A farm visit to CLA Farm in Rizal, Laguna reveals the ambitious journey of Clarence, a young electrical engineer who traded circuit boards for cultivation beds.

“As an engineer, it’s technical, there’s data. I went to hydroponics. It’s more of a controlled environment. When you make mistakes, you’ll know why.”
— Clarence, 27, Founder of CLA Farm

The greenhouse stands tall in Rizal, Laguna—elevated, expansive, and engineered with precision. Inside, 7,000 plant sites await their first crop, organized in neat NFT channels and innovative “Christmas tree” vertical systems. This is CLA Farm, the ambitious venture of Clarence, a 27-year-old electrical engineer who’s betting big on hydroponic agriculture.

From Gaming to Growing
By day, Clarence works in game marketing for a BGC company. His favorite game? Valorant. But his real passion project unfolds in this 150-square-meter greenhouse, where his engineering mindset meets agricultural innovation. When asked what drew him to farming, Clarence reflects on his career journey from electrical engineering to business. His initial foray into traditional agriculture—growing peppers and string beans—left him frustrated with uncontrollable variables. As someone who thrived on technical data and precision, he needed something different.
That’s when he discovered hydroponics. The controlled environment appealed to his analytical nature, offering the kind of measurable outcomes he craved. When you make mistakes in hydroponics, you can trace them back to specific causes. For an engineer accustomed to troubleshooting circuits and systems, this was the perfect marriage of agriculture and technology. The curiosity that made him tinker with gadgets now found expression in pH levels, nutrient solutions, and climate control systems.

Starting Small, Thinking Big
Clarence’s hydroponic journey began modestly with a small square greenhouse featuring around 350 plant sites—a combination of NFT pipes in the center and Kratky method styrofoam boxes around the perimeter. This wasn’t a commercial operation but essentially a research laboratory where he could experiment freely. Each week brought new parameters to test, new variables to adjust, new data to analyze. The setup was decidedly DIY, complete with aquarium pumps and homemade solutions to various challenges. Heat was a constant problem. Leafminers appeared, leaving telltale lines on the leaves—Clarence simply pinched them off.
Despite the amateur setup and experimental nature of the operation, something unexpected happened: demand found him before he was ready for it. A samgyupsal restaurant approached him wanting to purchase lettuce—30 to 40 heads daily. Even in his data collection phase, the market was hungry for fresh, locally-grown hydroponic produce. But Clarence could only supply about ten percent of their requirements, maybe once a week from his small farm. The client eventually moved to a supplier who could meet their full demand.

Don Fernando Algozo, the experienced greenhouse builder who would later partner with Clarence, frames this early setback differently. In most businesses, the problem is lack of customers and declining sales. Clarence had the opposite problem—too much demand and insufficient capacity. This “good problem” planted the seed for what would eventually become CLA Farm. The market was there, waiting. He just needed to scale up to meet it.

Building the Dream
The decision to build a proper commercial greenhouse didn’t come lightly. Clarence saved up while continuing his day job in game marketing, carefully planning every aspect of the new facility. He partnered with Alfrea Greenhouse Systems, led by Don Fernando Algozo, whose three years of growing experience provided valuable insights. Together, they designed a greenhouse that incorporated lessons from multiple farms and addressed the shortcomings of Clarence’s first attempt.
The 150-square-meter structure reflects careful engineering throughout. The height is immediately noticeable—significantly taller than many commercial greenhouses. The elevation improves humidity management and airflow, critical factors in Laguna’s climate, while also allowing workers to walk underneath the elevated growing tables to access the other side. For maintenance and harvesting, this seemingly small detail saves countless hours. The site itself presented challenges, as the lot had a natural slope that required substantial backfilling to create a level growing area.

In a stroke of fortunate timing, Clarence learned that a friend’s property was being developed into an Alfamart convenience store, generating excess soil that needed removal. Instead of paying for dump trucks and purchased fill material, Clarence arranged to take the soil for free and transported it himself using a closed van from his family’s poultry operation. It was tedious, backbreaking work, but the cost savings were substantial. The backfilled foundation now elevates the greenhouse, preventing water accumulation and ensuring excellent drainage even during heavy rains.

