PART 3 THE SONS OF CARLOS P. ROMULO FROM FIRST WIFE VIRGINIA LLAMAS

PART 3 SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT THE LLAMAS FAMILY OF THE PHILIPPINES
BY:DEO ANTONIO LLAMAS

THIS ARE SOME ARTICLES YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WHICH I ATTACHED FOR YOUR REFERENCE:

THE SONS OF CARLOS P. ROMULO FROM FIRST WIFE VIRGINIA LLAMAS


Getting your three R’s in government straight
(Article published in the January 30, 2001 issue of TODAY, Opinion Today Section)

A person’s name (as in name, not alias) though not part of his estate is nevertheless a valuable legacy. The law requires that a person’s name be not taken lightly and the right to a good name is the only right that survives a person’s death.

This piece is to keep you from being confused with the Romulos you have recently been reading about. Bert Romulo is not Roberto R. Romulo. Bert Romulo is Alberto G. Romulo. Roberto R. Romulo is Bobby Romulo. Neither Bert Romulo nor Bobby Romulo is the chairman of the Makati Business Club. That Romulo is Ricardo J. Romulo or, simply, Dick Romulo.

All three of them are related to Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, most likely the most well-known Filipino abroad since he was the first President of the United Nations General Assembly. It is his statue that presently sits at the corner of U.N. Avenue and Roxas Boulevard. Alberto G. Romulo is the son of CPR’s younger brother , Gilberto Romulo..
Roberto R. Romulo and Ricardo J. Romulo are CPR’s sons. Although using different middle initials, they have the same mother, Virginia Llamas, who was CPR’s first wife. Their middle initials, following an American practice, stand for their second given names: Bobby’s "R" is for "Rey" and Dick’s "J" is for the "Jose" of Jose Yulo, known to the generations now dead as one whom President Manuel L. Quezon declared "is one of the greatest men the Philippines ever produced".

Though all three went to school both here and abroad, Bert Romulo had the heaviest local content. He finished high school at the Ateneo de Manila in 1950 and then received the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Commerce from De La Salle College and Bachelor of Laws from the Manuel L. Quezon University. Foreign education for Bert Romulo came from Universidad de Madrid, Spain, which conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
Bobby Romulo, on the other hand, completed his primary, secondary and college education in the United States. After graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, he went to the Ateneo College of Law which granted him his Bachelor of Laws in 1964.

Dick Romulo is the most peripatetic. He started grade school at De La Salle but, unlike Erap who at least was able to finish grade school at the Ateneo, he did not finish primary education at De La Salle. Dick was brought by his father to the United States where he went on to Georgetown University which gave him the degree of Bachelor of Arts,cum laude, and later to Harvard Law School where he got his Juris Doctor. He prepared himself for the bar examinations by joining the senior graduating class of 1959 at the Ateneo College of Law. On 02 June 1990, De La Salle University made up for its failure to give him a diploma by conferring on him the Degree of Doctor of Education,honoris causa.

All three of them are lawyers but Bert Romulo is better known as a public official. During the presidency of Cory Aquino, he was secretary of budget and management, chairman of the development budget coordinating committee and member of the Monetary Board. He later became a senator, serving for five (5) years as majority floor leader, and was sponsor of many economic bills which are now laws, such as the new Central Bank Act, the Joint Legislative-Executive Development Council Law, the Rural Bank Act, and Social Security System Act.

He is responsible for the tax exemption of your Christmas bonus as well as the law increasing the penalty for tax evasion.
He is the Romulo who is the Secretary of Finance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Bobby Romulo, on the other hand, had a very short stint in government. For about six years, he was a diplomat like his father CPR. Under Cory Aquino, he was ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg and the European Communities. From July 1992 to May 1995, he held again in the footsteps of this father, during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos, the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. But most of his career, he was in technology. He had a 25 year career at the IBM Corporation, holding CEO positions in the Philippines and Thailand, Burma and Bangladesh.

