In the boonies of Sultan Kudarat province in Mindanao, where conflict would force his community to evacuate, Mark Gersava found a way to finish college. He eventually ended up in an office in Makati where he is thriving as a “social entrepreneur.” He explains to Howie Severino how an innovative, conscience-driven businessman can compete against hard-core capitalists. His main product? Plantable bamboo toothbrushes.
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00:00Magandang araw, Podmates! How is everyone again?
00:02Let me remind you that a long attention span can make you smart.
00:06Our guest today is a Chief Executive Farmer.
00:12He is Mark Herzava, a social entrepreneur.
00:16According to his LinkedIn profile, he is a trained food scientist,
00:20a member of the National Innovation Council of the government,
00:24and one of the TOYM awardees in 2023.
00:29One of his missions is to solve the problem of plastic waste
00:33through bamboo products like bamboo straws and bamboo toothbrushes.
00:40Good day to you, Mark Herzava!
00:43Good day, Howie, and to our listeners.
00:46Mark, you grew up in Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao.
00:50Your province is not that well-known.
00:52Tell us something about your province first.
00:55What were the conditions like when you were growing up?
00:59Basically, our province we considered as the coffee capital of the Philippines.
01:05I grew up in a community where there was a lot of rebellion.
01:10There were a lot of leftists along the area.
01:13Our area is very far.
01:17It's the southern part of the Philippines.
01:19The other part is already Indonesia.
01:23For almost 20 years, I lived in the mountains.
01:29I say that I'm the living Tarzan because that's 20 years of my life.
01:33I lived in the kind of community where there were trees, wild animals,
01:40and the toys of my childhood.
01:46Okay, well, interesting childhood.
01:50First of all, you said that Sultan Kudarat is the coffee capital of the Philippines.
01:54Usually, when we think of coffee in the Philippines, we think of Batangas, Cavite,
01:58but maybe the people of Luzon are surprised when you say that Sultan Kudarat is the coffee capital.
02:04Why is your province making that claim?
02:06Yeah, it was declared already by our country because it's so big there.
02:10Maybe because our province was known for having wars.
02:15That's what we always hear on the news.
02:18But behind that, since I think way back around 2012,
02:22that's when it became known that there were too many coffees
02:25when the insurgency along the area was slowly disappearing
02:29because people were already entering the areas where the coffees were planted.
02:35So that's the story there.
02:37Why was it only late when it became known that there were too many coffees there?
02:41It's because back then, it wasn't easy to enter the areas where the coffees were planted.
02:48Okay, so there's a history of conflict with Sultan Kudarat.
02:52And you actually witnessed conflict?
02:55Were you affected by it?
02:57Growing up, we became internally displaced people, or we called it BAKWIT.
03:02So we also experienced moving houses.
03:06When I was in elementary school, I also saw helicopters
03:09that were bombing other places in our area.
03:12So there were guns, and there were people who were catching birds.
03:16So that's what I heard. Guns.
03:19And that's when I realized that there was no justice.
03:24Because I could only see people dying on the side.
03:28Okay, witness it, me personally.
03:30And then there wasn't much presence of the government or the police.
03:34I think sometimes it's because of the criticality of the area.
03:42That's why they weren't able to enter the government offices
03:47to fix the peace and development.
03:50So when I grew up, because we were always moving around,
03:53I had to walk for two hours to go to school,
03:56then two more hours to go back to school,
03:59in order to study.
04:03And then we grew up really malnourished
04:06because we barely had anything to eat.
04:08We even had to borrow salt from our neighbors
04:13and also fire.
04:15There were times when we didn't have rice for a week.
04:19So whatever we could forge in the forest,
04:21that's all we could eat.
04:23So that's the story of my childhood,
04:26living in that kind of conflict-ridden place,
04:29before.
04:30But even now, it's already a progressive place.
04:33So you grew up in a family of farmers?
04:36Yes.
04:37Upland farmers?
04:39Upland, yes.
04:40We are 11 siblings.
04:42I'm the number 8.
04:43What did your family grow when you were growing up?
04:47So basically, there were vegetables,
04:50rice, corn,
04:52almost everything that my father grew,
04:55like onions.
04:57So you overcame a situation of conflict,
05:00you became poor,
05:02you were malnourished.
