Celebrating 20 years of CLIXLOGIC with Charlie Fernando

The Manila Times

Celebrating 20 years of CLIXLOGIC with Charlie Fernando  Charlie Fernando, founder of Clixlogic, an IT and technology solutions provider, sits down with The Manila Times to share his journey, starting out as an employee to leveraging his expertise as an electronics engineer  and seizing opportunities to bring his company to what it is today.  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  #philippines #entrepreneur

Transcript

00:00It's a good Sunday morning and it's really so refreshing

00:29because we have a friend who can give you a lot of advice.

00:33And mind you, it's been 20 years.

00:36We're now talking of June in a couple of months, two months.

00:40He's celebrating his 20th year.

00:42He's an electronics engineer,

00:45a man who has undergone so many challenges,

00:49but still smiling.

00:52So let's hear it from Charlie Fernando,

00:55president of ClixLogic.

00:57Good morning, Sunday to you, Charlie.

01:01Good morning, Butch. How are you?

01:03So this is a great Sunday morning.

01:07And in my whiteboard, I always, I put in my whiteboard,

01:13this is going to be a great day.

01:16So it is going to be,

01:17it is definitely going to be a great day today, Butch.

01:20Correct, correct.

01:21Yeah, you know.

01:22Alam mo naman tayo, eh.

01:24We are now on our, wow, our, how many?

01:29Nakalimutan ko na kung ilang episode na ito.

01:31But yeah, we have surpassed already.

01:34This is 73, 72, 73 episode.

01:39This is the 73rd episode already.

01:41So again, thank God.

01:43And marami na tayo natutulong ang mga viewers all over,

01:49lalong-lalo na those who are watching on a leisure Sunday.

01:53Tell us, Charlie, 20 years na pala yung negosyo mong ClixLogic.

01:59Ano ba yung Clix?

02:01How did you arrive at the word ClixLogic?

02:03Parang maganda, ano?

02:05Ano yan, eh.

02:07It's a combination of my name and my spouse's name and the kid's name.

02:15So we played with it.

02:17So kaya, ano, kaya naging ganon.

02:20So Charlie, Luis, Isabel, Javier, Gabriela.

02:25So ganon.

02:25Kaya sabi ko, pwede pa dagdagan ng apat.

02:28Pero tumigil na ako sa, ano, apat.

02:31Dapat, kumunting na naging walo, eh.

02:33Yan.

02:35Oo nga, kasi, alam mo, Charlie, ang dami kasi yung mga entrepreneurs, no?

02:39Like pagdating sa, you have a concept, pagdating sa pangalan ng business, eh.

02:45Ano nga ba talaga?

02:46Ano nga ba ang ating ipapangalan, no?

02:49But again, you derived it and, you know, with all this nice name.

02:53So tell us, 2005, let's, how was it when you were starting?

02:592005, we were just, what was the event of 2005 when you were beginning your business?

03:09Okay.

03:10So actually, I did not start the business of UPS 2005.

03:15It happened a year, a little more than a year ago.

03:19So, okay.

03:21Ano, atras tayo ng 25 years before that.

03:26That's when I started my working for, on electronics engineering.

03:30So I was not an entrepreneur.

03:33I was not a businessman.

03:35I was, I did not have my own business at the onset.

03:38Meron akong maliit na negosyo.

03:40After college, it did not work out.

03:43I had to close it down.

03:45I got employed for 25 years.

03:47And then, circumstances changed.

03:52Parang, at the age of 45, I did not, I was not, I did not have, I did not have an eye to eye with my boss.

04:04Hindi na kami nagkakaintindihan.

04:06So I told myself, it's time for me to go.

04:09So during that time, I told myself, am I going to get employed again?

04:14Am I going to go out of the country?

04:17Kasi uso pa yung out of the country na magtatrabaho, engineer, matataswaldo?

04:21Or, am I going to put up my own business?

04:24So that, those are the three choices.

04:27And, since I did not have the money, I had to get employed for one more year.

04:33But, I did not like it.

04:36The business was not, parang swak.

04:41Hindi kami, okay na may negosyo.

04:43Pero, hindi ko feel.

04:46So I put up a company with some partners.

04:51Nangyari, after a little more than a year, UPS Repair yun.

04:59But then, hindi kami magkasundo ng partners ko.

05:01So that's when I had to, I was forced to put up ClixLogic.

05:07It was not easy.

05:08I did not have the money to start.

05:12I had to sell some club shares.

05:15Yabang ako nun eh.

05:16When I was employed, I was not looking at my salary.

05:19I was just making so much money on commissions.

05:23So, ano-anong binibenta ko eh.

05:25Lots of tech stuff.

05:26To PLDT, to the other big companies.

05:32I sold Beeper 150.

05:34The Beeper 150, the whole system commission ko was my first house.

05:41So, ganun.

05:42Wow.

05:43Hindi nang umos ang pera, butch.

05:46Nauubos din pala.

05:47So, and then, I was employed.

05:51So, sabi ko, I was not seeing eye to eye with my boss.

05:55Sabi ko, I have to go.

05:56Ayokong magkasira kami.

05:58So, it was best for me to move, move along.

06:02So, when I put up ClixLogic,

06:06first, before ClixLogic, I had some business partners.

06:09Parang it was not meant to be.

06:11Panay malas, malas, malas yung mga projects ko.

