President’s Message

Augusto D. Bengzon l 22 May 2024 at New World Hotel Makati Hotel

To our guest speaker, friends from media, guests, my fellow directors and officers of FINEX, our beloved members, good afternoon.

I would like to thank everyone for joining us today. I am glad that we continue to have a good attendance each GMM since the start of the year.

For today’s GMM, I would like to thank our speaker, Lynette Ortiz, President and CEO of Landbank, who will be properly introduced later. Lynette will share with us the transformation journey of Landbank under her leadership, and how this transformation impacts sustainable economic development. Lynette was a FINEX member, and I’m glad that she was able to take the time from her busy schedule to rejoin FINEX, even if only for this day.

Before we move to Lynette’s message, here are few updates for everyone:

I would like to congratulate and thank our committees for their activities and programs since our last GMM.

  • On April 27, our Fellowship Subcommittee hosted the first socials activity at the VIP Golf at the MET Live, Pasay City. Thanks to Fellowship co-chairs Jen Yap and Jane Lim, Membership Committee Chair Domeng Go, and Director Tiffi Zulueta for hosting the event.
  • On May 16, Latham and Watkins partnered with FINEX, through the Professional Development Committee, for its 5th conference, entitled “Breaking Ground: Unlocking Philippine Investment Opportunities” at the Shangri-la at the Fort. More than 200 FINEX members and guests joined the conference. Special thanks Professional Development Committee Co-Chairs Paolo Azurin and Mai Bisnar, and Director Gema Cheng for ensuring the continuing partnership with Latham and Watkins.

Please look forward to the following programs –

  • The International Relations Committee, led by Chair Regina Saga and LD Benny Soliven is hosting a follow-up trip to Taiwan from May 30 to June 2, 2024.
  • On June 9, FINEX will join the “Lakad Magkaibigan” event by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in celebration of the 126th Philippine Independence. We hope that you can join this event. Thank you to Chair Domeng Go and LD Carlo Lazatin for spearheading this partnership.

The 8th Ayala-FINEX Finance Summit will be held on September 18, while the search for the 18th ING-FINEX CFO of the Year will be launched next month with the awarding ceremony in November. Our annual FINEX Week will run from September 30 to October 4.

I also encourage everyone to support the initiatives of the FINEX Research and Development Foundation and the FINEX Academy.

The 11th offering of the Capital Markets & Fixed Income Course and the 4th run of the Senior Finance Leadership Program are on-going. The 1st Emerging Finance Leadership Program will be introduced this year for mid-level managers and the 2nd Executive Finance Leadership Program will run towards the last quarter of the Year. Likewise, the 1st offering of the Digital Transformation Program for business and finance executives will be launched in the 3rd quarter.

The FINEX Foundation’s Social Involvement Committee continues to provide free financial literacy sessions to all our stakeholders, especially the underprivileged members of our society. We hope everyone can join this advocacy by being one of our lecturers or partners.

The Environment Committee will have its first activity on May 25, a “Tree Nurturing activity at Masungi Geo Reserve in Rizal.

Other programs of the Foundation this year include the Finance Educators’ Training Program in partnership with the Capital Market Development Foundation, Inc., the Outstanding Finance Educators Awards with Deloitte Philippines, the Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition with JP Morgan Chase, and the publication of the 5th edition of the FINEX Journal.

We are still campaigning for this year’s year-round sponsorship. We hope that you and your companies will be one of them. The packages include:

  • Partner – P2.0million
  • Platinum – P1.0million
  • Diamond – P750,000
  • Gold – P500,000
  • Patron – P300,000

Being one of our year-round sponsors, your company will be entitled to the following benefits:

  • Company logo in the FINEX website homepage;
  • Acknowledgement during GMMs;
  • Posting of company electronic direct mail collateral in FINEX’s social media channels and email blast;
  • FINEX Week sponsorship;
  • Complimentary attendance in GMMs and FINEX Conference; and,
  • FINEX Directory ad placement.

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the following organizations for confirming their support this year, namely:

Platinum:      Forecasting and Planning Technologies, Inc. and Ayala Land Inc

Gold:            BDO, BPI, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co., Metrobank, PwC Isla Lipana & Co., & SGV & Co.

Patron:          Philippine Equity Partners, P&A Grant Thornton, Regis Partners, and San Miguel Corp.

Minor:           Jollibee Foods Corporation

We continue to solicit sponsorships for the year as FINEX has numerous programs and advocacies that require financial support.

Apart from this, we also enjoin everyone in recruiting new members, especially from the publicly listed companies and top 1,000 corporations. I encourage you all to invite your friends and colleagues to join FINEX this year.

We will continue to keep you informed of our planned initiatives, particularly as we progress on our major thrusts for this year. We look forward to your continuing support and engagement.

Thank you.

Recent Posts

The scourge of celebrities in politics

Benel D. Lagua l December 13, 2024 l Business World With elections looming in 2025, this writer is amazed at the audacity of celebrities and

AI-enabled consumers

Reynaldo C. Lugtu, Jr. l December 12, 2024 l Manila Bulletin On a breezy December evening in Manila, a young professional stares at her phone,

What I like about Christmas

George S. Chua l December 11, 2024 l Business Mirror THERE are people who find no joy in many situations, including the Christmas season. Perhaps

Simple at Makabuluhang Pasko

Reynaldo C. Lugtu, Jr. l December 11, 2024 l Pilipino Mirror ANG PASKO sa Pilipinas ay isa sa mga ­pinakamasayang panahon, ngunit kadalasang nagdudulot din

Address:

Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines

Roberto de Ocampo Center for Financial Excellence,
Unit 1901, 19/F 139 Corporate Center,
Valero St., Salcedo Village
Makati City, National Capital Region, Philippines

Telephone:
+63 2 8114052 / 8114189