05:04You overcame all of that,
05:06and now you're working in Makati,
05:09you look like you have a good professional life.
05:13So how did you overcome all of that?
05:16Perseverance.
05:18We have that dream,
05:19we have that ambition to get out of poverty.
05:21That's really our dream as siblings.
05:24Like I said,
05:26I haven't experienced the poverty that we experienced
05:29when we were kids.
05:30I haven't experienced that level of poverty
05:33here in the Philippines.
05:35And of course,
05:36I think we have that trust,
05:38because I'm really a godly person.
05:40So I think we don't give up on God.
05:43And right now,
05:44should I say,
05:45most of us are already social entrepreneurs.
05:48I have siblings
05:50They also help people with disabilities.
05:54They are doing virtual assistants.
05:58Should I say,
05:59I'm comfortable and I can proudly say
06:02that all of us,
06:04the 10 of us,
06:05are already accomplished people.
06:07We're still farmers.
06:09Me also,
06:10I'm still farming until now,
06:11even though I'm here in Makati.
06:13I still go home to the provinces
06:15and being a farmer is really
06:17in my heart.
06:20Yeah.
06:21Okay, Mark.
06:22So,
06:23you're like many,
06:24you grew up in a farming family,
06:26but you're different
06:27in the sense that
06:28you had higher education
06:30with your siblings.
06:32So,
06:33what was the secret?
06:35If there's any,
06:36what were the opportunities?
06:38How did you get opportunities
06:39for higher education?
06:41Because I believed in myself
06:42that I really have the ability.
06:44So,
06:45during my higher education,
06:46during my college,
06:47I'm a working and self-supporting student.
06:49Because I'm in the state university,
06:51so what I do is
06:52I join different organizations
06:54to earn money.
06:56If you become a leader
06:57or if you're sent to Baguio
06:58or to training,
06:59there's 800 allowances per day.
07:01And then,
07:02whatever contests,
07:04singing competition,
07:05oration,
07:06name,
07:07all those singing competitions,
07:09I joined them
07:10in order to have money
07:12to support my studies.
07:14So,
07:15I'm not too academic,
07:16but of course,
07:17still,
07:18I still need to get higher
07:19because I have a scholarship
07:20need to maintain.
07:21But most of my life
07:22during the college
07:23is as a student
07:24by the organization.
07:25As a community,
07:26I'm not just
07:27because
07:28I have the passion to help,
07:30but during the time
07:31it's really a survival
07:32so that I can finish
07:33my studies.
07:35Because that's the only
07:36means I can earn money,
07:38to join all those
07:39different organizations.
07:41And then,
07:42may I ask,
07:43what state university
07:44you went to?
07:45Yeah,
07:46so I came from Sultan
07:47State University,
07:48Isulan Campus.
07:49So,
07:50we're the first
07:51batch
07:52when it became a university.
07:53So,
07:54still located
07:55in Sultan Kudrat.
07:56I think
07:57the largest
07:58university
07:59in our province.
08:00I see.
08:01So,
08:02you call yourself
08:03a social entrepreneur.
08:04How is being
08:05a social entrepreneur
08:06different from
08:07what people
08:08normally associate
08:09with the word
08:10entrepreneur?
08:11Yeah,
08:12being a social entrepreneur
08:13is a business
08:14for society
08:15where
08:16it's not just
08:17advocacy
08:18that we do
08:19like what we do
08:20in my company
08:21in Bambuhay
08:22is we give
08:23employment,
08:24green employment
08:25for our
08:26fellow countrymen
08:27who are growing up
08:28where they
08:29were not
08:30given
08:31the opportunity
08:32to study.
08:33So,
08:34we help them
08:35like now
08:36it's above
08:37the minimum wage
08:38even though they
08:39didn't study
08:40we still pay
08:41them above
08:42the minimum wage.
08:43So,
08:44we also
08:46engage them
08:47as an employee
08:48in our company
08:49we train them
08:50how to use
08:51their talents
08:52and skills.
08:53We help
08:54our poor
08:55fellow countrymen
08:56it's not all about
08:57helping them
08:58it is intentional
08:59that they are part
09:00of the business.
09:01And of course
09:02the environmental
09:03is still there
09:04that the business
09:05is not harmful
09:06to the environment.