06:14Then, I said I have to move forward, put up my own.

06:18Siyempre, galit yung mga partners sa akin.

06:21But then, I did not have a choice.

06:23Kila, matataas ng sweldo, mga executives.

06:26Ako mamamatay if I did not move forward.

06:28So, I had to put up ClixLogic.

06:32Nakakatawa yan.

06:33Nakakatawa yan.

06:34So, basically, ganito eh.

06:35I'm sure, ang daming nakaka-resonate dito.

06:38I mean, maraming nakaka-feel.

06:42Walang taong hindi dumaan sa where they are now from the past.

06:48But there are lessons.

06:50Like, for example, I'm sure,

06:52isa sa mga nakita ko sa'yo,

06:53you did the process of discernment.

06:56You did not just jump immediately on impulse.

07:00Ay, halis na ako, punta na akong abroad.

07:02Ay, OFW ako.

07:04Hindi eh.

07:05Tatlo yung reasons na binigyan mo eh.

07:06Tilignan mo muna.

07:07Pwede ka mag-employee.

07:10Pwede ka mag-start ng negosyo.

07:13Pwede kang lumabas ng bansa.

07:15Pero from there,

07:17nag-process ka na naman.

07:18You know, talagang,

07:20kasi ito very important to sa atin ngayon.

07:22Lalo mga kabataan ngayon.

07:23Di ba, Charlie?

07:24Yung bang,

07:25you cannot just decide that the flick of the finger.

07:28Because a lot of things will be affected.

07:31Tama?

07:33So, yun yun ang nangyari.

07:35Gusto mo mag-negosyo,

07:36wala kang pera.

07:36Gusto mo mag-trabaho.

07:39Ano ba, qualification mo?

07:41Eh, umi-edad ka na rin.

07:43Di ba?

07:44There's another factor.

07:45Di ba, Charlie?

07:46Nagkakaroon ng factor na

07:47you change at the middle of your year

07:50and a lot of competition

07:52are coming from the younger generation.

07:54So, anyway,

07:55with that process,

07:57and then another thing

07:58that you probably shared is

07:59walang katapusan ng pera.

08:01Yun pala,

08:01may katapusan din.

08:03Di ba?

08:05Di ba, Charlie?

08:06You get the feeling.

08:08Kasi,

08:08like for example,

08:09I met several people,

08:11you know,

08:11na they never thought

08:13never ending.

08:15Yun pala nag-end.

08:17All of a sudden.

08:18Di ba?

08:19But, again,

08:20you're able to turn around

08:21never too late

08:23and maximize what you have.

08:25Di ba?

08:25Yun ang ano doon.

08:26So, nagsimula ang clicks logic na.

08:29Okay?

08:29So, ano na naging business concept

08:33ng clicks logic na

08:34sinimulan mo na?

08:36Okay.

08:37Magandang kwento yan.

08:39So, I think,

08:41I am a telecom engineer.

08:43So,

08:43telephone ang utak ko.

08:44Ano ibebenta ko

08:46kay PLDT,

08:47kay Smart,

08:48kay Globe.

08:49So, that was my mindset.

08:50But,

08:51nagkahanap pala sila ng ano,

08:53company who's been there,

08:55company who has so much of assets.

08:57So, you have to be qualified.

09:00E, balita ang kumpanya,

09:02hindi ako qualified.

09:03So, sabi ko,

09:04teka muna,

09:04hindi ako magbibenta ngayon.

09:07I have to go

09:08and try and sell

09:09to the second tier

09:11telecom companies

09:13called PAPTELCOS.

09:15Those are the small rural

09:16companies

09:17in the provinces.

09:20So,

09:21I tried selling there.

09:24I tried selling

09:25to other enterprises.

09:27It was not working.

09:29May mga problema

09:31kong inabok.

09:32The equipment

09:33that I used to sell

09:34did not work.

09:36First time

09:36nangyayari sa akin,

09:38yung

09:38yabang-yabang ko dati.

09:40Pag nagbenta ako ng equipment,

09:41napapaandar ko.

09:42This time,

09:43sarili kong negosyo,

09:44hindi ka paandar.

09:45Ano pa meron?

09:47Parang ang mala,

09:47sunod-sunod.

09:48So,

09:49challenges

09:49just kept on

09:51coming along.

09:53E,

09:53konti lang ang pera ko.

09:55Mind you,

09:55konti lang ang pera ko

09:57pang-laban doon.

09:59Here comes

10:00a friend.

10:01Or not really a friend.

10:03Somebody

10:03who

10:04who I met.

10:07And he said,

10:08Charlie,

10:09are you interested

10:10in becoming

10:11the service center

10:12of our UPS brand?

10:15So,

10:17wala na akong gagawin.

10:18I'm just about

10:18to fold up the company.

10:20Sabi ko,

10:21yes,

10:21why not?

10:23I did not have any,

10:24I did not know

10:25anything

10:25about UPS.

10:26I know about

10:27electronics.

10:28So,

10:28kaya ko aralin yan.

10:30But the dynamics

10:31on UPS repair,

10:33sino yung mga kliyente,

10:34wala kong alam doon.

10:35So,

10:36I had to...

10:36UPS is

10:37Uninterrupted

10:39Power Supply,

10:40correct?

10:40O,

10:41yes.

10:42And doon tayo

10:43nagkita.

