 ito
23:36or going 2022, yung peak ng pandemic wherein super-higpit na you're not allowed to transfer
23:45to other bayan. Doon ka lang pwede mamili. Like for example, I'm from General Trias,
23:52I cannot cross over to Desmarinas or Imus. Sa Gentry lang ako. Doon nag-prosper sir yung
23:59business namin because I was able to affiliate my company to a supermarket na meron siyang
24:08store here in Cavite na bawat bayan meron siya. So during that time super-busy kami as a family.
24:17So parang lumalabas nito, your inquisitive mind keeps on churning ideas. Kumbaga hindi na de-deadlock,
24:26hindi ka na de-deadend. In other words, you find ways. In other words, may erong stream,
24:34ero kang kumbaga pupuntahan ng iyong negosyo. Hindi ka lang naka-confine sa isang location.
24:42Correct. Nakakakita kasi ng opportunity na minsan idea lang but kailangan mo siyang aksyonan
24:51to make it happen. Parang gano'n. Mahilig ako kasi sa gano'n. What's nice about my husband naman
24:59is magaling siya when it comes to numbers. Parang tandem kami. Ako sa idea, ako sa planning,
25:07siya sa numbers. So nagkakamidon sa parting iyon. So siya yung nagkocontrol ng expenses. Ikaw naman
25:16yung business development. Correct. Tinkering of new ideas and opportunities to have your products
25:26displayed. Correct. So what do you think is the essence that you are successful at this stage?
25:35Ano ang mga karakteristik na nakita mo? Looking back, Luz, what are the karakteristik na nakita mo
25:41na everybody, you know, you have done it. You have really, kumbaga, na-implement mo ito. You walk
25:48the talk. Now, if you look back and talk to people, what are the main things na nakikita mo na
25:55ginawa mo na possibly pala? Sir, parang during the time, parang nag-iisip ka lang, parang I think
26:03one or two step ahead of things na parang you're anticipating. Ever since, kasi I guess that's one
26:11of the traits that I was able to develop. Na nag-anticipate ka sa future, ano ba ang pwedeng
26:17mangyari? Ano ba ang gagawin mo pagka ganito? So although may times na talagang parang napipilay ka,
26:24but hindi ka pwede maupu. You have to stand. You have to do things. Kasi may capability naman
26:32ng isang tao para gawin ang isang bagay na gusto niya. And what I always have in mind is pag may
26:39idea ka, wag lang idea. Do some action. If it fails, okay lang yun. Kasi natuto ka, nakapag-start ka,
26:49may nalaman ka. Pag-restart ka muli. Hindi rin magiging mahirap sa'yo magsimula because you know
26:55how to start. Take two, take three. Hanggang mag-take off ka. Wala naman sinasabing hanggang
27:04take four ka lang eh. Even sa company namin, hindi pa kami talagang nandoon sa kung saan namin gusto
27:13but at least medyo malayo-layo na rin ang naitakbo namin. From 2020 na pandemic with this until now
27:21na 2025. And during the worst and the darkest time sa I mean I mean internationally, sa world,
27:31I took that opportunity to develop my product, my brand. Kaya ipinanganak si Bukid Verde
27:39kitchen products. Kasi wala ka na magagawa during the time kundi magluto ng magluto para sa family.
27:46So you're testing a lot of ano, a lot of food na pwedeng i-offer. And then I took the opportunity
27:53or the chance na sabi nga sa husband ko nga during that time. I still remember. Sabi nga,
27:59paano na pagka ganito? Sabi ko, kaya malang daddy, parang ano lang to, rest tayo. Binibigyan tayo
28:05ng panahon na magpahinga at mag-isip. But dapat hindi tayo complacent. Dapat mag-ready tayo.
28:13So nag-R&D ako ng mga product lang ngayon. Tapos sabi ko para pag time na open na yung economy,
28:20ready na tayo lumaban. Babawi tayo. Hindi pwede nga. Kasi during that time talaga sir, ang hirap
28:26when it comes to finances. Ang hirap lalo na meron akong obligation. May van akong binabayaran,
28:31may sasakyan akong binabayaran. Dumating sa point na wala kang choice. You have to give it up. Kasi
28:37wala ka ng pambayad, malang umiikot. So those are the learnings na hindi naman nangyayari sa akinito.