09:07The products
09:08that we offer
09:09are all eco-friendly.
09:10So,
09:11that's the difference
09:12because most
09:13of the entrepreneurs
09:14their goal
09:15is to have
09:16profit
09:17to have money.
09:18But here
09:19is we want to grow
09:20being a social entrepreneur
09:21we want to grow
09:22our business
09:23together with
09:24the community
09:25the marginalized
09:26community
09:27that we are serving
09:28and also we are
09:29providing sustainable
09:30livelihood
09:31for those farmers
09:32not the typical
09:33livelihood
09:34that you give
09:35them livelihood.
09:36For us
09:37it's really
09:38we value
09:39their product
09:40and we
09:41and our
09:42one goal
09:43is we really
09:44want to grow
09:45our business
09:46together with
09:47the community
09:48and also
09:49we want to grow
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16:29we want to grow
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16:34we want to grow
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17:22the community
17:23and also
17:24we want to grow
17:25our business
17:26together with
17:27the community
17:28Plastic toothbrushes
17:30is already 135
17:31in the market
17:34With bamboo,
17:35that's what we
17:36call plantable toothbrush.
17:37Should I say
17:38it's really competitive
17:39and right now
17:40we are in the
17:41major
17:42malls
17:43around the
17:44Philippines
17:45So we are
17:46in the Sinagu
17:47Sary Sary store
17:48which is located
17:49in the major
17:50malls
17:51in the Golokal
17:52stores also
17:53of the Department
17:54of Trade
17:55and Industry
17:56and distribution
17:57in our distribution right now is moving forward,
18:01we're looking for municipal distributors
18:03because we want to create more entrepreneurs.
18:05We also don't want the business to grow inside the malls
18:10because we know capitalism is a very crucial issue here in our country,
18:16the gap between the poor and the rich.
18:18So we want to create more entrepreneurs.
18:20So that's what we're looking for now,
18:22to create those kinds of platforms.
18:24And we have a strong partnership also with Corporate,
18:27a partnership through their CSR program or ESG,
18:31Environmental and Social and Government program.
18:34We use the plantable toothbrush
18:37to be their example instead of the typical tree planting
18:43that companies do.
18:45So we let them use the plantable toothbrush for 3 months
18:48and after 3 months, we invite them to our community
18:51to come and plant.
18:54That's what we do.
18:56They will plant their plantable toothbrush.
18:58So the story of the plantable toothbrush,
19:00basically, it's because of the pandemic.
19:03Because we're affected, our bamboo store, we're good now,
19:07we're in the big brand already in the Philippines.
19:09But of course, the tourism and food industry,
19:13beverage industry is the one that was affected during the pandemic.
19:16So that's the idea, Ben,
19:17that we're really looking for a product where it's resilient.
19:20Even if there's a pandemic or calamity,
19:22people are still using it.
19:24So that's why in conducting a lot of research,
19:27I tried to test, because basically, I'm a fan of research
19:31that it should be viable,
19:33that you need to plant it,
19:35that it's real, that it's your place.
19:37And which is a fan conducting a lot of bootstrapping with our products.
19:42So we came up with this technology using a nanotechnology
19:45and different modern technology
19:48in order to make this plantable toothbrush happen.
19:52So that's it, native trees.
19:54For example, now we have mamalis, pine tree, acacia,
19:58native here in the Philippines, alibang-bang.
20:00So for example, in your family, the father is the pine tree,
20:03the mother is the acacia,
20:04then your child is either bamboo, alibang-bang.
20:08So that sustainability works inside the family
20:11because we want that sustainability to be accessed easily.
20:15Those eco-friendly products should be cheaper
20:17and it should be started in our home.
20:20So it's easier when we are convinced
20:23of what people are doing,
20:26the lifestyle, being eco-friendly,
20:29and basically, they can save
20:31on their daily expenses.
20:34So that's how it works.
20:36Okay, of all the things you could be doing
20:38as an entrepreneur, social entrepreneur,
20:40why bamboo? Why do you plant bamboo?
20:44When I discovered all about bamboo,
20:46that it is regenerative,
20:47because you're just going to plant it once
20:49and it will grow forever.
20:51You won't replant it.
20:52After three years, your harvest will continue.