10:44That was the first time

10:45we met each other.

10:46Nagpaparepare ka sa atin,

10:48di ba?

10:48O.

10:49So,

10:50I had to learn

10:51the technology is easy.

10:53The marketing,

10:54how to sell it,

10:55how to grow it,

10:57ibang animal yan.

10:59Malay ko ba dyan?

11:00So,

11:00I'm the,

11:01I'm the,

11:02ano,

11:02the new kid

11:03on the block,

11:04so to speak.

11:05There are huge companies

11:07selling the

11:08big,

11:09big UPSs.

11:10So,

11:11how did I start?

11:12I started

11:13with the UPS

11:15that's

11:15not being

11:17repaired,

11:18yung tinatapon na.

11:19So,

11:20the small UPSs

11:22for desktop computers.

11:24Ang utak ng tao nun,

11:25ang mindset ng tao

11:26during that time,

11:28ah,

11:28ba't ko papaparepare?

11:29Tapon ko na.

11:31But then,

11:31sabi ko,

11:32I was able to convince

11:34the principal,

11:36ayusin natin,

11:37extend natin

11:38ang warranty,

11:40ako bahala,

11:41because now,

11:42I have some inkling,

11:43I know

11:44technology,

11:45we were able

11:46to extend it.

11:47So,

11:48the usual one year,

11:50I was able to extend

11:51to five years.

11:54Lakasan ng loob.

11:55Tsaka,

11:56tsaka,

11:56tsaka maruno ako

11:58mag-analyze butch eh.

11:59So,

11:59it's a numbers play.

12:01So,

12:01diba?

12:03Numbers,

12:03numbers lang,

12:04kaya kong i-manipulate yan.

12:06Ano po yung fail rate,

12:07ano po,

12:07kaya kong babalikan.

12:09So,

12:09I need that,

12:10I know how it's done.

12:12Yun.

12:13And,

12:13I think that's how

12:15I was able to enter

12:16the business

12:18that the big boys,

12:20those repairing

12:21the big UPSs,

12:22are not going into.

12:24In short,

12:25I was able to do

12:26a niche play

12:27on UPS.

12:29So,

12:29that's how I did it.

12:31Oh,

12:32talagang,

12:32alam mo,

12:33this is where

12:34friendship really matters,

12:36diba?

12:37Yung you're able to

12:38connect

12:39with real people,

12:42diba?

12:42Yung bang

12:42you collaborate,

12:44diba?

12:44Kasi,

12:45imagine mo,

12:46you said,

12:47you're about to fold.

12:48I mean,

12:48that's it,

12:49that's it,

12:50wala na,

12:50you know?

12:51And then,

12:52all of a sudden,

12:53a friend asked a question,

12:55diba?

12:55May mga ganong instances

12:56na minsan,

12:58biglang merong magtatanong sa'yo

12:59and then,

13:00para bang you're hit

13:01by a lightning

13:02and said,

13:03why not?

13:04You know?

13:05Because,

13:05ang maganda yung sinabi mo

13:06na,

13:07you may not know it

13:08at that time,

13:09the UPS,

13:10but since,

13:11because of your

13:11technical background

13:12in electronics,

13:14eh,

13:15wala namang hindi

13:15napapag-aralan,

13:16diba?

13:17Yun yung sinasabi,

13:18sinasabi natin.

13:19So,

13:19you hit the,

13:20you hit the niche

13:21of repairing,

13:23at saka at that time,

13:24remember,

13:24UPS at the time,

13:25ang daming,

13:27you know,

13:28parating may power

13:29interruption tayo,

13:30diba?

13:31That,

13:31you came in at the right time

13:33as a new kid on the block.

13:36Remember the time

13:36when we had a lot

13:37of series of brownouts,

13:39and here you are,

13:40companies are working

13:41on data,

13:42sending,

13:44you know,

13:44all of a sudden,

13:45biglang,

13:45pak!

13:46Ano nangyari sa,

13:47sa pinagtatrabaho mo?

13:49Burado na,

13:50diba?

13:51But the UPS

13:52gave you some room

13:54to adjust,

13:56diba?

13:57So,

13:57to adjust,

13:58in other words,

13:59time to save

14:00your,

14:00whatever you're doing,

14:02diba?

14:03Oo,

14:03oo,

14:03so,

14:04yeah,

14:05fantastic,

14:06fantastic.

14:06So,

14:07so again,

14:09that's,

14:09ang ganda ng,

14:10ang ganda ng kwento mo,

14:11ha?

14:11That's really,

14:12that's something

14:13step by step.

14:14So,

14:14where is now,

14:15where is now

14:16Qlik's logic?

14:18What have,

14:18what have you been doing

14:19right now?

14:22Sige,

14:22so,

14:23akala ko,

14:23mag-uusap tayo

14:24about serendipipipipip,

14:26but then that can be

14:26another,

14:27that can be another

14:28topic later on.

14:30Yeah,

14:31yeah.

14:32So,

14:33you have to guide mo,

14:34else hindi tayo matatapo

14:35sa usapan natin ito.

14:37Ano,

14:37but now isang linggo

14:38yung kwentuhan natin.

14:40Yeah.

14:41So,

14:42anyway,

14:42so fast forward,

14:44so we are about to be,

14:45we are about to be

14:46a 20-year-old company.

