J. Albert Gamboa l January 23, 2024 l Manila Bulletin
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) is holding its 56th inaugural meeting and induction ceremonies on January 24, 2024 at the main lounge of the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. This year’s FINEX theme is “Transformational Growth through Sustainability, Diversity, and Digitalization.”
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Treasurer Augusto “Toti” Bengzon will be inducted as the 2024 FINEX President during tomorrow’s noontime ceremonies along with his board of directors and committee heads. In 2019, Bengzon was named the ING FINEX CFO of the Year awardee and he attributed this to the values of ALI that have also become his life creed: leadership, integrity, vision, excellence, and ‘malasakit’ or concern.
By embracing transformational growth as the main focus of the new FINEX leadership, expect a change or reorientation in the country’s foremost finance organization anchored on the principles of sustainability and diversity as the keys to its success in the digital era.
TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP
Last week, former President Rodrigo Duterte was in town and hosted a New Year dinner for media practitioners and former subordinates at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City. Accompanying the erstwhile Davao City Mayor were his wife Honeylet and their daughter Kitty.
It may be recalled that in September 2017, Duterte led the unveiling of the five-star hotel’s official marker together with hotel owner George Ty, founder of the Metrobank Group and its property subsidiary, Federal Land. Another Metrobank affiliate, Toyota Motors Philippines, held its 30th anniversary celebration at the Grand Hyatt in August 2018 with Duterte gracing the occasion.
At 318 meters tall, the Grand Hyatt is located inside the Philippines’ tallest building called the Metrobank Center BGC. The 66-story structure also serves as the bank’s temporary head office after the old Metrobank Plaza in Makati City was demolished in 2023 to give way to the construction of a new headquarters tower scheduled for completion in 2028.
This time around, it was Federal Land Chairman Alfred Ty who welcomed Duterte to the hotel. During the free-flowing discussion over dinner, Duterte expressed his views on current developments in the national and global scenes. The topics ranged from geopolitical issues in the region and the ruling administration’s policy pronouncements, to ongoing congressional initiatives for charter change and allegations of electoral fraud. Even the drug war investigation being conducted by the International Criminal Court was touched upon. When asked about the state of the economy, he compared it to an airplane that is ready to take off but is having a hard time getting off the runway to reach its destination.
Regarding his future political plans, Duterte said he has already retired from government service spanning five decades – serving as a city fiscal during martial law; then vice mayor after the 1986 EDSA Revolution and again from 2010 to 2013; mayor for 22 years (1988-1998, 2001-2010, 2013-2016); congressman for a single term (1998-2001), and chief executive of the land (2016-2022).
He reminisced about his family background as well as successive stints at the Davao City Hall, the Batasang Pambansa, and Malacañan Palace – always with an emphasis on peace and order. It was vintage Duterte familiar to those who have followed his career and are used to rambling conversations interspersed with expletives and juicy tidbits about personalities he encountered.
Those were the stories of a transformative leader who changed the Philippine political landscape with his unconventional governance style, combined with a distinct charisma that continues to captivate a large segment of the population. Filipinos certainly haven’t heard the last from him, and he will still be a factor to reckon with in the foreseeable future.
*** J. Albert Gamboa is a Life Member of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) and Vice-Chair of the FINEX Ethics Committee. The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views of these institutions and the Manila Bulletin. #FinexPhils www.finex.org.ph