20:54Basically, I think that is very personal also to me
20:58because when we were kids,
21:01we used sumpak, solpot.
21:03Do you know what that is?
21:05So when we were just starting with bamboo,
21:07that's when I got the idea
21:08because we couldn't afford to buy toys,
21:10so we used it like a gun.
21:13When we got caught,
21:14we used it to sip on the river.
21:17So that's when I got the idea.
21:18It's a poverty story.
21:20From that sumpak in my childhood,
21:23I made bamboo straw.
21:26That's how the company started.
21:30And then I also found out that bamboo
21:32is really good for brain development.
21:35That's why I said, even though we are malnourished,
21:36even though we don't have a chance,
21:37what we eat during bamboo season,
21:39breakfast, lunch, dinner,
21:41that's what we eat.
21:42Bamboo straw.
21:44And then when we discovered,
21:45it is really good for brain development.
21:47So that's why I said that I got a gift,
21:50all about being,
21:51should I say that I'm a bit smart?
21:54It's because my brain has developed properly.
22:01It's because of the component in the bamboo straw.
22:04So that's the story there.
22:05It is now the symbol of sustainability
22:08because it captures more carbon dioxide,
22:1130% more than the ordinary trees.
22:14It produces 30% more oxygen than ordinary trees.
22:18And it can thrive together with the trees.
22:21You don't need to cut down a tree
22:23in order to grow a bamboo.
22:25So I think it is really,
22:27and of course, it provides food.
22:29It is the best material also for our daily activities.
22:37And I think we have that symbolic,
22:39our Bahay Kubo,
22:41in the Philippines.
22:42They say that if you live in a bamboo house,
22:44it is difficult.
22:45I also want to remove that perspective.
22:47And then it is also good for soil erosion.
22:49I know you're a fan of bamboo.
22:50Howie?
22:51Almost everything.
22:52Everything you need is in the bamboo.
22:55Because now,
22:56the leaves can also be made into bamboo.
22:59And it's very healthy.
23:00So it's almost complete as a product.
23:04Basically, it's all about the environmental aspect.
23:09That's my biggest consideration.
23:11Okay, Mark.
23:13You and I have been using bamboo for a long time.
23:18I don't have the same childhood experience as you.
23:21But what we learned about bamboo
23:25is the contradiction
23:27that despite its usefulness,
23:32the creation myths of Filipinos is in bamboo.
23:37That's where the strength and beauty comes from.
23:42The Philippines produces so little bamboo.
23:45Right?
23:46Yes.
23:47Compared to other Asian countries.
23:50If you go to China, Japan, Hong Kong,
23:53the status of the bamboo there is different.
23:56You go to Hong Kong,
23:57they use it for construction scaffolding.
24:00Here in the Philippines, it's all steel.
24:03Why is that?
24:05What you're saying is true.
24:07The symbolism of bamboo is so strong in the Philippines.
24:12It's associated with the creation myth in the Philippines.
24:18And yet, despite all that,
24:21our production is so weak.
24:23I think one contributing factor here is policy.
24:28Because right now, with the DNR,
24:30there are so many policies.
24:31We're the only ones who consider bamboo as wood.
24:34Only the Philippines,
24:35and there's another country in the world,
24:37only two countries,
24:38consider a lot of regulations.
24:41I think that's one thing.
24:42Because it's really hard.
24:43It's hard to comply with all those regulations.
24:46That's one of the reasons why it's mainstreamed since 2017.
24:52It's because of that.
24:53The policies are being expanded.
24:55I think that's one of the contributing factors.
24:58And I think the fanaticism of Filipinos,
25:02we still love imported products.
25:06I think we're the only country that's like that.
25:09I think we understand that
25:11because a lot of countries have joined us.
25:14So I think that's one thing,
25:16that kind of mentality from China,
25:18that the product is cheap.
25:20But it's not really.
25:21Let's say that our products are cheap,
25:24but still,
25:25it's not that healthy or eco-friendly.
25:31So I think that's one of the contributing factors.
25:33And of course,
25:34it's because of those regulations.
25:37It's because of those policies.
25:40It's really hard.
25:41That's why people are discouraged
25:43from doing business on this
25:46because you still need a transport permit.