14:48So,

14:48we've pivoted.

14:50Do we still

14:51repair UPSS?

14:52Sabi ko nga eh, nakakasokan na yan, UPS na yan eh.

14:56Pero dumarating pa rin.

14:58So we're still known for repairing UPSs.

15:02So sabi ko nga, sige, those who really want to have their UPSs fixed,

15:08tangkapin natin.

15:08But sabi natin, it may be cheaper for you to buy new

15:14because the warranties are extended.

15:17It's not as expensive as before.

15:19You have the reliability.

15:20So we're not just repairing.

15:23We're also, ang tawag dyan, parang i-upgrade mo na lang.

15:28Dagdag ka ng konti, upgrade mo.

15:30So that's one.

15:32But what's nicer now with technology,

15:36kaya nga, masarap yung technology eh.

15:38Dapat you are kept abreast.

15:41Tapos basa ka ng basa.

15:42And you see a lot of new things coming up.

15:47And we are now working on what you call IOT or Internet of Things.

15:54But, eto problema.

15:56When I talk to you about Internet of Things,

15:58sasabi mo, ano yan?

15:59So I will take another session on explaining.

16:03Pero teka muna, eto mas madali kong kwento.

16:06So, IOT is a technology.

16:08Just keep it at that.

16:09But what am I, what is my application on IOT?

16:15It is for energy savings.

16:19So nakitilit yan ang tao.

16:20Biglang, wow, gusto ko yan.

16:22Mga katipid ako.

16:23And, energy efficiency.

16:27So, savings efficiency and then energy monitoring.

16:32Paano ba po,

16:34paano ko manalaman kung magkang kuryente ko?

16:37So, so, mindset ng electrical engineers is to

16:43go to the kilowatt hour meter and read it and write it down

16:48and key it in Excel and send it.

16:51Diba?

16:52So that is the mindset.

16:53Now, with, with my solution,

16:58let's say you have 50 branches.

17:00Kailangan mong malaman kung magkano yung power consumption on

17:03because there is now a law by the Department of Energy.

17:07How will you do that?

17:08Mano-mano, sakit ng ulo.

17:10So, mine corrects all this data simultaneously

17:15almost in real time.

17:17So that it would be easy for you to

17:20send it to the Department of Energy.

17:22But more than that,

17:24you can also have that data for you to do energy efficiency.

17:33Kasi, again, you cannot manage what you cannot measure.

17:36So, manage the data first.

17:39But what is exciting now is that I have the solution to lower the power consumption

17:49of air conditioners, the aircon split type, the aircon, tower type, that is where I'm focusing a lot of my, of my, uh, uh, activities on.

18:02And it is starting to gain ground.

18:06So, if you ask me, what am I doing now?

18:08I'm doing energy savings, energy efficiency, energy monitoring right now.

18:16Fantastic, huh?

18:17Yeah.

18:18Yeah.

18:18Plus some disaster-related equipment.

18:22Kasi, pag nag-earthquake, eh, paano malalaman nung building yung intensity?

18:27So, that's also another business sa timeline.

18:29So, medyo dumadami na tech pa rin.

18:32Oh, yeah, but, uh, you're talking about the pain points ng mga tao, ah, ng mga tao.

18:38I mean, we're not all exempt, we're not exempted.

18:40Nobody's exempted.

18:41Uh, but again, everybody talks about taas ang taas ang kuryente.

18:45Paano ba yan, di ba?

18:46Uh, you're a consumer, you're, you're, uh, you know, you're, uh, uh, earning your monthly salary

18:53and all of a sudden, pagdating ng miralko bill, aray, you know, medyo ganun, di ba?

18:59Uh, so, yun, uh, the same time, if I'm an entrepreneur, I have several branches, which is true.

19:07How do I know that my, my efficiency or energy efficiency in a branch, is that really accurate, di ba?

19:16So, that, so, this is something that a lot of entrepreneurs are, are looking for, Charlie.

19:23Yep.

19:24Yep.

19:24So, kaya na eh, I am so, so excited this year.

19:28I know that I will be very successful this year.

19:33The 20th year will be, will be our banner year.

19:37That's how I see it.

19:39Yes.

19:39Nakakatawa butch.

19:41Nag ano, nagpahula ako.

19:47Okay.

19:49Nagpahula ako ng Japan.

19:50Sabi nung manguhula na haponesa, gumamit pa ng Google Translate.

19:54Like, Charlie, you don't have money now.

19:57Next year will be like this, will be raining.

19:59Okay, sorry.

20:01Tapos, nagpahula na naman ako.

20:03Yun din.

20:04Ay, sabi ko, sige.

20:05Okay, game, game.

20:06Asa na, asa na.

20:07Umpisahan na natin.

20:08Anyway.

20:09So, it, again, it is a, I believe it will be a very successful year this year because of the products that I was able to develop through the years.

20:19It's not, so for everybody's understanding, it's not from jumping, just jumping from one product to the other.

20:27So, it's not from jumping, just jumping from one product to the other.

20:57The process is really slow.

20:59The adoption, you may have the best product, but the adoption is always not as fast as you want it to be, unfortunately.

21:08Correct.

21:08Oh.

21:09And, you know, technology.

21:11When we were talking about 2005, who can ever say that we're not talking with an AI, right?

21:19You're talking with the internet as having the speed that we were, we were dreaming years ago.