Engineering Excellence in Every Detail
Walk through CLA Farm and the engineering touches become apparent everywhere you look. The NFT channels feature removable lids for easy cleaning, but with a critical specification that most growers might overlook. Each lid is paired to its specific channel because the manufacturing cuts in China vary slightly between pieces. Mixing them up could create gaps where the sections connect, potentially causing leaks or flow problems. The channels themselves maintain a precise one-inch elevation difference from end to end, creating a gradual slope that keeps water flowing without excessive pressure. Too steep, and the rushing water would carry plant roots along with it, destabilizing the crops. Too flat, and water wouldn’t reach all plants evenly.

Climate control relies on a sophisticated yet simple system. Six circulating fans positioned throughout the greenhouse work in zones, each controlled independently based on readings from multiple hygrometers. The fans don’t run continuously but operate in short bursts of approximately three minutes, just long enough to stabilize temperature in their designated area. The roof design incorporates wide mesh openings that allow hot air to escape rapidly while keeping insects out. Combined with intake fans at one end and exhaust fans at the other, this creates effective air circulation that prevents heat buildup—one of the biggest challenges in tropical greenhouse farming.

At the heart of the system sits a 4,500-liter reservoir that holds the nutrient solution. This substantial volume isn’t just about capacity—larger water volumes maintain more stable temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, creating a more forgiving system that won’t crash if something goes wrong for a few hours. A Fresh and Grow unit will be installed to remove chlorine from the municipal water supply while simultaneously cooling the water and increasing dissolved oxygen levels through agitation. The Christmas tree vertical systems add another dimension, literally. These A-frame structures maximize space utilization, potentially adding 3,000 more plant sites to the 4,000 on the horizontal tables. Every element of the design serves multiple purposes—the elevation that aids drainage also improves working conditions; the height that enhances airflow also simplifies maintenance.

The Investment Reality
When asked about costs, there’s a moment of hesitation before Clarence confirms the number: over one million pesos. This figure represents materials only, with no markup for labor or profit to the builder. Don Fernando explains that Clarence provided funds progressively as construction advanced, paying only for actual materials purchased and installed. This transparency between builder and client established trust that carried through the months-long construction process.
Breaking down that investment reveals where the money goes in a serious commercial hydroponic operation. The greenhouse structure itself—frame, covering, foundation—represents a significant portion. Then come the NFT channels and all their precisely manufactured components, imported from China and designed for durability and performance. The reservoir, plumbing, pumps, filters, and water treatment systems add more. Climate control equipment including fans, hygrometers, and electrical systems contribute their share. Even small items like connectors, adhesives, and fasteners accumulate quickly when you’re building at this scale.

The backfill work, had Clarence paid market rates for soil and delivery, could have added tens of thousands more to the total. His resourcefulness in securing free material and providing his own transport labor kept this cost off the books. Similarly, by working with Don Fernando on a materials-only basis rather than a turnkey contract, he avoided markup costs that would have pushed the project well beyond the million-peso threshold. For aspiring growers, these numbers provide crucial context for business planning and capital requirements.

The Market Challenge Ahead
Production capacity means nothing without markets to absorb it. Don Fernando speaks from experience about the harsh realities of selling hydroponic produce. In his three years of growing, he’s encountered buyers who take lettuce and never pay, or who pay but only after aggressive haggling that slashes margins to unsustainable levels. Premium quality doesn’t always command premium prices when buyers can find cheaper alternatives, even if the quality doesn’t compare.