25:48If you're going to transport bamboo from this place to another place,
25:51you need to register a lot of things.
25:54That's the biggest contributing factor,
25:56the policy.
25:57Okay, because of all these enterprises
26:00you've been involved in, Mark,
26:02you were appointed to the new government agency,
26:06National Innovation Council.
26:09For many of our listeners,
26:11this might be the first time they're hearing about this.
26:14So what is the mission of the National Innovation Council
26:18of which you are now a member?
26:20Yeah, basically National Innovation Council,
26:22this is the highest government policy body of the Philippines
26:26for national development and innovation.
26:29The main vision for this council
26:32is basically to use innovation
26:34in order to address,
26:36to solve those social and environmental issues
26:39that we have here in the Philippines
26:41and to support our MSMEs to go global.
26:44Social innovation as a platform
26:46to uplift the millions of Filipinos
26:49to be out of poverty
26:51and basically to use also the creativity of Filipinos
26:54to boost the creativity of the Filipinos
26:56because we know that the one who came out of PISA now
26:59is one of the lowest in terms of creativity.
27:02So we want to mainstream that,
27:04the innovation to every Filipino.
27:07So that's the scope of it.
27:09Beyond the policy making that we're doing,
27:13we are also supporting our MSMEs.
27:20This year, we're going to launch the Philippine Innovation Award.
27:23So this is a presidential,
27:26we call it also a Nobel Peace Prize Award
27:29for Philippine innovators.
27:31It's a huge prize.
27:32We will launch it this October.
27:34So that's one of the platforms that we're doing,
27:37our mission is to help Philippine innovators
27:40for them to be recognized
27:42and for them to be supported
27:44with not just a moral support
27:47but basically a capital
27:48in order to boost their innovation,
27:51not just here in the Philippines,
27:52but basically worldwide.
27:55So that's the mission of the National Innovation Council.
27:58And it was led by President Marcos
28:02and some of the members are cabinet secretaries
28:05who are also part of the National Innovation Council.
28:08Our president wants to give
28:10that there is an innovation
28:12in all the services that the government will do.
28:15It should be innovative
28:17in order to speed up the development
28:20or development of our country.
28:23Okay, you mentioned it, Mark.
28:25So the National Innovation Council
28:27will support initiatives, innovations
28:29that will help solve, among other problems,
28:32environmental problems.
28:34So for example,
28:36these bamboo products that you're making
28:39and other entrepreneurs,
28:41it's meant to be a solution
28:43to the plastic waste problem.
28:46And we know that the Philippines
28:47is one of the leading producers
28:49of plastic waste in the world's oceans,
28:53which have a widespread impact
28:56way beyond the Philippines.
28:58So in shifting to bamboo consumer products
29:03like bamboo straws and bamboo toothbrushes,
29:05it's meant to replace plastic products as well.
29:11So that would be highlighting
29:14the responsibility of consumers.
29:16But I'm sure you also agree
29:19that the business sector
29:22also has a responsibility
29:25towards lessening plastic waste
29:28because a lot of this plastic waste
29:29comes from plastic products
29:31that are produced by the manufacturing,
29:34and corporate sector.
29:36We're also big consumers
29:38of fast food products, et cetera.
29:40So what are people like you doing
29:43in the government right now
29:45about making the producers of plastic
29:49more accountable?
29:51We have the Green Jobs Act already,
29:53so hopefully we implement this year.
29:55So for example, you are in this space
29:57in the Green Jobs Act
29:58because we want to encourage
29:59the big business sector also
30:01to support the Green Jobs Act
30:02for them to become part of the Green Jobs Act.
30:04If they're going to shift
30:05into a more sustainable
30:06and eco-friendly product,
30:08it's basically have a lot of incentives.
30:10And right now,
30:11I think we have the APR law also
30:13that's also hopefully,
30:15it will be properly implemented
30:18in order to provide also incentives
30:20like instead of CSR programs,
30:22they can use their CSR budget
30:25into the environment.
30:27We are still pushing a lot of policies
30:29in order to limit,
30:31in order to lessen,
30:36if not eliminate,
30:37those unnecessary products.
30:39I'm not saying that
30:40all plastic products are bad.
30:42So it's all about the single use,
30:44the regular ones that we use.