21:27You know, remember the dial, ano ba tawag natin doon?

21:29Dial-up.

21:30Dial-up.

21:31Dial-up.

21:31Dial-up internet.

21:33Dial-up model.

21:34You start missing that sound, no?

21:36Of connectivity.

21:37Remember?

21:38Ring, ring, ring, ring.

21:40Hindi ba?

21:40Yung mga ganun, no?

21:41That's a music to our ears.

21:44Lalo na pag nag-connect na, no?

21:46But now, looking at now, right, what you're doing now, this technology used to be very expensive years ago, right?

21:55The teleconferencing that, yan, sa telecom scan, di ba?

21:59But now, so para bang the world is changing so fast, but sometimes the entrepreneur finds it too difficult to catch up.

22:07Or some people would just say, ayoko na, pagod na ako.

22:12Ano ba ma-advise mo doon, Charlie?

22:15Because you never seem to run out of energy.

22:18You never seem to run out of inspiration.

22:23Ano ba ang nagiging, ano ba ang teknik mo dyan na parang makakapagbigay ka ng inspiration sa ating mga nanonood?

22:32Okay.

22:33Okay. Siguro, I'm, ano, I would say that I'm one of the lucky ones because electronics was my hobby when I was in grade school, which became, which continued even when I was in high school.

22:51High school technology was in Don Bosco in electronics.

22:56So, bigyan kita ng maikling kwento na nakatatawa.

22:59So, first year high school, bibigyan kami ng IQ test.

23:02Pag nataas ang IQ mo, electronics.

23:06Pag medyo mababa, mechanics.

23:08Pag medyo mababa pa doon, carpentry.

23:11Pag medyo mahina-hina ka na nga talaga, alam mo kung ano yung technology course mo?

23:17Tailoring.

23:19So, walang anong bero.

23:24I don't think it's being done now.

23:28I wouldn't mind learning how to do tailoring, but then, that was...

23:33Yeah, yeah, why not?

23:33Diba?

23:34So, anyway, so ganon.

23:36So, electronics was my technology course in high school, which became my engineering course.

23:42So, enjoy na-enjoy ako sa technology.

23:45So, siguro, if there's one thing the entrepreneur should learn, if they want to go into business, it has to be something that they really like to do.

23:56Kaya siguro, if you see me, I never run out of energy.

23:59Kasi, para ako naglalaro lagi.

24:02So, basa nang basa, uy, bago to ah, paano ko ba, mapepera ko ba to o hindi?

24:09O, pag hindi ko na pera, may natutunan ako at the very least.

24:13Diba?

24:13Pero, sa paano kung mapepera ko to?

24:16Ang sarap, isipin kung paano ipepera.

24:20Which is what I'm doing on energy saving, energy efficiency.

24:25Something very new, something that everybody wants, tapos kaya ko pangperahin.

24:30Correct.

24:31Eh, diba?

24:32Tsaka, tsaka ano ah, this equipment that I'm providing is not expensive at all.

24:39ROI is less than 12 months.

24:42So, in short, kapit sa na equipment, in less than 12 months, bawi mo yung presyo dun sa equipment na binili mo.

24:53Ganun.

24:53Ganun ka ganda yung pinapoprovide na solution ko right now.

24:57So, you see me with so much energy.

25:00Because, I see, now, the passion, ah, the product that I have is a product that will really be beneficial to the Filipino people.

25:13Correct.

25:14Correct.

25:14No, no.

25:16No, because, like for example, everybody is now, remember years ago, people were laughing about solar, right?

25:22I mean, who would ever, I mean, sabi nila, sayang yung araw, eh.

25:28I mean, if you look at it, ah, the energy that the sun is giving has been so, parang yung lang na nagagamit, no?

25:38And yet, it's been there for ages, right?

25:41And, ah, it only came to a point na when people started to, you know, alam mo, dati mahal ng solar, right?

25:48Mahal, magpakabit ng solar.

25:49But now, with the energy, ah, you know, yung presyo, and then now with all these electric cars that we're now having, parang, anito, ah, future na ba ito, you know?

26:02But again, eto na yung kailangan, eh, di ba?

26:04Like, for example, gasoline, yung mga ating oil, eh, will always may come to an end, no?

26:10Because the media list, di ba, yung mga fossil fuel, yung netawag, di ba, medyo nagmamahala na at medyo paubos na.

26:19So, sa iyo, ah, you talk about, ah, all these, ah, you know, energy savings.

26:25So, if I'm a consumer, I'm watching you right now, how would I know that I, that, that, that electronic saving devices,

26:35ang dami kasi sa market, di ba, ang dami nagsabi, ah, yung kuryente mo bababa ng ganito, bababa ng ganito, and all the, all the social media.

26:45O paano natin magagay to mga consumer na they're talking of a real value for their money, you know?

26:53Okay, so, and I really like the way you touched on that, kasi, ang tawag ko dyan, maraming nagbebenta ng snake oil, kumbaga, di ba?

27:05Mga magic, magic thing, you plug it and it works, no?

27:10Yes, yes.

27:11So, I always say, you have to be very scientific about it.

27:16So, so, so, okay, focusing on my product, my energy saving device, just for aircons, it's not an energy saving device for, for, for, for lights, for ovens, for whatever, just for aircons.