In November 1999, he was appointed Chairman of the e-Asian Task Force – a public/private sector advisory council created by the ASEAN heads of government. He is a member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Digital Bridges Task Force of the Global Business Dialogue for e-Commerce and is the Asia Commissioner of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission headquartered in Washington, D.C.

He is the Romulo who is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Senior Adviser on International Competitiveness.
One way of telling Bobby Romulo from his brother Dick Romulo is how the e-mail they send is generated. Bobby sends his e-mail with his hands on the computer keyboard. Dick Romulo’s system is voice-activated: he orders his secretary to boot his computer and dictates the message he wants sent. Dick Romulo epitomizes the Makati Business Club .



ASIA SOCIETY


March 11-13, 2001 | The Taj West End Hotel | Bangalore, India



Hon. Roberto R. Romulo (Son of Virginia Llamas)

Chairman, Philam Insurance, Inc.
Senior Adviser to the President on International Competitiveness
Mr Romulo is also the Chairman of Equitable Cardnetwork, Incorporated and InterPharma Investments, Ltd. (Zuellig Pharma), and PETPLANS, Inc. as well as the Vice-Chairman of Philippine Business for Social Progress. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of A. Soriano Corporation, Systems Standards Inc. (SSI) and MIH Holdings Limited (a South African based technology company). He was recently invited to join the Asia Society International Council. He is the founding Chairman of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development.

Romulo has extensive experience in the field of technology. He had a 25 year career at the IBM Corporation, holding CEO positions both in the Philippines and Thailand, Burma and Bangladesh. He is chairman of the following: the Foundation for IT Education and Development in the Philippines, the Philippine Foundation for Global Concerns, Inc. and the Asia-Europe Foundation of the Philippines. In 1996, he was the founding Chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Until November, 2000 he was the Chairman of the Philippine Representation to ABAC and co-chairman of the Technology Task Force in ABAC.

In June 1989, he was appointed by President Corazon C. Aquino as Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities. In July 1992, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Mr Romulo as the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs. In May 1995, Romulo resigned from government and rejoined the private sector. He was Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telphone Co. and vice-chairman of San Miguel International from 1995-1998.

In November 1999, Mr Romulo was appointed Chairman of the e-ASEAN Task Force - a public/private sector advisory council created by the ASEAN Heads of Government. He is a member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Digital Bridges Task Force of the Global Business Dialogue for e-Commerce (GBDe) chaired and co-chaired by the chairmen of AOL and Time Warner. He is also the Asia Commissioner of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC) with headquarters in Washington, D.C. He was one of six global IT leaders invited to brief Japanese PM Mori on the global digital divide prior to the G-8 Summit in Okinawa.

Ambassador Romulo is a graduate of Georgetown University with a bachelor of arts in political science and the Ateneo de Manila University with a bachelor of laws.

McLarty Associates

Roberto R. Romulo serves on McLarty Associates’ Board of Counselors and is the chairman of Chartis (Philippines) Inc. (formerly AIU Insurance Philippines and PHILAM Insurance Inc.), PETNET Inc., and Medilink Network Inc.

Ambassador Romulo started his professional career as a trainee of IBM Corporation in New York City in 1965. He took early retirement in 1989. During his IBM career, he held various marketing and management positions in New York, Thailand (managing director) and the Philippines (president and general manager). He joined government service in June 1989 when he was appointed ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Commission of the European Communities. In 1992, he was appointed foreign minister. In 1995, he rejoined the private sector and was elected as chairman of PLDT and vice-chair of San Miguel International. In 1996, he was the founding chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council and continues as a member. From 1999 to 2001, he was chairman of the e-ASEAN Task Force. From January 2001 to January 2007, he was pro-bono senior advisor (on international competitiveness) to President Gloria Arroyo.

He holds board memberships in the following corporations: A. Soriano Corporation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT), Equicom Savings Bank, MIH Holdings Ltd., United Industrial Corporation, and Singapore Land Ltd. Ambassador Romulo is also the executive director of President Arroyo’s International Board of Advisors.