30:47Little by little,
30:49we are getting a clear direction
30:54in terms of addressing plastic pollution
30:57in order to protect our environment.
31:01Okay, Mark,
31:02we get a lot of products from China,
31:05imports from China,
31:07including a lot of plastic products,
31:09but also bamboo products.
31:11Whenever I see bamboo products
31:13on the market,
31:14I mean, automatically,
31:16they draw my attention.
31:18When I ask,
31:19I look at the labeling,
31:20it's usually made in other countries.
31:22So that's part of your competition.
31:25Are you advocating protection
31:28for local sustainable products like yours?
31:32Of course, the bamboo products
31:33from China,
31:34from Vietnam,
31:35etc.,
31:36they have economies of scale,
31:38they are established,
31:39they have distribution systems.
31:41It's hard to enter,
31:42to compete,
31:44to compete with the products
31:46from those big countries.
31:48So what's the solution there?
31:50Would you want your products,
31:52bamboo toothbrushes,
31:53and straws,
31:54and other locally made products
31:57to be protected by the government?
31:59So that's one of the policies.
32:00I believe that I am pushing it.
32:02Like you mentioned,
32:03for example,
32:04there is a time-specific innovation
32:06that we saw a potential
32:09made by the Philippines.
32:11We are going to limit.
32:13For example,
32:14right now,
32:15my proposal is
32:16it should be 40%
32:17of that kind of product
32:18in that industry.
32:19For example,
32:20we don't want to monopolize.
32:21For example,
32:22in the toothbrush industry,
32:24it should be 60%
32:26if it's already available locally.
32:28It should be 60%
32:29of that supply chain.
32:30For example,
32:31we are around 70,
32:32the number of toothbrushes
32:34used in the Philippines
32:35is around,
32:36let's say,
32:37around 80 million.
32:39So the 40% per quarter
32:41or around 360,
32:43around 280 million
32:45per annually
32:46that we use
32:47toothbrushes in the Philippines.
32:48So we are lobbying also
32:50a 64C,
32:51a 64T
32:52that will enter the Philippines.
32:53For example,
32:54280 million,
32:5540% of that
32:56will be imported
32:57and 60%
32:58should be locally made.
32:59Until such time,
33:00those innovations
33:01in the Philippines
33:02can easily compete
33:03in the market.
33:04And then such time,
33:05we can,
33:06you know,
33:07like rice,
33:08we have a cup.
33:09That's one of the policies
33:11that we are lobbying
33:13in order to support
33:15Filipino innovation
33:17so that they can
33:19mainstream in the market.
33:21Because you're right,
33:22it's really hard
33:23to compete
33:24with the kind of policy
33:25that we can have
33:26is basically,
33:27we can control
33:28and we can really support
33:29our very own.
33:30And one thing
33:31that we are doing now
33:32is we have
33:33what we call
33:34sandbox.
33:35For example,
33:36you have an innovation
33:37that is made of bamboo
33:39and then there are
33:40many regulations.
33:41For example,
33:42in the FDA
33:43or in the DNR,
33:44it's one of our sandboxes
33:45that with your first
33:46or one to three years
33:47of your operation,
33:48you will be exempted
33:50of those government
33:51regulations
33:52in order to
33:53move forward
33:54so that your focus
33:55is really to scale
33:56your product.
33:57Our goal also is
33:58to automate.
33:59What we are doing
34:00now in Babuhay,
34:01we have around
34:025,000 square meter
34:03facility
34:04and we are automating
34:05all our processes
34:06just to give way
34:07to our
34:08Philippine innovator
34:10to prepare
34:13and to focus
34:17in their scale
34:19because it's because
34:20of those regulations.
34:21That's why
34:22the expansion
34:23or scale
34:24of businesses
34:25is happening.
34:26So we have that kind
34:27of policies
34:28in order
34:29to move forward
34:31with
34:32international
34:33innovation councils.
34:34We are rooting
34:35for that now
34:36hopefully.
34:37I think the president
34:38and the other members
34:39will really support it.
34:40So there's no pushback
34:42against that
34:43because of course
34:44anytime you protect
34:45local products,
34:46that would go against
34:47the principles
34:48of free trade,
34:49right?
34:50The free flow
34:51of trade
34:52but you create
34:53barriers
34:54to imports
34:55in a way.
