Augusto D. Bengzon l 15 August 2024 at Fairmont 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.
For today’s GMM, I would like to thank our speaker, Giles Puno, President and COO of First Philippine Holdings Corp. and First Gen Corporation, who will be properly introduced later. As one of the leading Philippine companies championing clean and renewable energy, FPHC’s initiatives are pivotal in shaping a more sustainable future.
Before we move to Giles’ presentation, here are few updates for everyone:
I would like to congratulate and thank our committees for their recent activities and programs.
- On July 30, our Young Finance Officers Committee hosted a mentoring session and fireside chat with an industry captain, Mr. Eugene Acevedo, RCBC CEO and a fellow FINEX member. Thanks to Committee Co-Chairs Jing Arellano and Janis Maghinay and Liaison Director Carlo Lazatin for this session.
- On August 6, the Financial Inclusion Committee, chaired by Gay Santos with liaison director EJ Qua Hiansen, conducted a SME Forum at the Fairmont Makati in collaboration with Water.org.
- Also on August 6, the Ethics Committee, led by Chair Wilma Miranda and Liaison Director Flor Tarriela, hosted its first webinar this year entitled, “Ethics Chasing Technology,” with Atty. Edsel Tupaz, Senior Partner of Gorriceta Law, as speaker.
- We also signed relevant statements and letters:
- FINEX signed a statement of support to the BIR and Commissioner Jun Lumagui on its 120th anniversary, unveiling of the new logo, and the initiatives of the BIR to modernize its infrastructure and improve frontline services.
- FINEX co-signed the letter with the MAP, ICD, and PCCI on the SEC’s drat memorandum circular on the Sustainability Form.
- Lastly, we also co-signed a statement of support for the Department of Energy and the leadership of Sec. Popo Lotilla.
Please look forward to the following programs –
- This year’s Ayala-FINEX Finance Summit, with the theme, “The Role of AI in Finance and Sustainable Growth,” will be on September 18, 2024, at Fairmont Makati. This annual conference is sponsored by Ayala Corporation, supported by P&A Grant Thornton, and spearheaded by our Professional Development Committee led by Co-Chairs Paolo Azurin and Mai Bisnar and Liaison Director Gema Cheng.
- On June 24, we launched the 18th ING FINEX CFO of the Year. The deadline for nominations is August 31. I invite everyone to nominate their CFO and vie for this much-coveted award, the first and only award for CFOs in the country given by their peers. The award ceremony will be held on November 15, 6:00 PM, at Shangri-la at the Fort. My gratitude to ING for the continued partnership and to our CFO of the Year Award Committee led by Chair Brian Trias, Vice Chair Atty. Ever Lee, and Liaison Director Flor Tarriela.
- The annual FINEX Week will run from September 30 to October 4. Our FINEX Week Committee, led by Co-Chairs Cai Reyes and Rizza Latorre, and Liaison Director Mignon Ramos, is putting together a world-class week-long conference with relevant topics and high-caliber speakers. The opening day on September 30 will be held at Fairmont Makati while the culmination on October 4 will be at Shangri-la at the Fort. More details about the FINEX Week will be announced soon. I’d like to thank the sponsors who have already pledged their support. I encourage everyone to attend this annual event and help us through sponsorship.
I also encourage everyone to support the initiatives of the FINEX Research and Development Foundation and the FINEX Academy.
The FINEX Academy regularly offers the Capital Markets & Fixed Income Course and the Finance Leadership Programs. The first offering of the Digital Transformation Program for business and finance professionals will be ready before the end of the year.
The FINEX Foundation’s Social Involvement Committee continues to provide free financial literacy sessions to all our stakeholders. We hope everyone can join this advocacy by being one of our lecturers or partners.
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, among others.
We are still campaigning for this year’s year-round sponsorship. We hope that you and your companies will be one of them.
At this point, 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.
Diamond: Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc.
Gold: BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co., Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, PwC Isla Lipana & Co., Romulo Law, and SGV & Co.
Patron: BPI MS Insurance, East West Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Liberty Insurance, Malayan Insurance, Philippine Equity Partners, P&A Grant Thornton, Regis Partners, and San Miguel Corp.
Minor: Jollibee Foods Corporation and Sta. Lucia Land
This campaign will allow us carry out our numerous programs and advocacies for the year and in the future.
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.