27:34And it's not for centralized aircon, it's just for what you call DX aircon, yung, yung aircon na may free on, that's the only, my device is just for that.

27:46Now, so, there is the technology and this, and what you have, what I, what I do is that I, I convince them, this is what you're consuming today.

27:59This is the temperature setting that you have today.

28:03I turn on the device next day, your low air power goes lower, the temperature is still the same.

28:10I turn it off the next day, on the third day, balik ka na naman sa baseline.

28:15I turn it on on the fourth day, but kita mo yung savings.

28:19So, my solution has graphs that go with it.

28:24So, it test natin, based on your air conditioning system.

28:29So, again, it's not one, it's not one size fits all, but my approach has always been scientific.

28:37So, your, so, hindi yung magic.

28:40No, it's not.

28:41Hindi, hindi magic.

28:42But again, you know, you know, malaking, malaking tulong yan.

28:46Like, for example, alam natin mga skwelahan, di ba?

28:49A lot of schools are now aircon, right?

28:51Because of the pollution, the noise, and all this.

28:54And that is going to be a big, big saving, you know?

28:58Kasi, baka bumaba rin o maging stable na yung tuition fee, di ba?

29:02Yung mga ganun.

29:03So, may mga chain effect, di ba?

29:05Kung nakakatipid sa overhead cost, di ba baba, di ba?

29:09Hindi na kailangan tumasong malaking, ano.

29:12So, tell me, yung ngayon, eh, si Charlie ngayon ay kumbaga self-made man na.

29:20In other words, eh, kumbaga rounded na siya.

29:23You're, you're on your own, you're doing now your own business, you have learned your lessons in the past, and you're moving on.

29:33Okay?

29:34So, yun sinasabi natin ngayon, getting investors.

29:37Charlie, there are a lot of people looking for investors, okay?

29:43And you seem to have touched a very good lingo that you mentioned weeks ago to, what do you call that?

29:53Gender, gender investment?

29:55Yeah, gender lens investing.

29:59Yeah, doc, give me some short bird's eye view of that genderless lens.

30:07Ano ba yan?

30:08Gender lens.

30:08Oh, sige.

30:09Gender lens.

30:10So, yeah, gender lens.

30:11So, I became a member of this investing, investment group called the Manila Angel Investors Network.

30:21So, we're a group.

30:23So, they, some of the group members will ask startups, oh, how much money do you need?

30:34What products do you have?

30:36Let me take a look at it.

30:37They do the financials, they ask all the questions, and then they present it to the group, oh, mag-i-invest ba tayo dito o hindi?

30:46So, kanya-kanya, walang pilitan, oh, sige, sataya ako dito ng, let's say, 200,000, half a million, yung mga ganon-ganon, mga mariliit.

30:55Pero combined together, lalaki.

30:58It becomes 1 million, 10 million pesos na investments for a startup.

31:02Now, when I was there, they kept on talking about gender lens investing.

31:11So, yung pala, and again, I just realized this recently, yung pala, mayroon pa rin talagang bias against women entrepreneurs up to now.

31:23Oh, oh.

31:24Hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam.

31:27So, sabi ko, anong basing, kanya, ikwentohan nyo ba ako.

31:30So, yun na, even in the corporate world, if you notice, there will be people who are averse to women bosses.

31:45So, talking about women entrepreneurs, there are some biases.

31:51Why so? Bakit ganon, Charlie?

31:55Ang problema ko, I never saw that as an issue because I've been brought up by very strong women in the family.

32:05So, nagulat ako that there was really that term, gender lens investing.

32:09But, ano, in the Philippines, I think it's not a huge issue, unlike in other countries.

32:17So, as far as investment is concerned, parang meron silang particular focus on women being entrepreneurs.

32:26So, parang, can we put aside some times for women bosses, for women entrepreneurs to be investors or to have their own businesses as well.

32:38So, yun. So, yun. So, that's, that's the term.

32:41So, I just want everybody to be familiar when they hear gender lens investing.

32:48So, in other words, gender lens investing means you're taking in consideration the gender or it's something that anybody, regardless of your gender, ganon ba?

33:02Parang ganon. Broad strokes lang.

33:04So, because, you know, we just celebrated our women's month, you know, March.

33:12And, again, a lot of entrepreneurs would always say that women are now more aggressive in terms of their investing, taking the lead in entrepreneurship, you know.

33:24And, also, that a lot of women now are so empowered that gone are the days when you will see a pilot, a woman pilot, no?

33:36Wala pa nun, di ba?

33:37But now we have, no?

33:39And, yeah. So, I think it's equality that we are looking at rather than, you know, focusing that they are, they're not the weak, weaker, weak, weak sex, no?

33:50But they are. They are. They are the more, like, for example, our mothers, di ba?

33:56Our mothers, mothers are the pillar of the house.

34:00Tumaga, yan ang poste. I mean, you grew up with your siblings, mostly your sisters, di ba?

34:06Para bang nakita mo na they have that kind of influence.

34:10So, ngayon, this group that you're mentioning about the angel, what? Angel investors?

34:18Angel investors.

34:19Investors.

34:21So, what are they investing on startup or existing businesses also?

34:29Mainly startups.

34:31Uh-huh.

34:31Yeah. Yes. That's why you call them angel investors.

34:35People who need money to start or to scale the business.

34:40Aha. So, para bang you're trying to give them a push para bang magkaroon ng momentum, di ba?