As a diplomat, he has been decorated by the governments of Belgium, Thailand, Spain, Chile, France and the Philippines.


Ricardo J. Romulo (Son of Virginia Llamas)


Independent Director, Chairman of Nomination Committee and Member of Audit & Risk Management Committee, SM Development Corp.
This person is connected to 46 board members in 7 different organizations across 8 different industries.

See Board Relationships
77 --
BACKGROUND*

Mr. Ricardo J. Romulo serves as Senior Managing Partner in Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura, Sayoc & Delos Angeles Law Office. Mr. Romulo served as Senior Partner in Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura, Sayoc & Delos Angeles Law Office. He has been the Chairman of Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc., since August 1987, Cebu Air, Inc. since December 1995 and Manchester International Holdings Unlimited Corp. (Formerly, Interphil Laboratories Inc.) since 1995. He serves as the Chairman of BASF (Phils.), Inc.; Federal Phoenix Assurance Company Inc.; Sime Darby Pilipinas Inc.; Vitacolor Industries Inc.; the Makati Business Club; and Agrotex Commodities Inc., BASF Philippines, Inc. and Watson Wyatt Philippines, Inc. Mr. Romulo serves as the Vice-Chairman of Planters Development Bank. Mr. Romulo has been a Director of JG Summit Holdings Inc., since July 26, 2000. He serves as Director of Philam Plans Inc. He has been a Director of Prime Orion Philippines Inc. since 1997. Mr. Romulo serves as a Director of BASF Coatings + Inks Phils., Inc., Cebu Air, Inc., Interphil Laboratories Inc., Watson Wyatt Philippines Inc., SM Development Corp., Cargill Philippines, Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Phils.), Inc., Synthelabo Philippines, Inc., Kraft Foods (Phils.), Inc., The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company; Honda Philippines Inc.; Planters Development Bank, IBM Philippines Inc., Maersk Filipinas Inc., Zuellig Pharma Corporation, Avon Cosmetics Inc. Mr. Romulo serves as a Trustee of Equitable PCI Bank Foundation, Inc. and IBM Philippines, Inc. Pension Plan. He served as Director of Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc. from August 1987 to October 26, 2011. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Georgetown University and Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard Law School.


CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS*

Canlubang Industrial Estate
Laguna, -- 4025

Philippines

Phone: 63 49 549 2345
Fax: 63 49 817 2435
BOARD MEMBERS MEMBERSHIPS*

Director
The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company
Independent Director, Chairman of Nomination Committee and Member of Audit & Risk Management Committee
SM Development Corp.
Chairman
Cebu Air, Inc.
Director
PhilPlans Inc.
1987-2011
Former Independent Chairman of the Board
Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc.
1995-Present
Chairman, Chairman of Nominating Committee and Member of Audit Committee
Manchester International Holdings Unlimited Corp.
1997-Present
Independent Director, Member of Audit Committee, Member of Nomination Committee and Member of Compensation & Remuneration Committee
Prime Orion Philippines Inc.
2000-Present
Director and Chairman of Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc
JG Summit Holdings Inc.
EDUCATION*

LLB
Georgetown University
Doctorate
Harvard Law School
OTHER AFFILIATIONS*

Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc.
Prime Orion Philippines Inc.
JG Summit Holdings Inc.
The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company
Georgetown University
Manchester International Holdings Unlimited Corp.
Cebu Air, Inc.
Harvard Law School
PhilPlans Inc.

ATTY. RICARDO J. ROMULO OF MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB. SON OF CARLOS P. ROMULO AND VIRGINIA LLAMAS ROMULO.

