🏈MR. CLEVR

In a corporate world that often measures people by titles, résumés, and years of experience, CLEVR PH is asking a different question: what happens when we look at the person behind the position? Founded in January 2023, the Philippine executive search firm connects companies with sustainable talent, specializing in C-level and IT roles while challenging some of the traditional rules of corporate life. Its answer is a workplace built around people—with an employee-first culture, a four-day workweek, and a 100% remote setup.

For CLEVR PH, being progressive is not simply about having different company policies—it is about creating opportunities and making the corporate world more accessible to people from different backgrounds. The firm places inclusion and equal opportunity at the heart of its culture, while actively opening doors for the next generation of talent. Beyond executive search, CLEVR PH supports students and young professionals through career fairs, CV and interview workshops, and its Tala Experience internship program, giving students the opportunity to gain firsthand experience and a better understanding of the professional world. It is a way of making talent discovery a two-way street: connecting companies with the right people while helping young talents find their own path forward.

That philosophy makes MJ Ordillano a fitting face for CLEVR PH. Known for his fitness journey, modeling, pageantry, and his Mr. Global Philippines experience, MJ represents a kind of ambition that cannot be captured by a single job title. His career has moved across different spaces—fitness, entertainment, business, modeling, and content creation—but the common thread is discipline and the willingness to keep evolving. For CLEVR PH, that ability to set a goal and work relentlessly toward it is precisely what makes MJ embody the brand.

“Being a CLEVR ambassador is about representing a lifestyle that goes beyond what is average,” MJ shares. “Fitness has become a big part of my life, but it’s really taught me discipline, consistency, and how to take care of myself even when life gets busy.” For him, the gym is more than a place to build a physique. It is a training ground for the habits that translate into every other part of life: showing up and understanding that progress rarely happens overnight.

This is where COOL VARSITY meets CLEVR PH. Sports and fitness are often associated with strength, endurance, and performance, but the game is just as much mental and emotional. Knowing when to push, when to rest, how to handle pressure, and how to work with others. MJ’s journey reflects that balance: the body can get you through the workout, but discipline, and a clear sense of purpose help determine where you go next.

His advice to young people navigating their own careers is equally open-ended. “You don’t have to choose just one thing,” MJ says. “It’s okay to have different interests and to explore different paths, especially when you’re young.” Rather than treating different passions as distractions, he sees them as skills that can complement one another. 

That idea also captures what makes CLEVR PH interesting in the first place. Executive search may sound like a world of boardrooms, job descriptions, and corporate credentials, but at its heart, it is about recognizing potential—and understanding what makes one person right for a particular opportunity. CLEVR PH is building its identity around that broader view of talent, while MJ brings the same philosophy into a lifestyle of movement, ambition, and reinvention.

“You don’t need to have your entire life figured out right away. Build skills, stay curious, and take your goals seriously, but don’t be afraid to keep the things that make you feel like yourself,” MJ says. “Your career can evolve, and so can you.”

And perhaps that is the real CLEVR mindset: having the IQ to know where you want to go, the EQ to understand how to get there, and the discipline to keep showing up. Because CLEVR people go a long way in life—smart enough to know what they want and grounded enough to keep learning, adapting, and evolving. #CoolisinSession #CoolVarsity

Photography: Rxandy Capinpin

Styling: FIP Styling Class

Grooming: Lars Cabanacan

Special Thanks to Jan Pareja/Ranny Bautista/Axel Granada of CLEVR PH