34:48Ganon naman ang negosyo, eh, no?

34:50Yun.

34:50So, yeah. Charlie, siguro, can you share with me, for example, with our viewers, at least mga tatlong golden nuggets from Charlie Fernando

35:02about, you know, being in a business nowadays with all the destruction and the focus and the AI.

35:12How will Charlie now advise people like this?

35:16It's a sink and swim.

35:18Ano bang gagawin?

35:19Okay. So, one of the things I learned, or one of the things I realized when I was young.

35:27So, I was an engineer and I was able to be successful in selling the solution.

35:32But then, I saw the executives in that company who are, we are of the same age.

35:41So, where were they educated? They were educated in the most, more expensive schools.

35:49So, sabi ko, ano meron sila? Nawala ako.

35:52Dapat, matalino rin naman ako, eh. So, syempre, that's how I saw myself.

35:58So, sabi ko, ah, they have the network, I have none. I did not have their network.

36:03So, I told myself, I have to build my network. I have to build my network slowly.

36:11Hindi mo pipilitin. Dahan-dahan mong bibil, be active in whatever groups that you join.

36:19So, for example, I joined the group of Bo Sanchez around 15 years ago.

36:25I became active. I participated, tumutulong, nag-talk-talk, ganon.

36:30So, people knew me. I was able to expand my business that way.

36:36So, I network. Pero hindi ko pinipilit. I think that's why.

36:42Kasi yung iba, network left and right. Tapos, pagkausap mo pa lang, bumili ka kaagad ng ganito.

36:48Ano, eh, nasisira ka kaagad, eh. Parang tindero ka ng whatever.

36:52But then, what I'm trying to say is that you be authentic, you build up, build your network carefully and slowly.

37:03So, that's why.

37:05Number two, believe that there is what you call serendipity.

37:11Because I've seen it all the time.

37:15So, when I was about to close the company, may lumapit sa revv photos, mali ko bang mag-ayos ng UPS.

37:24Pero dumarating, nakakagunat.

37:26And nangyayari pa up to now, up to now.

37:30Misa nakakakilabot.

37:32Most of my big projects, hindi ko hinanap, eh.

37:37Tumarating, tinatanong.

37:41My first big project, very, very first big project, was a 26 million peso telecom system when I was just an engineer.

37:51Yon, ganun din.

37:53Charlie, by the way, do you have this and that?

37:56Mas kinawala.

37:56Sabi ko, meron po.

37:59Hanap ka ng produkto, nakabenta.

38:01Alam mo yun?

38:02Anyway.

38:03So, another thing is, walang ano, walang surrender.

38:11Kahit ano pang problema yan.

38:14Walang atrasan.

38:16Walang bitawan.

38:18Yon.

38:21And in case madapa ka, siguro the third one is that,

38:26pag pinapad na napaka ka,

38:29take a look at what's wrong,

38:32lick your wounds,

38:33and move.

38:34Move again.

38:35Start again.

38:36Tumuloy, tuloy, tuloy.

38:38So, that's how it's true.

38:39Those are the things that I want to share to everyone.

38:43Yeah.

38:43Because I remember, Charlie,

38:45I remember, Charlie, you had a major operation.

38:48Remember?

38:49Yeah.

38:50Oh, what?

38:50And it was something like a turnaround in your life.

38:55Parabang,

38:56is Charlie going to be up and about?

38:59But look at you where you are night down.

39:03Parabang, wala nangyayari.

39:05Parabang, yeah.

39:06But again, health is wealth.

39:08Diba?

39:08Sabi natin.

39:09Diba?

39:11That's a good learning.

39:12You can keep on working,

39:13but you don't maintain your engine of health.

39:17And, lagot na.

39:18Diba?

39:19So, the serendipity may not happen.

39:23Diba?

39:24Kasi nga,

39:25kasi a lot of people are really workaholic.

39:28Diba?

39:28They even forget their family pala,

39:31na malalaki na pala yung mga bata.

39:32Or probably, they keep, you know,

39:34they abuse their bodies.

39:37So, naniningil na rin, diba?

39:38But again,

39:40these are some things, no?

39:42That nowadays,

39:43the entrepreneurs are really,

39:45really have to be mindful, no?

39:47Mindful of your environment,

39:49mindful of your friends,

39:51mindful of your health,

39:52and mindful of your family, diba?

39:54Very important.

39:55Oh, yeah.

39:56Oh, true.

39:58So, kasi,

39:59hindi pwedeng kalimutan, eh.

40:01You know,

40:01you're like a wheel.

40:03If a wheel is a portion of a wheel,

40:06it's not working,

40:07it will not function well,

40:09diba?

40:10Kumbaga,

40:11kakalog-kalog,

40:12diba?

40:12Ganon, diba?

40:13So, parang,

40:14that's how it is, no?

40:16Kaya nga,

40:16maganda yung pangalan ng,

40:19yung pangalan ng company,

40:20Clix Logic.

40:22Be logical.

40:23Oh, diba?

40:25Logic, eh.

40:26Alam mo naman, eh.

40:28Nung araw,

40:28nag-aaral tayo,

40:29yun ang aking favorite subject

40:30kasi ilang beses

40:31ako bumagsak sa logic, eh.

40:35E, diba?

40:36Ibang,

40:37diba?