28:46I mean, apayaga ka to mangyari one time but the second time, kasalanan ko na to, parang gano'n.
29:07I think I must salute you Luz because you are one lady who doesn't stop thinking,
29:35who doesn't stop churning with so many products and ideas. At the same time,
29:41grabe ka yung network mo sa mga supermarket distributors. Ano ba talagang ginagawa mong
29:48style? Ginagawa mo dyan? Actually nothing special sir. Ang aki lang is that if you have goals sa tao
29:58or sa produkto mo or sa kumpanya mo, work for it. Ikaw mismo, wag ka umasa sa ibang tao na gagawin
30:06yun sa'yo. Kasi hindi mangyayari yun. If you need to do the legwork, do the legwork. If you need to
30:12talk to these people, talk to these people. During that time I was able to talk to the old Henry C.
30:19Opportunity ako naming meet siya kasi namamalengke sila sa SM Makati. Nakikita ko siya
30:27and yung mga anak niya talagang sinisilip ko sila. Pinag-aaralan ko sila pag umaaten sila sa
30:32meeting namin na ano ba tong mga tao naging galito? Kasi ang story naman ni Henry C. Kaling
30:39rin naman siya sa hirap. But ano bang ginawa neto? May powers ba tong mga to? Extraordinary ba to?
30:46Wala sir. Ang totoo, ang sipag nila. Correct. Simple ngayon, di ba? Simpling buhay,
30:55simple action. Correct. In fact, mayroon nga story niyan, don't say, yung may-ari si John Lukowa
31:02ng French Baker. Kinikwento nga sa akin. Sabi niya, di ba, ang French Baker ay pagdating ng 6-6-30
31:08ay mayroon 50% lahat ng kanilang tinabay. So, yun ang isang strategy, no? Siyempre,
31:15para bang fresh yung mga tinapay, kinabukasan. So, siya naman, pumiikot siya sa tindahan,
31:21ito sa SM, isang SM yan eh. All of a sudden, nagulantang siya. Kasi nakikita niya,
31:27nakapila si Tatang. Tatang is the late Henry C. Rolando Roja, kilala mo yun pag sinabi si Tatang.
31:35So, sabi niya, si Tatang pumipila sa 50%. Alam mo, sabi niya, nilapitan niya,
31:43nagpakilala siya. Siyempre, courtesy. Tatang, dito na ako kayo? Hindi. Bakit? Ako'y isang
31:51mami-mili. Iba yung kausap mo pagdating sa administration ng building. Eh bakit to,
31:58gusto niyo? Eh siyempre, value for money rin yan eh. Di ba, yan? Isipin mo yun ah?
32:04Limpak-limpak ang pera niyan. Pero bakit, hindi siya sa kuripot. Pero nakikita niya,
32:12if 50%, why not? Di ba naman? Atsaka, siguro isang character mo sa nakikita ko eh,
32:19hindi ka nahihiya. O, sir. Di ba? Kasi if you have a product, a nice product.
32:26Hindi ka nahihiya lumapit, hindi ka nahihiyang magtanong, hindi ka nahihiyang makipag-connect.
32:33Yan ba ay natural sa'yo or talaga na-develop mo being an entrepreneur?
32:37Na-develop na lang siguro sir. Kasi when I started, of course wala naman akong alam eh.
32:44Pero dahil gusto kong malaman, gusto kong matuto, hinanap ko kung paano ko siya malilaman at sino
32:51ang mga taong makakatulong sa akin para malaman ko ang kailangan ko. Laging ganyan. Like for example,
32:59if you need contacts, alam niyo yan sir kung paano ko ginagawa yung mga contacts na yan.
33:05I'll try to ask around. Tapos, I'll try to be honest na like for example na,
33:11gusto kong i-offer ang product ko, pwede po ba? Kasi itong product ko. Kaya nga ang unang
33:17ginawa ko rin sir, pinatatag ko yung product ko, pinapilan namin sila. They are DOST certified
33:24and FDA CPR product yung amin. Para kahit papaano, yun yung sinasabi namin that they can stand or
33:32withstand whatever na pwedeng mama-encounter ng product ko because nakapapil sila.