34:56What we are looking
34:57at here
34:58is really
34:59to protect
35:00our environment
35:01because the more
35:02you import,
35:03the higher
35:04the carbon emission.
35:05And I think
35:06it's not really
35:07a barrier
35:08but basically
35:09it is an opportunity
35:10for exporter
35:11and importer
35:12products
35:13because I think
35:14there's a lot
35:15of country
35:16still
35:17for example,
35:18Bamboo.
35:20So there's a lot
35:21of work.
35:23But it's all
35:24about protecting
35:25our economy
35:26so that we can
35:27provide more
35:28jobs
35:29and we can
35:30provide
35:33that we still
35:34have in order
35:35to reduce our
35:36carbon emissions
35:37to 60% locally
35:38and then 40%
35:39import.
35:42In order to
35:43hamper the
35:44business
35:45but basically
35:46in order to
35:47protect our
35:48environment
35:49if we don't
35:50have a planet
35:51we're nothing.
35:53That's why it's called
35:54fair trade
35:55as opposed to
35:56just free trade
35:57which is often
35:58unfair to
35:59smaller countries.
36:00We really need to
36:01go for fair trade
36:02because it's really
36:03a pity.
36:04If we go for
36:05free trade
36:06it's a pity
36:07for those who are
36:08not capitalists
36:09or our innovators
36:10because they won't
36:11succeed.
36:12So we really need
36:13to protect our
36:14innovators.
36:15You got your degree
36:16in food technology
36:19and much of
36:20the food in the
36:21Philippines
36:23is sold in
36:24plastic packaging.
36:26You go to a
36:27supermarket
36:28everything is
36:29plastic.
36:31Even if you buy
36:32from the market
36:33it's wrapped in
36:34plastic.
36:35What's the solution
36:36to that?
36:37That's a huge
36:38source of plastic
36:39waste.
36:40What we're doing
36:41in Bambuhay right now
36:42that's part of our
36:43product innovation
36:44is making a
36:45transparent bamboo
36:46product.
36:47We call it
36:48a transparent
36:49plant-based
36:50material
36:51to replace
36:52plastic.
36:53I don't want to
36:54call it eco-friendly
36:55plastic because
36:56there's no such
36:57thing as eco-friendly
36:58plastic.
36:59It is a
37:00plant-based
37:01packaging.
37:02We're looking
37:03forward to
37:04launching it
37:05in two to
37:06three years
37:07time.
37:08The bamboo
37:09has a
37:10beautiful
37:11starch component
37:12and it's
37:13our
37:14personal
37:15that's in
37:16our company
37:17as our
37:18capacity.
37:19We are
37:20pushing also
37:21like for example
37:22what I said
37:23a while ago
37:24that we have
37:25Philippine Innovation
37:26Awards to
37:27encourage more
37:28Filipino to
37:29innovate something
37:30for us to
37:31support.
37:32The premium
37:33of the Philippine
37:34Innovation Award
37:35is around
37:36P5,000 to P10,000.
37:37We're just
37:38finalizing
37:39how much
37:40we'll give
37:41as a grant
37:42so I think
37:43that's one way
37:44also to encourage
37:45more innovator
37:46in the Philippines
37:47to really
37:48address the
37:49problem in
37:50the plastic
37:51sector.
37:52And now
37:53one of my
37:54innovations
37:55I think
37:56we call it
37:57automated
37:58water machine.
37:59That's the
38:00concept there.
38:01But what we
38:02did here
38:03now, what
38:04we're studying
38:05is we'll
38:06put the
38:07soy sauce
38:08condiments,
38:09etc.
38:10in a machine
38:11to refill.
38:12Similar
38:13with the
38:14concept of
38:15automated
38:16water machine
38:17especially in
38:18Cebu.
38:19Basically
38:20we can really
38:21provide a
38:22better
38:23alternative
38:24but I think
38:25for me
38:26it's really
38:27need to bring
38:28back.
38:29I think
38:30how we
38:31experienced
38:32that
38:33when we
38:34were kids
38:35when our
38:36mom told
38:37us to
38:38buy soy
38:39sauce,
38:40I think
38:41we can
38:42reduce.
38:43Okay.
38:44I want
38:45to shift
38:46gears a little
38:47bit.