Their strategy aims for 30 pesos per cup for premium quality lettuce. This price point reflects the true costs of producing high-quality hydroponic vegetables in a state-of-the-art facility. It accounts for the capital investment that must be recovered, the ongoing operational expenses for electricity and nutrients, the labor for cultivation and harvesting, and the inevitable losses and learning curves that any agricultural operation faces. Going lower risks making the entire venture economically unviable, turning a promising business into an expensive hobby.
The challenge is finding buyers who understand and appreciate the value proposition. Hydroponic lettuce offers advantages: consistent quality, year-round availability, reduced pesticide use, and often superior taste and texture compared to field-grown alternatives. Restaurants, hotels, and upscale grocers typically recognize these benefits and accept appropriate pricing. The mass market can be tougher, more price-sensitive, and quicker to substitute cheaper options. Clarence will need to navigate these market dynamics while maintaining volume sufficient to justify his seven-thousand-plant capacity.

Wisdom Beyond Years
At 27, Clarence displays a maturity and business sense that belies his youth. When discussing his peers who spend their time partying and pursuing luxuries, there’s no judgment in his voice—just an acknowledgment that he’s chosen a different path. The greenhouse represents delayed gratification on a massive scale: money saved instead of spent, weekends working instead of relaxing, risks taken when safer options existed. Clarence continues his marketing job even as CLA Farm takes shape because he understands that businesses require ongoing investment beyond initial capital.
His advice for aspiring growers cuts to the core issue he sees in the industry: find a proper mentor who can genuinely teach you. Too many self-proclaimed experts lack either the experience or the teaching ability to truly help newcomers succeed. The agricultural education landscape is crowded with gurus who haven’t completed formal training themselves but confidently dispense advice that may or may not prove sound.
Clarence emphasizes transparency as essential to any business relationship. Don Fernando’s willingness to discuss problems openly as they arose, rather than hiding issues until they became crises, built trust throughout the construction process. When setbacks occurred, both parties could address them collaboratively rather than adversarially. Many agricultural startups fail not because the farming doesn’t work but because the farmer runs out of money before the business matures, and having the right partner who communicates honestly makes all the difference.

The Journey Continues
As our farm visit concludes, CLA Farm stands on the threshold of operation. The infrastructure is complete, engineered and built to professional standards. The next phases—installing final equipment, germinating seeds, establishing growing protocols, and connecting with markets—will determine whether this venture becomes a thriving business or an expensive lesson. But the foundation, both literal and figurative, inspires confidence.

Clarence’s journey from a small experimental greenhouse with aquarium pumps to this sophisticated seven-thousand-plant facility happened in just a few years. The evolution reflects learning from mistakes, scaling thoughtfully rather than recklessly, and applying engineering discipline to agricultural challenges. His story resonates because it’s not about inherited wealth or lucky breaks—it’s about a young professional who identified an opportunity, educated himself, saved money, found good partners, and executed a plan.

When asked what to name his farm, Clarence settles on CLA Farm—drawn from his nickname, coincidentally similar to Mercedes-Benz’s CLA series. The name choice reflects his personality: straightforward, a bit playful, and uniquely his own. The farm isn’t trying to be something it’s not; it’s simply and confidently itself, much like its young owner.

For the broader agricultural community, particularly young Filipinos considering farming as a career, Clarence’s example offers hope and a roadmap. You don’t need to come from farming families or own vast tracts of land. What you need is curiosity, discipline, willingness to learn, and the patience to build systematically toward a goal. Start small, experiment, gather data, save capital, find mentors, scale thoughtfully, and maintain perspective when inevitable challenges arise.

The next generation of Philippine agriculture might look more like Clarence than like traditional farmers—urban professionals bringing technical expertise to growing food, applying engineering and business principles to cultivation, and bridging the gap between technology and tradition. As climate change and population growth place increasing pressure on food systems, these innovative approaches to farming become not just interesting but essential.

As we say our goodbyes, Clarence returns to checking details on his greenhouse, already thinking ahead to the next steps. CLA Farm hasn’t grown its first commercial crop yet, but it’s already succeeded in one crucial way: it exists. Many dreams remain dreams; Clarence turned his into concrete, steel, and PVC channels filled with possibility. His greenhouse stands ready, his systems engineered, his resolve tested and proven. The first crop will tell us how well theory translates to practice, but the real success is already visible—he built it, and the market is waiting, hungry for what he’s preparing to grow.

