- Published on Sunday, 02 December 2012 16:27
- Written by Rizal Raoul Reyes / Correspondent
MATIMCO,
the former Mactan Timber Co., will celebrate its golden anniversary in
2014. But it is more than just a simple celebration, as its President
and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Liu will also be a “golden boy” in
2014. That he and the company have reached this milestone makes Liu very
proud as the company, and perhaps even he also, is a product of his
father Lim Liu’s hard work, dedication and perseverance to fulfill his
dream to become an entrepreneur despite the tremendous odds he faced
during his youth.
Liu credits his
parents for their upbringing. All the Liu children are successful
entrepreneurs in Cebu. His older brother runs the popular Penshoppe
brand.
In a
recent interview with the BusinessMirror, Liu says Matimco is very
special to him because this was the place where he learned to become an
entrepreneur, with his father as his sifu (mentor)
“He’s the real inspiration behind the company. He’s my idol, and I am very proud of his achievements,” says Liu.
The
son was given the opportunity to rise when his father suffered a stroke
in 1981. By that time, the son had undergone the proper training to
take over the company, assuring everyone that Matimco would be in good
hands.
What is in store for Matimco as it celebrates its 50th year in 2014?
“It’s
a special celebration because many businesses don’t last that long.
Matimco was started by my father in 1964, the year I was born. On a
personal level, it is an added significance. The founding of Matimco is
significant because my father built the business from humble beginnings.
More than looking at Matimco as a family-run enterprise, you have developed a strong attachment to your firm. Why is that?
I
have developed a strong attachment to the company because I’ve been
working with the company since I was 16 years old. I started as a
messenger, collector, and sometimes I work as a helper in the factory
when needed. After graduating from high school, I continued to work with
Matimco until I finished my BS Management degree at San Carlos
University as a working student.
You said your father was not just the head of the family but was an inspiration to you all, can you tell us why?
My
father, Lim Liu, really started from scratch and is the perfect example
of a rags-to-riches story. He did not have a good start in his initial
salvo as a businessman. His soap-making business went bankrupt after six
months. However, the failure didn’t deter my father to pursue his goal
of becoming a businessman.
While
contemplating his next move, my father received an invitation from one
of his long-time friends informing him the need for a saw doctor for a
saw mill in Cebu. A saw doctor is an expert engaged in the sharpening of
saw blades.
Coming
from a poor family in Cagayan de Oro, he only managed to finish Grade
Four. He had also to endure the hardships when the Japanese invaded the
Philippines. The Japanese soldiers captured my father and the other
boys in the neighborhood to work for them. They were forced to climb
coconut trees for the food requirements of the Japanese soldiers.
During
the Liberation period, my father worked as an assistant mechanic for
the Americans and, at the same time, engaged in trading goods with
them. With his earnings, he was able to buy a jeepney and became the
first Filipino-Chinese jeepney driver in Cagayan de Oro.
How did your father develop and grow the business?
With
just a banig, GI boots, shorts, shirt and a letter of recommendation,
my father went to Cebu and found work at that sawmill. While working at
the sawmill, he observed that there was a lot of wastage because the
workers were not recycling the scrap materials. He developed an idea on
how to use the scrap materials for other purposes.
When
he decided to go on his own, my father engaged in the manufacturing of
soft and beer cases from the scraps of wood. He followed up by putting
an affiliate sawmill factory in Cagayan de Oro. Five years after,
Mandaue Timber Co. ventured into subcontracting for major lumber
exporters while diversifying into kiln-dried wood processing.
With
his passion and commitment to grow the business, Mactan Timber Co.
expanded its reach by establishing a wood-processing company in Cagayan
de Oro. In 1974 the company was renamed Matimco. By
1984 Matimco developed a strong presence in Luzon through the
acquisition of Kingsway Enterprises Corp., now known as Matimco Quezon
City branch. In 1997 Matimco moved into its new well-appointed office in
Mandaue City, Cebu.
Today Matimco
Inc. and its affiliate companies run the largest wood-processing
operation in the country, with over 300 employees producing more than
500 products. With a network of over 2,000 dealers all over the
country, Matimco by far has the largest and the most expansive
timber-distribution network in the nation.
Describe Matimco’s corporate social responsibility program.
Live
and breathe wood. It is natural for the company to pursue a
wood-centric program for our corporate philanthropy program. Right
now, we have a 50-hectare project in Naga, Cebu, for our reforestation
program. It is the company’s third project. When we fill up the
plantation, we turn it over to the community for agro-forestry
livelihood program. By the time you grow the old trees, the younger ones
would be harvested next. We also teach the stakeholders to diversify by
planting other crops to make the soil fertile.
We
are also teaching them vermicide in an area with 70 families living
there. In a way, our advocacy is not only the commercialization of wood
but also the correct management of wood resources.
What is your view on commercial logging?
Commercial
logging is not bad per se as perceived by some quarters. It plays a key
role in the life cycle of a tree. The role of commercial loggers is to
replace the mature trees. When trees become mature (30 years and
above), they cannot absorb a huge amount of water. This means larger
amounts of water would come down from the mountain.
At
this stage, the younger trees could replace the mature ones to ensure a
balanced ecosystem. Furthermore, we encourage upland planters to plant
smaller crops around the areas to ensure the fertility of the soil.
Actually,
we should be viewed in a positive way. Timber could be a very good
resource against climate change and also a good asset for livelihood.
We
have to be passionate in an educated manner and the reason is to balance
out that perspective. I believe the government should put up the
necessary infrastructure to encourage the private sector to join
reforestation programs. No one would be interested to go into the
mountains just to plant trees. There has to be some program to
encourage them to work and manage the system.
What is your leadership principle?
Although
a leader may have authority to rule, I believe a leader must also earn
the respect of his followers. Earning respect is a different matter.
Authority may be awarded to you but respect must be earned. Any leader
knows that credibility is important. You can only be respected if they
see you have qualities of a good leader.
I’m
also a strong believer in character building, because this develops the
individual’s values, principles and virtues. Having a strong faith in
God is also on top of our list.
I
also give a strong emphasis on integrity, especially in our dealings
with customers and employees, as well. You can lose money but you
cannot lose your reputation.
In Photo: Matimco President and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Liu
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