34:03Pa-distribute mo lang, reseller, reseller ka. Pero nasa ng pangalan mo, wala. Sino si Ludes
34:08Bernardo? Wala. So walang say-say nangyari. So maganda yung ginawa mo,
34:14may marketing strategies kaya. Doon ako natutuwa sa ginagawa mo yan.
34:20Yes sir, yan talaga kasi ang kailangan. Dahil hindi kasi nakikilara niya ng isang
34:26product to overnight. Like for example, sa malilaking brand, matagal sila bago sila na
34:33naging word of mouth. I mean, kaya nga sabi ko sa mga anak ko, we're already parang 5 years
34:40bago to after pandemic. So nakakatuwa yung story mo, talagang alam mo pagiging entrepreneur pala
34:46Ludes na natutunan ko sayo, talagang hindi ka dapat nahiya. It's not the product alone but it's
34:53actually the owner, the entrepreneur who puts together the brand plus the self-confidence.
35:24Ganoong kalaki na ang Bukid Verde? Ano na ang laki ng Bukid Verde at sana pupuntaan ni Bukid Verde?
35:32Sir, actually Bukid Verde right now, aside from sa supermarkets sila, nasa mga convenience store.
35:41So we already distributed some of our product and soon a lot of product will be included
35:48sa distribution nila in 2025. So usually ang mga kontrata na nakukuha namin
35:56ay nationwide. So, I mean, kung saan sila merong mga DC or depot,
36:01so nagdi-deliver kami sa mga depot nila, tapos sila na nagdi-deliver sa mga tindahan nila.
36:06So ngayon, ganong karami na ang iyong empleyado, Ludes? Nagsimula ka ng ikaw at yung mga anak mo,
36:14eh ganong kalaki na ngayon?
36:16Hindi pa naman siya actually ganong kalaki, Sir. Actually what we did, kami ni Hasban, kasi medyo,
36:25again, limited ang aming resources. Lahat ng kailangan namin ay ginawa namin third-party.
36:31Like for example, accounting, legal, third-party yan per project lang yan. Now,
36:37yung pag-produce ng product namin, hindi na ako nagtayo, Sir, ng aking production site.
36:44I accredited na lang po ng mga existing production site na may potential na lumaki.
36:52Ah, hindi ako nakipag-affiliate sa malaki. Because I'm also thinking na I started small,
36:57might as well help those production na nag-start din. Provided that...
37:05Maganda'y sinabi mo. Maganda'y sinabi mo. You started small and you're helping
37:10build together the other small players.
37:13Yes, Sir.
37:22For example, the one that I have in Pampanga, nung nagsimula siya parang ang meron lang siya ay
37:29FDA manufacturing. But ngayon dahil may mga product akong pina-R&D sa kanila, pinagawa,
37:37so maraming na kaming product na naka-CPR under their wing. So sila ang production,
37:43ako nagpa-CPR, nang sabran namin, and then lumalaki rin siya. Tapos ngayon...
37:49Para bang, alam mo, maganda yung strategy na ginagawa nyo ngayon because you serve products
37:59but you don't own the products. In other words, para bang... Sinabi natin Airbnb,
38:07malaking hotel, pero wala naman silang pagsasariling hotel, di ba?
38:11Ako, partner, Sir.
38:13Para ba sinabi mong ang Grab, di ba? Yung GrabNot na isang kumpanya. Maraming sasakyan,
38:20pero hindi naman kanila.
38:22Hindi nila own.
38:23Outsource.
38:24In outsource mo because may impa kasi siya Sir when it comes to your operational expenses.
38:31Exactly.
38:32Hindi siya ganun talaka. Tsaka sa capitalization, imagine nyo, ang isang production siguro worth
38:37P5M, yung space, yung lote, yung gamit sa loob, plus yung mga tao. But that amount of money,
38:47pwede mo siyang gamitin para ma-multiply mo yung number of products that you have.
38:53Like for example, ako, I started with five products lang na meat.