Cesar A. Buenaventura's introduction of Atty. Ricardo J. Romulo

As the most senior member of the Board of Trustees, both in age and tenure, I have been asked to say a few words on our guest speaker.
Dick Romulo is by nature a very private person and has never wanted to be in the limelight – but tonight has to be an exception.
I first met Dick during the Japanese occupation – so that dates both of us. My early recollection of him was that of a studious and shy boy.
Not many of you are probably aware that Dick spent most of his formative years in the U.S. when the family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1946, immediately after the 2nd World War.
He was graduated from St. John’s College High School, run by the Christian Brothers, earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution and finally a J.D. (Doctor of Jurisprudence) from Harvard Law School in 1958.
He had to spend a year in the Ateneo Law School, where he encountered my brother Chito, to enable him to take the Philippine Bar in 1959. So both La Sallites and Ateneans in the audience can claim him as one of them.
He promptly joined the forerunner of the law firm he now heads, in 1960 – that’s 46 years ago – Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and de los Angeles or RMBSA , for short.
He was married in 1961 to the lovely Tessie Romero, until he lost her in 1992. He has remained a very eligible widower since.
Dick’s main focus when he joined the law profession was to be a successful corporate lawyer, a goal he easily attained. His many satisfied clients, both foreign and local, in this gathering will attest to that.
And then the Makati Business Club came along. He was invited by Enrique Zobel to be a member of the Board of Trustees in 1985. In those days, we didn’t elect Board Members --- they were invited to serve. When he was asked to assume the Chairmanship in 1987 to succeed Ting Paterno, who was elected to the Senate, little did he know that he would be stuck as MBC Chairman for almost 20 years.
During all these times, his services were sought by successive governments from President Aquino to President Estrada – in the Constitutional Convention, the Davide Fact-Finding Commission to look into the series of coup attempts, Chairman of the Philippine Malaysia Business Council and the Committee on Judicial Reform, among others.
The one characteristic that stands out in everything he gets into is his unwavering devotion and loyalty be it to his law profession and the firm he has managed, to his dearly departed wife, and to the Makati Business Club – in good times and in bad.
Dick, we salute you for your steadfast stewardship of the Makati Business Club through all these years.
Friends, ladies and gentlemen --- May I present to you Atty. Ricardo Romulo --- the quintessential lawyer, and in my book, the best Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that the Philippines never had.

Top

MBC LECTURE SERIES – BUSINESS & SOCIETY

INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY ATTY. RICARDO J. ROMULO

NOVEMBER 22, 2006, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL , MAKATI, CITY

MY ADDRESS THIS EVENING WILL BE IN THREE PARTS. THE FIRST PART WILL DEAL BRIEFLY WITH MBC’S FOUNDING, SINCE MANY OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERS WERE NOT WITH US AT THAT TIME. THE SECOND WILL BE IN A WAY AN ACCOUNTING OF MY STEWARDSHIP AND MY THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES MBC SHOULD UNDERTAKE IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS. AND THE THIRD AND FINAL PART WILL ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS BROADLY WHAT THE ROLE OF BUSINESS SHOULD BE IN OUR SOCIETY. ACTUALLY, MBC’S STORY IS INTERRELATED TO OUR MAIN TOPIC BECAUSE IT PORTRAYS A WAY BY WHICH BUSINESS MAY PLAY AN ADVOCACY ROLE IN SOCIETY.

MBC HISTORY & ISSUES OF THE DECADES

MBC WAS ORGANIZED IN OCTOBER OF 1981 FOR THE PURPOSE OF “DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF BUSINESS TO EXIST INDEPENDENT OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, FOR AS LONG AS BUSINESS DID NOT LOSE SIGHT OF ITS GREATER SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY,” AS EXPLAINED BY ITS FOUNDER, DON ENRIQUE ZOBEL. THE FIRST MBC BOARD OF TRUSTEES INCLUDED ENRIQUE ZOBEL, CHAIRMAN, BERNARDO VILLEGAS, ROGELIO PANTALEON, JOSE ROMERO, JR. WHILE THE ADVISORY BOARD WAS COMPOSED OF JAIME ONGPIN, JAMES COLLINS, WASH SYCIP, ANTONIO OZAETA, JAIME ZOBEL DE AYALA AND CESAR BUENAVENTURA AS CHAIRMAN.

