U-BIX Chairman and CEO Edilberto B. Bravo: The King of Hearts (and Paper)

MANILA, Philippines — On paper, U-BIX founder, Chairman, and CEO Atty. Edilberto B. Bravo is intimidating. Prior to our round-table interview, this writer was given pages of materials about the man, his family, and the legacy he has built, transcending the paper and copier business he started in 1968 with his wife, Dr. Felina Bravo.

But this is where this intimidation ends: on paper (pun intended). In real life, across the table over cups of coffee and cheese rolls, Atty. Bert Bravo is cheerful, humble, and loving — not only towards his family and his staff, but even towards us journalists, some of whom he met for the first time. He was fatherly and godfatherly, whose energy you always want to be around.

U-BIX is celebrating their 50th year this February 12 at Dusit Thani Manila. Their anniversary celebration is dubbed “50 Years of Leadership Through Service: Honoring Our History. Honoring Our Core Values and Our Future.” They honor everyone who has been part of their past, present, and future — employees, customers, and partners.

Their first 50 years were driven by the spirit of innovation and inspired leadership. What will the next 50 years bring?

In the two hours of this interview, we went through 50 years of U-BIX and so much more with Chairman and CEO Atty. Edilberto B. Bravo. Here are all the “stops” we made in that two-hour journey that was rich with laughter, in Atty. Bravo’s words.

As soon as Atty. Bravo took his seat across from us, we immediately waxed nostalgic about the beginnings of U-BIX. Looking around us, with his own building and a hardworking team supporting him, we asked him if this was what he envisioned when they started with Bookhaven, Inc. in February 1968.

“It was a long and difficult journey, but with my passion and God’s help, I am pleased to say that I have successfully measured up to my vision,” he began.

For those who are learning about Atty. Bravo’s story for the first time, his journey as an entrepreneur started with a capital of P2,000. In order to make it work, he and wife Dr. Bravo complemented their financial resources with grit, hard work, and resourcefulness. The Bravos were employees, but through working on the business