39:00But now, ang product ko na ay nasa 20 na. So I distributed this product na pinapa...
39:09Yung iba may papel, yung iba ongoing documentation, but from one production,
39:15I already have four, five actually accredited production site.
39:45Yung supplier mo na talagang siguro years and years. And then binigyan mo ng dangal,
39:53nag-co-brand ka, at happy siya kasi more production, ikaw happy ka rin because
39:59ang brand mo nakikilala. But I think the challenge here Lutz is actually quality control.
40:08Meron kaming mga SOPs na ina-apply when it comes to production of different products.
40:14So yung mga SOP namin sir na yun, within standard mandatory by the government agency.
40:22Like for example, si FDA, si DOST. So ako ang nag-manage kung ano yung mga SOP.
40:29Like for example, anong SOP sa paggagawa ng daing na bangus,
40:33ng relleno, paggagawa ng tosino, paggagawa ng tapa, ng barbecue.
40:39Tapos ngayon meron na kaming lupia, we call it syaron, yung mga Shanghai pang syaron.
40:45So ito kasi sir yung mga the usual pagkain talaga na hinahanap ng tao. Plus one of our
40:52advocacy right now is to reintroduce authentic Filipino products na medyo nakakalimutan na
41:01because nagkakaroon na tayo ng change sa palette ngayon eh.
41:05Parang ano yan eh. Yung ito yung mga kinaasinauna na nakakalimutan na eh.
41:09Yes sir.
41:10Yung mga nostalgic, kung baga, heirloom recipe. Pero maganda yung ginawa mo.
41:17Tinutulungan mo rin itong mga manufacturer by coming up with your own standards.
41:22Kung baga meron kang quality control.
41:25Dahil ikaw rin, eventually, ikaw rin nagbibenta.
41:28So hindi yung pasa lang, dikit ng brand mo, tapos na.
41:32Meron kang benchmark.
41:36Ako, bago ka pumasa sa akin, itong gagawin natin, ganun-ganun.
41:48That's one big lesson na pwede mong i-share yan sa mga viewers natin.
41:52Hindi ka lang distributor per se, pero ikaw dapat mismo gumawa ng iyong sariling benchmark.
41:58Di ba?
41:59Kasi kung hindi, mapapaya ka yung dalawa.
42:01Hindi lang siya, but ikaw mas malaki.
42:05Dahil malaki ang investment mo, atsaka yung brand mo.
42:08Pag nasira ka, sira ka lahat.
42:10Mas malaki po ang responsibility.
42:12Mas malaki ang responsibility mo, di ba?
42:14So yun yung maganda, maganda itong idea to na maraming matutulungan.
42:19Now, question dito Lutz, paano kung ako naman ay nag-isa?
42:23Yung mga nanonood sa atin meron din silang gustong i-supply.
42:26Paano naman ikaw makakausap?
42:29Sir, pwede nila kami kontakin sa FB page namin, yung Bukit Verde Kitchen Products.
42:38May mga nag-chit-chat sa amin doon.
42:41If they have an idea of may existing product na sila, ngayon gusto nilang i-pabenta sa amin o pa-distribute sa amin, tinatanggap naman namin, sir.
42:52And then kung may papel, mas maganda pag wala, we're helping them na magkaroon ng documentation yung kanilang mga produkto.
42:59Ah, ganun. So pwede pala, so you're not close to, you're not close to, you know, eto na, meron ka ng mga regular products.
43:08But kung limbaw meron ako mga, may mga canned goods or bottled, meron tayo mga nakakausap dito eh, no?
43:15Baka pwede kang kontakin din to meet with you and to qualify, plus it will be your brand.
43:23Correct? It will be under the distribution of Bukit Verde, yes.
43:29Correct, correct. So yun ang mangyayari doon.
43:32Naku, Luz, ang tami mong matutulungan dito sa ginagawa mo. You are really blessed, no?
43:38Bukit Verde, green, ano ba? Bukit Verde, green farm, parang green, diba?
43:44Ang ganda ng ginagawa mo, no?
43:47So, ikaw ba ay may balak maging global?