ONE OF ITS EARLIEST ACTIVITY WAS A SPEAKER’S BUREAU WHOSE MEMBERS WERE JAIME ONGPIN, VICENTE PATERNO, JOSE ROMERO, JR. AND BERNIE VILLEGAS. THEY BARNSTORMED THE COUNTRY

DENOUNCING THE EXCESSES OF MARTIAL RULE. ON SEPTEMBER 1983 JIMMY ONGPIN GATHERED THE MOGULS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND BERATED THEM FOR THEIR SUBSERVIENCE TO MARCOS.

OF COURSE THE BIG EVENTS WERE THE ASSASSINATION OF NINOY AQUINO, THE SNAP ELECTION AND EDSA I, THE COMBINED EFFECT OF WHICH WAS TO BRING DOWN PRESIDENT MARCOS. DURING THOSE CRITICAL TIMES MBC BECAME THE RALLYING POINT FOR AND THE VOICE OF BUSINESS. IN FEBRUARY OF 1984, PRIOR TO THE ELECTIONS FOR THE BATASAN PAMBANSA, MBC PUBLISHED A BOOKLET ENTITLED “LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD” FROM WHICH I QUOTE THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE:

“THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS A MOST COMPELLING FORCE. IT PRESERVES ORDER. IT PRESAGES CHANGE. IT INDICATES DIRECTION. LISTENED TO, AND HEEDED, IT

IS A CONSTRUCTIVE INFLUENCE THAT CAN LAY DOWN THE FOUNDATION FOR A JUST AND PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY.”
IN 1984 MBC WAS INCORPORATED AS A NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION. ENRIQUE ZOBEL CONTINUED AS CHAIRMAN UNTIL AROUND FEBRUARY OF 1986 WHEN VICENTE PATERNO TOOK OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP. WHEN TING RAN FOR THE SENATE IN 1987 AND WON, I BECAME THE CHAIRMAN AND STAYED ON BY THE GRACE OF SUCCESSIVE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES FOR THE NEXT NINETEEN YEARS.

KEEPING TO ITS MISSION AS THE FORUM FOR CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS, MBC TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND PUBLIC DEBATE TO CRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION IN 1987, IN INVESTIGATING THE FAILED COUPS IN 1989 AND IN SHAPING A NEW POLICY ENVIRONMENT OF ECONOMIC REFORMS, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, DEREGULATION AND PRIVATIZATION.

IN THIS CONNECTION THROUGH THE YEARS, MBC SUPPORTED LEGISLATION TO OPEN UP FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, THE RATIFICATION OF THE GATT-WTO TREATY, THE NEW MINING LAW, RECREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, OPENING UP RETAIL TRADE AND THE BANKING INDUSTRY, THE BREAK-UP OF MONOPOLIES, DEREGULATION OF INDUSTRIES SUCH AS ENERGY, POWER, AIRLINE AND TELECOMMUNICATION, SUPPORT TAX REFORM AND NEW FISCAL MEASURES. MBC ALSO ESPOUSED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNANCE. JUST AS WE SUPPORTED THE IMPEACHMENT AND RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ESTRADA FOR HIS EXCESSES, WE SIMILARLY CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ARROYO IN VIEW OF THE GARCI TAPES.

SO IF I MAY SUMMARIZE, IN 25 YEARS MBC HAS LIVED ITS MISSION AS A FORUM FOR CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS. WE BELIEVE IN AN OPEN ECONOMY AS WE BELIEVE IN AN OPEN SOCIETY. WE BELIEVE THAT FREE MARKETS WORK BEST IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.

THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IS WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE SUCCEEDED? MAY I QUOTE IN THIS REGARD AN UNBIASED OPINION. THE WORLD BANK REPORT OF SEPTEMBER 2001 ON THE SUBJECT OF “COMBATING CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES: AN UPDATE ” HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT MBC :

“IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB REPRESENTS THE PROGRESSIVE ELEMENTS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOOKING AT THE LARGER PICTURE OF THE ECONOMY, NOT ONLY AT THEIR OWN BUSINESS INTERESTS. THIS GROUP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN

SUPPORTING THE MOVEMENT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND HAS ENDORSED THE DEMAND FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. THIS IS THE SEGMENT OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT IS PLUGGED INTO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY THROUGH EXPORTS OR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. THE MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB’S MEMBERS ARE MORE CLOSELY ATTUNED THAN OTHER BUSINESSES TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MORE AWARE OF OBSTACLES THAT RENT SEEKING AND CORRUPTION CREATE FOR THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND FOR THE GROWTH OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY.”
I CANNOT LET THIS OCCASION PASS WITHOUT PAYING TRIBUTE TO BILL’S CONTRIBUTION TO MBC’S SUCCESS. HIS ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL LIFE HAS BEEN WITH MBC, AND I DARE SAY HE EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES AND IDEALS OF MBC. BILL, IT HAS BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU.

THE FUTURE OF MBC

WHAT DO I ENVISION FOR MBC’S NEXT 25 YEARS?

CERTAINLY, MBC SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A FORUM FOR CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS BY SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING POLICIES WHICH AFFECT ACROSS THE BOARD OUR NATIONAL LIFE, AND NOT LOBBY FOR OUR OWN CORPORATE OR SECTORAL INTEREST. THIS IS MBC’S DISTINCTIVE FEATURE AS COMPARED TO OTHER BUSINESS OR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.

WITH REGARD TO MBC’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT, PRESENT AND FUTURE, I BELIEVE IT MUST BE ON THE BASIS OF “CRITICAL COLLABORATION,” CARDINAL SIN’S FELICITOUS PHRASE. AND AT ALL TIMES, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO DEFEND FREEDOM. THAT REMAINS OUR HIGHEST OBLIGATION. HISTORY SUGGESTS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT IHT EDITORIAL, THAT ONCE A POLITICAL PARTY ACHIEVES SWEEPING POWERS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE POWER BECOMES THE ENTIRE POINT. NOTE THE PROPENSITY OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION TO PLAY LEGAL BRINKMANSHIP.

MBC SHOULD ASPIRE IN THE WORDS OF TING PATERNO TO BECOME “THE NATIONAL FORUM OF BUSINESS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS” IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS BY ENCOURAGING THE FORMATION OF MORE AFFILIATED BUSINESS CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO. SOME ALREADY EXITS SUCH AS THE ILOILO BUSINESS CLUB, CEBU BUSINESS CLUB AND ILIGAN BAY CHAMBER OF INDUSTRIES. MBC SHOULD THEN MAINTAIN AN INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE CLUBS IN ORDER TO GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE PROVINCES IN REAL TIME AND CONVERSELY PROVINCIAL REACTION TO NATIONAL ISSUES. MBC THEN WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO SPEAK WITH GREATER AUTHORITY ON NATIONAL AS WELL AS REGIONAL ISSUES.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MBC FORMALIZE LINKS WITH BUSINESS CLUBS OR THINK TANKS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA TO FACILITATE EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION AND FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF TRADE AND INVESTMENTS. IN TIME, AS MBC GAINS THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR PEERS IN THE REGION, IT SHOULD PROVIDE OUR BUSINESS SECTOR WITH A CREDIBLE VOICE IN THE FORMULATION OF ASEAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICIES.

LASTLY, A WAY MUST BE FOUND FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF MBC TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED AND EVENTUALLY TO TAKE POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN MBC AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS SENIOR CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF AND CESAR BUENAVENTURA FADE AWAY. WE MUST ALSO BRING TO THE PUBLIC’S ATTENTION PROMISING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY BE POTENTIAL LEADERS BY PROVIDING THEM ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC FORA AND OUR NETWORK.

THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IN SOCIETY

THE ANGLO AMERICAN BUSINESS ORTHODOXY THAT DICTATES THE PURSUIT OF PROFIT WITHOUT REGARD TO SOCIAL COSTS OR OBLIGATIONS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN LIBERALIZED OVER TIME AND SOCIAL PRESSURE TO INCLUDE THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF “THE GOOD OF SOCIETY” AS A CORPORATE OBJECTIVE WHICH IN PRACTICE TRANSLATED, HOWEVER, MAINLY TO CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS AND/OR DOING MORE THAN REQUIRED BY LAW OR REGULATIONS REGARDING THE WELFARE OF EMPLOYEES OR THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SUGGEST IS THAT WE FURTHER ENLARGE THE DEFINITION OF “THE GOOD OF SOCIETY” TO INCLUDE A DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AS A NEW DIMENSION TO THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IN SOCIETY.

BUSINESS, I PROPOSE, MUST NOW TAKE A DIRECT HAND THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF ITS CORE BUSINESSES IN ALLEVIATING MAJOR SOCIETAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS POVERTY, POPULATION, ENVIRONMENT AND GLOBALIZATION AND THUS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THE TASK I PROPOSE IS FOR BUSINESS TO PROVIDE LEADERS WHO WILL DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN THEIR CORE BUSINESSES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WHICH WILL DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THESE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES WHETHER ON A SMALL OR LARGE SCALE. THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS PROPOSITION IS BASED ON A SOCIAL CONTRACT THAT IMPLIEDLY EXISTS BETWEEN BUSINESS WHICH IS ALLOWED TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL PROFITS FROM SELLING THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE CONSUMER, WHOSE OVERALL WELFARE, THEREFORE, MUST BE OF CONCERN TO BUSINESS. OR AS AN ENGLISH BUSINESS LEADER SAID – IT IS A MATTER OF CORPORATE HONOR BORNE OF PRIVILEGE.

ALLOW ME TO ILLUSTRATE HOW SOME COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD USING THEIR CORE BUSINESSES HAVE TRIED TO MEET THESE SOCIETAL CONCERNS, POVERTY IN PARTICULAR. TO RESUSCITATE EAST TIMOR’S MORIBUND COFFEE INDUSTRY, DELTA CAFES, PORTUGAL’S COFFEE MARKET LEADER, DEVELOPED A DELTA TIMOR BRAND BY TRAINING EAST TIMOR FARMERS. DELTA TIMOR COFFEE HAS BECOME A POPULAR BRAND IN PORTUGAL. THE MORE OBVIOUS ONE IS ABN AMRO’S APPROACH. ABN AMRO TOGETHER WITH A BRAZILIAN NGO CREATED A MICRO-FINANCE UNIT. LOANS OF $70 TO $3,000 HAVE CREATED 1,000 MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS. GRUPO NUEVA IN BRAZIL OFFERS A CREDIT CARD THAT LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN USE TO PAY IN INSTALLMENTS FOR MATERIALS TO BUILD AND IMPROVE THEIR HOMES.

OTHER CORPORATIONS HAVE DEVELOPED WAYS TO HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT. AGAIN, THE MOST OBVIOUS IS THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURE OF HYBRID VEHICLES AND HYBRID FUEL BY HONDA AND SHELL RESPECTIVELY. CARGILL DOW USES CORN POLYMERS FROM WHICH CLOTHING, CARPETS AND PACKAGING ARE MADE, WHILE A CEMENT COMPANY IN JAPAN IS USING INCINERATED URBAN WASTE ASH TO PRODUCE CEMENT.

I AM ENCOURAGED TO NOTE IN LAST WEEK’S NEWSPAPER A REPORT THAT THE PHILIPPINE’S LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, LIKE NESTLE FOOD, UNILEVER, SAN MIGUEL FOODS, KRAFT PHILIPPINES, DOLE PHILIPPINES AND FIGARO COFFEE, HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO TAKE A MORE PROACTIVE ROLE IN IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR PARTICULAR COMMODITIES USED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PRODUCTS. THESE COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY “SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE”, AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, WHOSE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PURSUE THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.