38:48I watched
38:49one of your
38:50speeches at
38:51an international
38:52forum.
38:53You were
38:54wearing a
38:55salakot.
38:56Yeah,
38:57that's
38:58bamboo.
38:59You were
39:00wearing a
39:01barong and
39:02a salakot.
39:03Tell us
39:04about that.
39:05What was
39:06the thinking
39:07behind deciding
39:08to wear a
39:09salakot?
39:10I always
39:11do that
39:12because I
39:13think the
39:14symbolism,
39:15that's what
39:16we can do.
39:17We can show
39:18how great
39:19bamboo is.
39:20That's what
39:21I always do.
39:22Because
39:23we want to
39:24represent our
39:25farmer that
39:26we should
39:27value more
39:28with our
39:29farmer.
39:30I think
39:31that kind
39:32of opportunity
39:33that silent
39:34hut really
39:35represent
39:36me as a
39:37farmer and
39:38as an
39:39entrepreneur.
39:40Obviously,
39:41you're not
39:42just a
39:43bamboo
39:44entrepreneur,
39:45but you're
39:46also a
39:47communicator.
39:48You're
39:49trying to
39:50communicate
39:51all of
39:52these values
39:53and new
39:54ways of
39:55thinking.
39:56How important
39:57is your
39:58personal
39:59branding?
40:00Your online
40:01presence?
40:02You're a
40:03millennial.
40:04What are
40:05your strategies?
40:06I think
40:07it's
40:08important
40:09to share
40:10it to the
40:11people that
40:12as a
40:13farmer,
40:14it's
40:15important.
40:16And I
40:17think,
40:18should I
40:19say,
40:20that if
40:21you have
40:22something,
40:23share it
40:24to the
40:25people,
40:26and prove
40:27to the
40:28people that
40:29there is
40:30something
40:31with that
40:32kind of
40:33thing.
40:34With
40:35that
40:36kind
40:37of
40:38thing.
40:39Maniwala
40:40sila o hindi
40:41sayo,
40:42just share
40:43it.
40:44Okay,
40:45finally,
40:46Mark,
40:47advice for
40:48young people.
40:49What do
40:50you advise
40:51young people
40:52who go to
40:53you?
40:54Wag
40:55nating
40:56isipin
40:57lage na may
40:58hadlang
40:59dun sa
41:00mga
41:01pangarap
41:02natin.
41:03For
41:04example,
41:05if
41:06you're
41:07working
41:08in a
41:09business,
41:10you
41:11can
41:12get out
41:13from
41:14all of
41:15this
41:16poverty
41:17thing.
41:18Being
41:19an employee
41:20is okay,
41:21but if
41:22you really
41:23want to
41:24help other
41:25people,
41:26if you
41:27really
41:28want for
41:29your family
41:30to be
41:31out of
41:32poverty,
41:33I think
41:34pag-dinegosyo
41:35talaga,
41:36yung isa sa
41:37pinaka,
41:38okay,
41:39pinaka
41:40solusyon.
41:41Kasi like
41:42nung sinimulan
41:43ko yung
41:44kumpanya,
41:45I have only
41:4610,000 pesos
41:47and I
41:48grew up
41:49it now
41:50to millions
41:51of pesos.
41:52But still,
41:53at maniwala
41:54kayo sa
41:55sarili nyo,
41:56okay,
41:57maniwala
41:58kayo dun.
41:59Kung may
42:00idea kayo,
42:01showcase it,
42:02okay,
42:03maraming salamat
42:04Mark sa iyong
42:05mga advocacy
42:06at sa iyong
42:07servisyo publiko.
42:08Good luck on
42:09all your endeavors.
42:10Mark,
42:11her
42:12SAVA
42:13Social Entrepreneur
42:14TOYM
42:15awardee
42:16at Bamboo
42:17Advocate,
42:18magbuhay ka.
42:19Maraming salamat,
42:20Howie.
42:21Hi, I'm
42:22Howie Severino.
42:23Check out the
42:24Howie Severino
42:25podcast.
42:26New episodes
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42:29Listen for free
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42:33and Google Play.
42:34I'm Howie Severino.
42:35I'll see you next
42:36week.
42:37Bye.
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43:00Bye.