43:51One dream na siguro loads will be tossed?
43:56Yes sir. Actually, isa yan sa mga potential market expansions namin. If you remember sa AMA natin, diba gumawa tayo ng parang business plan?
44:07Yes.
44:08So, if you can recall sir na yung mga existing client po right now, inilista ko lang sila noon.
44:16So, parang since 2 years na tayo, took more 2 years to negotiate to these people to make things, to materialize things.
44:24So, dati supermarket lang ako, isa lang. Ngayon, tatlo na sila.
44:29Dati isang convenience store lang, o nilista ko lang mga pangalan nila. Ngayon lahat, past time na yung mga product namin, may nakapag-start na akong mag-deliver sa kanila.
44:40I just don't have the liberty to tell their name lang.
44:45But if you see the brand Bukid Verde, yan na yan, angina yan, na nasa tindahan.
44:50Correct, correct. So yeah, maganda yan. I really look forward na makita yung brand ng Bukid Verde, particularly in the United States.
45:00Alam mo naman, malaki ang amet ka. Malaki. At hindi naman bawal managinip ka, gaya na ginawa mo, nanaginip ka, pero gumawa ka ng action, diba?
45:09So yeah, why not? I will be most honored to see Bukid Verde sa iba-ibang stores sa America. Kasi alam mo naman, 300 million people yan.
45:22We will make it happen kasi we're trying to affiliate ourselves with the help of DTI and Export Bureau.
45:32Although hindi kami direct ang mag-export, but we're trying to get accredited consolidators para punin ang mga product namin.
45:41At hindi lang sa akin, actually sir, I even asked some of my friends na ano ba ang mga products ninyo na ready na for export, baka next year open na tayo, so handa na kayo. Parang gano'n.
45:55Well, full blast, full speed for 2035 tayo. Now January, you have now 11 months to go. Pwede natin gawin natin bulusok yan.
46:11Kasi alam mo bakit dahil sa overseas ang mga Filipinos natin doon ay nagtatakaw pa rin sa quality product.
46:18Marami tayo mga same product, same product like you, but isa sa mga napansin po ay naghahanap sila ng isang home-cooked, home-prepared at hindi too commercialized.
46:32Yes sir. Actually sir, we encounter na rin na may mga gumagawa talaga mismo doon sa lugar. Like for example, sa US and Canada.
46:40But the problem is that they cannot sustain it. So laging umuwi doon sa Pilipinas dapat. Plus yung lasa, because probably of the available ingredients, wag kaiba din. So malaking difference.
46:54Nothing like home. Yan ang hina. Alam mo kahit kasi marami tayo nakakausap ng overseas na Pilipino na kahit matagal matagal sila ay naghahanap pa rin ng lasang Pilipino.
47:06So probably isang opportunity ng Bukid Verde yan. And probably to see Bukid Verde at every hometown in the Philippines as well.
47:36Yes sir. That's why nilalakahan ko rin ang accreditation po when it comes to my production. Because we're anticipating, like for example, meron kaming affilies na 300 store lang ngayon, pero comes 2025, 700 na sila.
47:56So we're anticipating yung pagdobne ng number ng tindahan nila. So dapat doble production kasi doble PO yan. So those are the things.
48:05Wow! So busy na ngayon si Ms. Bernardo for 2025. Yan ang ating bahagi sa mga viewers natin. Opportunity never sleep. Nasa tao na lang yan how to look at opportunity.
48:25But again, huwag naman study paralysis. Yan ang isang probably sakit ng entrepreneur. Bukas na, pinag-aaralan ko pa. Kailangan bukas sir? Hindi pa ako ready. Kailangan ready? Tapos nilampasan ka na. Sayang, hindi ako siberte.
48:48Again, Lutz, I will always pray for your abundance, blessing, and again guidance, and really helping Filipino brands to become known. Siyakang proud mompreneur, naging pharmacist, naging farm assist. Hindi na pharmacist eh, farm assist. So you're assisting people.
49:11So yeah, thank you very much and well, the best of luck for everybody in the family and Bukit Bertay. Thank you, thank you. Thank you, sir. God bless you. Have a nice day. Thank you.