AS YOU CAN SEE BY THESE ILLUSTRATIONS, SOCIETAL CHALLENGES ALSO OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS, LIMITED ONLY BY BUSINESS’S ABILITY TO INNOVATE.

THE TIME HAS COME TO REEXAMINE THE ROLE ASCRIBED TO BUSINESS AS PRINCIPALLY THAT OF INCREASING SHAREHOLDER VALUE. THE NEED FOR BUSINESS TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS MAJOR SOCIETAL ISSUES BY UTILIZING A PURELY BUSINESS APPROACH AND ELEMENTS OF THEIR CORE BUSINESSES TO HELP ACHIEVE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS HAS BECOME A NECESSITY IN SOCIETIES SUCH AS OURS WHERE MASSIVE POVERTY AND INEQUALITY EXIST, AND WHERE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES ARE EITHER INADEQUATE OR MISDIRECTED.

IT MAY BE SAID THAT TO DEVELOP A SHARED SET OF PRIORITIES AND VALUES IN THIS REGARD IS THE TASK OF OUR NATION’S LEADERS. HOWEVER, IF OUR LEADERS LACK EITHER THE COURAGE OR IMAGINATION TO DO SO, THE BURDEN FALLS ON OUR SHOULDERS. I CANNOT THINK OF A CHALLENGE MORE WORTHY OF MBC’S BEST TRADITIONS OF LEADERSHIP.

I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT MBC’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AND THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IN SOCIETY. BUT WHAT OF OUR COUNTRY’S PROSPECTS PRESENT OR FUTURE TO WHICH THE FATE OF MBC IS INEXTRICABLY ENTWINED? MY REPLY IS EXPRESSED IN A PARAPHRASE OF WHAT THOMAS WOLFE WROTE ABOUT AMERICA IN THE 1930s AS FOLLOWS:

O I THINK THE TRUE DISCOVERY OF OUR COUNTRY IS BEFORE US.

O I THINK THE TRUE FULFILLMENT OF OUR SPIRIT, OF OUR PEOPLE, OF OUR LAND IS YET TO COME.

O I THINK THE TRUE DISCOVERY OF OUR OWN DEMOCRACY IS STILL AHEAD OF US.

O I THINK IT IS CERTAIN ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME TO PASS, AND THAT THIS GLORIOUS ASSURANCE IS NOT ONLY OUR LIVING HOPE, BUT OUR DREAM TO ACCOMPLISH.
CONCLUSION

IT ONLY REMAINS FOR ME NOW TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THE PRIVELEGE OF HEADING MBC, AND THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY. THE SUCCESS OF MBC DOES NOT BELONG TO ONE PERSON. IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US – TO OUR MEMBERS WHO SUSTAIN US WITH THEIR ANNUAL DUES AND WHO VOTE FOR US, TO OUR TRUSTEES WHO TAKE PRINCIPLED STANDS ON PUBLIC ISSUES, AND TO BILL LUZ AND HIS STAFF FOR THEIR EFFICIENT AND DEVOTED SERVICE.

I TAKE WITH ME MEMORIES OF GREAT EVENTS THAT HAVE ENGULFED OUR NATION IN WHICH, DUE TO MY INVOLVEMENT IN MBC, I WAS ABLE TO PLAY A MODEST PART. BUT MOST OF ALL I SHALL REMEMBER THE COMMITTED MEN AND WOMEN OF PRINCIPLE WITH WHOM I HAVE WORKED THESE PAST NINETEEN YEARS FOR A COMMON CAUSE – THE BETTERMENT OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR NATION.

MY FATHER WAS FOND OF SAYING THAT GRATITUDE IS THE MEMORY OF THE HEART. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TONIGHT, MY HEART IS FULL TO THE BRIM!

THANK YOU AND HAVE A PLEASANT EVENING.