“When I like doing something, I see to it that I study it well. Not just do it. It can’t be just like this. The product I produce needs to be good.” — Jason Sarmiento

In the shadow of Mount Banahaw, where corn fields stretch across the landscape of Candelaria, Quezon, Jason Sarmiento is rewriting the rules of hydroponic farming.

The former telecommunications engineer turned hydroponic grower has become something of a local legend—not just for his daily vlogs that inspire thousands, but for his almost obsessive commitment to excellence.

“It can’t be just like this,” Sarmiento explains, standing amid rows of pristine Maritima lettuce. “The product I produce needs to be good. It needs to be presentable, something that can be sold properly.”

The Unlikely Journey

Sarmiento’s path to farming was neither planned nor conventional. A computer engineering graduate, he spent six years with Huawei Philippines as a data communications engineer before heading to Bahrain as an OFW. The corporate grind eventually wore him down.

“I got tired of corporate life,” he admits. When his mother fell ill in 2022, he returned home with plans to trade cryptocurrency. But staring at screens all day left him feeling hollow. “There’s no physical activity. It’s like I’ll die soon because I have no exercise.”

So he tried planting. What began as a hobby quickly evolved into something more serious—much more serious.

The Perfectionist’s Approach

What sets Sarmiento apart isn’t just his engineering background—it’s his refusal to accept mediocrity. When he started in December 2022, he didn’t sell a single head of lettuce for three to four months.

This philosophy extends to every aspect of his operation. When his first bamboo greenhouse—standing only eight feet tall—proved too hot for optimal growth, he didn’t make excuses. He rebuilt it at sixteen feet. When the standard greenhouse setup didn’t maximize his space, he designed a moving NFT channel system that produces 960 heads in just 48 square meters—yielding 20 heads per square meter.

“When they grow, I adjust them to the right space,” Sarmiento explains. “Because what lettuce really needs is space. They won’t grow if they’re really stuck together.” It’s labor-intensive work, moving channels one by one as plants mature. But for Sarmiento, the results justify the effort.

When Variety Selection Changes Everything

Jason’s most significant cultivation decision involved switching from Olmetie to Maritima lettuce variety in October of the previous year. This change resulted from careful observation of performance differences and customer feedback analysis.

Since implementing Maritima, pest pressure has virtually disappeared from his operation. Previous summers with Olmetie brought significant white fly infestations and subsequent plant stunting. The same conditions with Maritima produced no comparable pest issues.

Performance metrics demonstrate Maritima’s advantages: consistent harvests at 36-37 days from seed, with individual heads weighing 120-150 grams. The variety shows resilience across varying weather conditions, maintaining quality during both sunny and rainy periods.

The Science of Success

Ask Sarmiento about his secret, and his answer is refreshingly straightforward: “Regularly check your EC and pH.”

It’s the engineer in him speaking—measure, measure, measure. While some growers rely on intuition or luck, Sarmiento treats farming as the science it is.

“Hydroponics is science-based, so in science, there are meters, so let’s use them if you want your plant growth to become competitive,” he insists. “If it’s not in the right range, no matter what you do, it won’t grow like this.”

The proof is in his greenhouse. His Maritima lettuce—uniform, vibrant, and no yellow patches. No stunted growth. Just row after row of picture-perfect lettuce.

The Daily Discipline of Observation

Sarmiento’s greenhouse management operates on a different frequency—one tuned not to rigid schedules but to the subtle language of temperature, humidity, and plant behavior. Where conventional wisdom dictates deploying shade nets at 10 AM sharp, Jason steps into his greenhouse and feels. Some mornings, the heat builds with unusual aggression, and shade goes up at 8 AM. Other days, the standard timing holds. His misting system embodies the same intuitive precision: a mere 10 to 15 seconds of activation, triggered not by timer but by the first whisper of plant stress.