40:38Para ba,

40:39pag sinabi mong logical,

40:41A plus A plus B plus C,

40:43diba?

40:44Hindi yung nagtatalon-talon.

40:46I think that's how it is, no?

40:48So, again,

40:48congratulations

40:49in the next two months.

40:52Charlie,

40:53imagine,

40:5420 years.

40:5620 years, ha?

40:57Talagang in the making.

40:59So, yun.

40:59We are not focusing

41:01on B to C.

41:02We're doing

41:03as much as possible

41:04B to B.

41:05Again,

41:06I wanna do this

41:08slowly

41:10kasi baka mamaya

41:12magbenta ka sa

41:13maraming tao.

41:16The issue

41:17is that

41:18the equipment

41:18is,

41:21the equipment works,

41:23but proving

41:23that the equipment works

41:25is the,

41:26ano,

41:26the more

41:27complicated,

41:28ano,

41:29procedure.

41:31So,

41:32takot ako,

41:33takot ako sa away, eh.

41:35Nateka muna,

41:36ang ganda-ganda ng produkto,

41:37tapos maraming mga away,

41:38nasabihin,

41:38hindi gumagana yan,

41:39hindi gumagana yan.

41:40But then,

41:40you have to be scientific

41:41about this.

41:42So,

41:42that's why

41:43I do B to B right now.

41:45I'm approaching,

41:46I've approached

41:47several hospitals

41:49and they are so happy

41:51with the solution.

41:52I approached a

41:54quick service restaurant

41:55franchise,

41:56they're happy

41:57with the solution.

41:58So,

41:58dahan-dahan lang.

42:00So,

42:01if you want to be

42:02a reseller,

42:03then we talk.

42:05If you want to be

42:05an end user,

42:06bibili ako na

42:06ng isa-dalawa

42:07para sa bahay ko.

42:09Teka muna,

42:10wag po muna

42:10kasi hindi ko

42:12kayo maasika

42:12so mga galit

42:13kayo sa akin.

42:14Correct.

42:15So,

42:16parang siguro

42:16ganun lang muna

42:17for now.

42:19But then,

42:20I entertain resellers

42:21because

42:22that's where

42:23the focus

42:24of the business

42:24is in.

42:26Diba?

42:26So,

42:27masarap

42:27mag-isip

42:28ng marami.

42:29Pero mamaya,

42:30madapa ka,

42:31pahiya ka.

42:32Teka muna.

42:33So,

42:34maybe,

42:34I'm being more

42:35careful now.

42:37But siguro,

42:39last piece

42:39of what I have

42:42in mind right now,

42:43people might think

42:44that I'm so passionate,

42:45rara,

42:46rara,

42:4624 by 7

42:48kung magtrabaho,

42:49hindi.

42:49I know how to balance.

42:52I know how to do

42:53work-life balance.

42:55I just came from

42:56a pickleball game.

43:00I play

43:01intense pickleball

43:02even at my

43:04advanced age.

43:07Malakas palaob

43:08ng lolo mo

43:08tumaluntalon.

43:11But then,

43:11because I know

43:12that I have

43:14to exercise,

43:16but I also,

43:18not just exercise,

43:19this exercise

43:20routine that I have,

43:22I have a

43:23community

43:24that I was able

43:25to develop.

43:25So,

43:26sabay.

43:26I was able

43:27to develop

43:28my network

43:28and at the same

43:29time,

43:30exercise

43:31todo-todo.

43:32So,

43:33so,

43:33yun.

43:34So,

43:34I,

43:35I,

43:35I am

43:38very conscious

43:38about how

43:39to balance

43:40my life

43:41because

43:41I'm 67,

43:44I'm 67

43:45years old,

43:46young,

43:47and I still

43:48have a few

43:48more years

43:49to go.

43:49Might as well

43:50enjoy it,

43:51might as well

43:51exercise,

43:52be very,

43:53very careful

43:54with what

43:55I'm eating

43:55now,

43:56and to continue

43:59the passion

44:00that I have

44:01in order to

44:01spread the

44:03capabilities

44:03of energy

44:04saving,

44:04in order to

44:05spread how

44:06energy is

44:07supposed to

44:07be consumed

44:09more efficiently.

44:10Siguro,

44:11ando na po,

44:12nangagaling

44:12much.

44:13Correct.

44:13So,

44:14you're

44:14leaving,

44:15yeah,

44:15you're,

44:16you're,

44:16you're leaving,

44:18you're leaving a

44:19logic,

44:19a legend,

44:20Charlie,

44:21for this.

44:22So,

44:22anyway,

44:23thank you for,

44:23I won't take much

44:24of your time,

44:25it's a Sunday,

44:26and,

44:27you know,

44:27you have to be with

44:28your family as well

44:29as,

44:29you know,

44:30be creative for

44:31the next week.

44:32So,

44:32again,

44:32Charlie,

44:33keep in touch,

44:34and,

44:34again,

44:35thank you on behalf

44:36of Business Mentor Talks.

44:38We look forward to

44:39having you again

44:40on an update

44:41about your gadget.

44:42Di ba?

44:43Baka naman,

44:44marami-rami na ka

44:45ng gadget diyan

44:46na available.

44:48Alright?

44:48Sige.

44:49Thank you,

44:49thank you very much.

44:50Thank you,

44:50Charlie.

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