Augusto D. Bengzon, Immediate Past President l 27 January 2025 at the Legaspi Ballroom, Makati Diamond Residences
On January 24, 2024 the FINEX Board and I were formally inducted into office.That moment marked the beginning of an exciting journey filled with opportunities, challenges, and a shared commitment to advancing the mission of FINEX.
Last year, with our theme of Transformational Growth through Sustainability, Diversity and Digitalization, we reached out to our members to gather insights on the focus areas they would like our organization to prioritize. The responses highlighted three main areas, consistent with the Finex DNA: Development (both on the professional and personal fronts), Networking within our membership and greater community at large, and Advocacy on national issues, with a focus on finance and taxation as well as capital markets development. Your Board of Directors, in collaboration with our committee chairpersons, diligently worked to address these priorities. We conducted short courses, seminars, and forums on relevant topics to broaden our perspectives. Our face-to-face member meetings fostered greater personal interaction and camaraderie leading to deepened connections. And we partnered with other industry groups to advocate for positions we deem essential for our capital markets and the broader economy. Our activities were weighted towards the topics of sustainability, diversity and digitalization. And we hope that FINEX was able to support our members’ own transformational growth journey.
Today, on behalf the 2024 Board of Directors, our Committees and Subcommittees, along with our chairpersons and vice-chairs, I am honored to present my report on FINEX’s activities. But before getting into the details, allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Council of Past Presidents for their invaluable guidance and wise counsel during our meeting on January 31, 2024. During that session, I had the opportunity to share the highlights of our plans and programs for the year ahead. I truly appreciate the insightful observations and suggestions from the Council, which were instrumental in refining and enhancing our initiatives and activities during the year.
MEMBERSHIP
By the end of the year, we successfully inducted 50 new members into FINEX, bringing our total membership to 713. We exceeded our recruitment target, and it is essential for FINEX to continue attracting the most distinguished and respected finance professionals in the coming months and years to help us implement our various initiatives.
We embarked on a number of activities aimed at increasing membership engagement and networking, centered on activities related to Wine, Art and Golf.
To wrap up our year, we held a face-to-face Christmas Party on December 2 at the Shangri-La at the Fort with more than 100 attendees. We were delighted to see everyone there as we came together to enjoy good food, great drinks, and, most importantly, a fun raffle!
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Attendance at at last year’s General Membership Meetings (GMMs) reflected a positive trend, largely due to the exceptional guest speakers and the sponsoring committees that organized our programs. All our GMMs were held in person, except for the meeting in July. While we have not yet returned to pre-pandemic attendance levels, we are optimistic that members will feel increasingly comfortable attending future GMMs. Each meeting was designed around our theme of Transformational Growth through Sustainability, Diversity and Digitalization.
ADVOCACIES
FINEX continues to be one of the country’s most dynamic and influential business organizations. Last year, we were active on a national level, issuing statements and position papers, as well as co-signing joint declarations addressing key issues impacting business, finance, and the economy.
FINEX through the Tax and Legal Committee, attended consultation meetings with the DOF, BIR, and various Senate committees. We also paid courtesy calls to select government agency leaders to discuss how FINEX could best support their plans and programs. The Tax and Legal Committee also released its quarterly Tax & Legal Updates newsletter. We wish to thank ACCRA Law, SyCip Law, Mata-Perez, Tamayo & Francisco Attorneys-at-Law, BDB Law, and RS Bernaldo & Associates for their contributions.
We maintain active columns in Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, and The Manila Times, where FINEX members contribute insightful and timely articles on topics related to business, finance, and the economy. Additionally, we continue our partnership with CityState Savings Bank for the Pera Pera Project, which enables FINEX members to write articles in the vernacular, promoting financial literacy and inclusion within our communities.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our various committees have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing meaningful and relevant training programs, seminars, forums, and conferences aimed at supporting the professional development needs of our members and their teams.
To enhance our role as effective stewards within our organizations, these committees have focused on keeping members informed about significant financial and economic issues and concerns.
FINEX CONFERENCE
I am extremely proud of our flagship FINEX Conference held last September 30 to October 4, with the theme “Empower Progress, Inspire Change: Transformational Growth through Sustainability, Diversity, and Digitalization.” This would have not been successful without the tireless efforts of the FINEX Week Committee and the support of our sponsors.
FINEX Week 2024 was an exciting series of events dedicated to exploring the themes of sustainability, diversity, and digitalization, culminating in a vibrant closing event at Shangri-La at the Fort. Each session provided a platform for thought leaders and industry experts to share their insights on the pressing issues that we face today.
The week concluded with networking cocktails and the much-anticipated FINEX Night, a social gathering which brought together our conference participants, fostering camaraderie and helping build deeper connections among our finance professionals.
AWARDS
The awarding ceremony were held on November 15, 2024, at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Bonifacio Global City. My congratulations to Mr. Richard Shin, Global CFO of Jollibee Foods Corporation, for being named as the 18th ING FINEX CFO of the Year. FINEX thanked ING Bank for its continued partnership in this prestigious event over the years.
WAYS AND MEANS
The activities, projects, and advocacies of FINEX would not be possible without the financial support of our sponsors. On behalf of FINEX, I would like to sincerely thank them for sharing their resources which allowed us to pursue our development programs and advocacies.
Another fund-raising activity is the sale of Amorsolo Art plates. In 2021, we were very fortunate to receive approval from the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation to use four (4) of Mr. Amorsolo’s masterpieces for the art plate project of FINEX. The Tinikling is an exclusive art plate for all FINEX members who have paid their membership fees. Life members who are not paying the annual fees may purchase this art plate at cost. The other three (3) art plates, namely, the Manila Skyline, Family under the Tree, and Lavanderas, are available for sale at P3,500 each and a bundled price of P10,000.