But don’t mistake intuition for guesswork. Jason’s irrigation timing dances with the seasons—thirty minutes on, fifteen off during daylight in cooler weather, then inverted at night to forty-five minutes off, fifteen on. It’s a rhythm that defies the common practice of shutting down pumps after dark. “I want to prevent the roots from drying out at night,” he explains, understanding what many miss: that respiration doesn’t sleep, that growth happens in darkness, that roots need oxygen even when photosynthesis pauses. The engineer in him measures everything twice. The farmer in him knows when to trust what can’t be measured at all.

Space as Strategy

“The inside of a greenhouse is for planting, not for touring,” Jason declares, unapologetic. Every centimeter surrendered to comfort is a centimeter stolen from production. This ruthless space allocation delivers 20 heads per square meter—nearly double what conventional layouts achieve. The real genius reveals itself in motion: as lettuce matures, Jason physically shifts entire NFT channels, choreographing a slow dance of spacing adjustments. It’s backbreaking work, moving 960 plants incrementally through their life cycle. But this mobile system achieves the impossible—maximum density without sacrificing individual plant development.

Even waste becomes a strategy. Those three-ounce plastic cups holding his seedlings? They cost 20 centavos and never come back. The expensive net pots he tried first? “They’d say they’ll bring them back, but only return a few,” he recalls with a rueful smile. The disposable cups win on three fronts: cheaper upfront, use less coco peat, and let roots emerge faster into the nutrient solution. The channels themselves slope precisely—one inch drop per forty inches—engineered for perfect nutrient film flow. It’s the engineer’s mind finding elegance in disposability, turning every constraint into calculated advantage.

The Customer-First Philosophy

When clients call, any hour, any circumstance, Jason moves. Not because he’s desperate for sales, but because he’s built something rarer than perfect lettuce: perfect reliability. “When I earn, and the person I sold to uses it in their business and earns too,” he says, articulating an economics of mutual prosperity that sounds almost naive until you see it working. Jason doesn’t just deliver lettuce—he learns businesses. He asks about menu changes, foot traffic, weekend rushes. Some might call it being tsismoso, a gossip. Jason calls it relationship-building. His customers become advocates not because his lettuce is cheaper, but because he’s become invested in their success.

The quality obsession feeds everything else. From his first harvest, Jason refused to sell anything less than pristine—no yellow patches, no stunting, just relentless consistency. “First impressions last with clients,” he notes. Two hundred heads every other day, without fail. Standards that never slip. Flexibility when timing matters but never at quality’s expense. It’s a business model built on the radical idea that excellence plus reliability creates its own demand. In Jason’s world, the product opens doors. The service keeps them open.

Building A Community

Despite running what he modestly calls a “backyard farm,” Sarmiento has become a hub in the hydroponic community. His daily vlogs draw devoted followers who wait for his updates. He’s created a group where growers help each other, share knowledge, and troubleshoot problems together.

His greenhouse installations, done in collaboration with Silver Greenhouse and Virgilio Montes, have become models of practical design. And his willingness to share both successes and failures has made him a trusted voice in the industry.
Apart from that, his relationship-building approach extends beyond simple delivery transactions. Jason invests time understanding each customer’s business requirements, operational challenges, and quality expectations. This deeper engagement creates trust-based partnerships that generate referrals and expand his customer network.

Customer loyalty manifests in their preference for his Maritima variety over the previously supplied Almette. The clients appreciate both the improved flavor profile and the complete leaf utilization possible with Maritima’s structure.

The View from Mount Banahaw

Standing in his greenhouse with Mount Banahaw visible in the distance, Sarmiento embodies a particular kind of Filipino excellence—one built not on shortcuts or hype, but on discipline, curiosity, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.
“What I learned in business is you’ll earn, and the person you sold to, if they use it in their business, they’ll earn too,” he reflects. It’s a philosophy of abundance rather than scarcity, of building rather than extracting.

From sixty heads to hundreds, from a bamboo structure to multiple greenhouses, from corporate engineer to master grower—Jason Sarmiento’s journey is still unfolding. But one thing is certain: wherever he goes, he’ll measure twice and cut once, ensuring that every plant, every system, every decision meets his exacting standards.

Because for Jason Sarmiento, it can’t be just like this. It has to be perfect.