Prime Global Corp. heirs Alfonso, Alexone Hortaleza recall starting from the bottom of the family biz and working their way up

Despite being heirs to businesses that their parents Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza founded, Alfonso and Alexone Hortaleza didn’t take shortcuts to success.

In fact, they would be first to proudly tell you about starting from the bottom and buiding their careers from there.

“Power Talks with Pia Arcangel” returns with a new season and on its first episode, the Hortaleza brothers recalled their early experiences in the family business, growing up in the Valenzuela plant that manufactured beauty products of their parents' former business, Splash Corporation.

"In the early years of my life, we were living inside the plant," Alfonso said in the podcast.

“I really remember eating, playing around with all the employees, all the manufacturing,” he shared. “So, we grew up with that environment.”

Their early years gave them firsthand exposure to the business because they were required to start from the bottom, Alfonso and Alexone explained.

Alfonso recalled going on van rides and selling products directly to sari-sari stores. “Sa loob ng isang truck, it's filled with our inventory. On the spot, bebentahan mo sila,” he said.

On the other hand, Alexone began as a Brand Associate for SkinWhite before becoming a production supervisor, production planner, production manager, and eventually, the manufacturing head.

Speaking about that experience, Alexone said, “It was the right choice,” having been able to be exposed to all departments of the business.

“We were instilled kasi [that] working hard would have results,” Afonso added.

“So, with my parents, they worked hard for such a long time. We saw the fruits [of] their labor, and ganun din ‘yung [tinuro] sa amin.”

The Hortaleza family sold Splash Corporation in 2019 and their remaining business, Barrio Fiesta Manufacturing, was transformed into what is now Prime Global Corporation.

Alfonso is the president and chief operating officer of Prime Global Finance Corporation, while Alexone leads as the president of Prime Global Corporation.

Through Prime Global, the siblings relaunched their personal care line, Hortaleza MD, and the haircare brand, Hair MD.

New episodes of “Power Talks with Pia Arcangel” stream every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all GMA Integrated News social media platforms. — Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA Integrated News