OTHERS
The Media Affairs Committee has consistently released the improved monthly FINEX Focus and quarterly FINEX Digest. The FINEX Directory was also released in October.
Through our Affiliates and Partnerships Committee, we continue to maintain our strong relationships with FINEX Cebu, International Association of Financial Executives Institutes (IAFEI), Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Guild of Real Estate Entrepreneurs and Professionals, Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, and Women Business Council Philippines.
From May 30 to June 2, the International Relations Committee embarked on a productive visit to Taiwan, where they met with key officers from the FEI Chinese Taiwan. The visit fostered meaningful dialogue and collaboration between FINEX and FEI Chinese Taiwan. This exchange not only strengthened international ties but also highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in addressing global financial challenges.
Re-organization
Lastly, based on the recommendation of our Long-Term Planning Committee, co-chaired by Past President Chit Manabat and Brian Trias, your Board of Directors approved the rationalization and consolidation of Committees and the re-organization and re-engineering of the FINEX Secretariat to improve the organization’s operations and delivery of its programs.
From twenty-six (26) Committees, with multiple sub-committees, the revised Committees have been reduced to twelve (12), namely:
- Membership –
- Professional Development –
- Advocacy –
- Ethics and Governance –
- Audit –
- Election –
- Finance –
- CFO of the Year
- FINEX Week
- Partnerships –
- Media Affairs and Communications –
- General Membership Meeting –
Before the end of last year, your Board approved the charters of these Committees which will be implemented this year.
All of these projects and activities will not be possible without the support and active participation of the Committee Chairs, Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs and members.
| Committees | Committee Chairpersons |
| Affiliates and Partnerships | Chair: Domingo Go |
| Arts and Culture | Co-Chairs: Ma. Alicia San Juan and Domingo Go |
| Audit | Chair: Lucy Lim Chan Vice Chair: Enrique Victor Pampolina |
| Capital Markets Dev’t. | Chair: Juan Carlos Syquia |
| CFO of the Year Award | Chair: Brian Trias Vice Chair: Everlene Lee Media Relations Chair: Inigo Garcia Events Chair: Mailene Bisnar |
| Elections | Chair: Wilson Tan |
| Ethics | Chair: Wilma Miranda Ethics Book Chair: Reynaldo Lugtu, Jr. Integrity Reporting & Advocacy Chair: Jose Jerome Pascual III School Partnership Chair: Joseph Albert Gamboa Special Events Chair: Reynaldo Abilo Code of Ethics Chair: Mary Jade Divinagracia |
| Finance | Chair: Exequiel Lampa Vice Chair: Rommell Silva |
| Financial Inclusion | Chair: Griselda Gloria Santos Vice Chair: Jose Vicente Camus |
| FINEX Week | Co-Chairs: Mharicar Reyes & Rizza Latorre Technical Sessions Chairs: April Lynn Tan & Jessie Carpio Events Chairs: Janis Maghinay Media Relations Chair: Blanca Mercado & Paolo Azurin Ways & Means Chairs: Reynaldo Abilo and Nikki Tang FINEX Night Chair: Jose Marie Pabiton |
| Good Governance | Chair: Rizza Latorre Co-Vice Chairs: Reginald Angelo Gripal & Kristopher Catalan |
| ICT | Chair: Adrian Angelo Abrogena Vice Chair: Josefino Paloma |
| International Relations | Chair: Regina Saga |
| Media Affairs | Chair: Carlos Rheal Cervantes Directory Chair: Blanquita Mercado Publications Chair: Aproniano Sabio Legal Adviser: Everlene Lee |
| Membership | Chair: Domingo Go Acceptance: Jose Alberto Alba Recruitment & Retention: Nenette de Jesus LIFE Icons: George Chua & Sonny Coloma Orientation: Hilaria Concepcion Fellowship: Chair: Jane Lorraine Lim; Vice Chair – Jennifer Yap |
| National Affairs | Chair: Francisco Lim |
| Professional Development | Co-Chairs: Paolo Azurin and Mailene Bisnar |
| Programs and Meetings | Chair: Nenette De Jesus |
| Special Projects | Co-Chairs: Brian Trias & Mailene Bisnar |
| Sports and Wellness | Chair: Arthur Chung |
| Tax and Legal | Chair: Jonald Vergara Vice Chair: Eric Recalde |
| Women in Finance | Chair – Danielle del Rosario |
| Young Finance Officers | Co-Chairs: Jesusa Loreto Arellano & Janis Maghinay |
They are the real workhorses of our organization.
Likewise, I would like to thank our dynamic, collaborative and supportive Board of Directors, namely, EVP Joey Gomez, VP for Internal Affairs Wilson Tan, VP for External Affairs Mignon Ramos, VP for Capital Market Dev’t. Bing Matoto, VP for Governance Edith Estacio, VP for Professional Dev’t. Gema Cheng, Corporate Secretary Benny Soliven, Treasurer Paul San Pedro, Edith Dychiao, Carlo Lazatin, Tonyboy Ongsiako, EJ Qua Hiansen, Flor Tarriela and Tiffi Zulueta, for their dedication in ensuring that FINEX remains the preeminent and relevant organization for finance executives in the country.
FINEX is very fortunate that it has a strong and engaged membership base.
Maraming salamat at Mabuhay ang FINEX!