The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
inside
3
Ayala companies receive ‘Platinum Plus’ awards for good governance
5 Ayala shows marketing synergy through Independence Day celebration in Hong Kong
10 Green initiatives within the Ayala group of companies
13 JZA presents tropical treasures in calendar and note cards
Celebrating Philippine
Independence the Makati Way
ALI, partners launch One
Bonifacio High Street
Ayala Land Inc., Evergreen Holdings, and the Fort Bonifacio
Development Corporation recently launched One Bonifacio High
Street, the newest premium mixed-use block in Bonifacio Global City,
in Taguig.
The P30 billion-project will be hub for both business and leisure. Under
construction is a grade AAA office building, future home of the Philippine
Stock Exchange, and a four-level premium lifestyle center that will house
various flagship stores and luxury shops.
Ayala Land Premier’s all-suite residential tower called The Suites will also be
located at the block. This 63-story iconic tower will feature 298 residential suites
and limited edition sky villas with living spaces ranging from 136 square meters
to 430 square meters in size.
The 50-square meter flag is made out hand-woven banig
The City of Makati and Ayala Land Inc., began its Independence Day celebration
with the unveiling of a 50-square meter hand-woven banig flag on the evening
of June 8. The event held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (ATG) also served
as a pre-launch activity for the “Make it Happen, Make it Makati” campaign,
which seeks to boost the city’s reputation as “the Philippine capital of business,
lifestyle, and culture.”
The newest 5-star Shangri-La Hotel will be located here as well. The launch
of One Bonifacio High Street is consistent with ALI’s thrust of continually
developing large scale, mixed-use urban hubs in the country.
The official turnover of The Suites is scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2018.
CNN Asia interviews JAZA, FZA about
Ayala’s strong entrepreneurial drive
continued on p. 4
Ayala net income jumps
42 percent in first quarter
Ayala Corporation’s net income reached P3.5 billion in the first quarter
of 2012, 42-percent higher than the earnings registered in the same
period last year. This was driven by a 35-percent increase in equity
earnings bolstered by the double-digit growth of its real estate,
banking, and water businesses during the first three months of the
year. Significant improvements in its electronics and business process
outsourcing (BPO) businesses also contributed to higher earnings.
Ayala Land Inc. maintained solid growth. It posted a net income of P2.1 billion,
31-percent higher than last year. Strong revenues and net income margin
improvement underpinned this increase. Revenues grew by 17 percent to
P12.4 billion, with double-digit increases across all business segments.
continued on p. 2
CNN correspondent
Andrew Stevens
(center) walks around
the Makati Central
Business District with
JAZA and FZA
In an exclusive interview with CNN Talk Asia, Ayala Corporation
Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and President Fernando
Zobel de Ayala discuss the improving socioeconomic conditions in
the Philippines, and the role that the Ayala group of companies play
during this period of growth and progress.
Following are excerpts from the CNN Talk Asia interview.
continued on p. 6
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
Ayala net income jumps 42 percent
in first quarter
continued from p.1
operating charges, resulted in a 10-percent decline in reported net income.
Core net income, which excludes foreign exchange, market-to-market
charges, and one-off items, was 7-percent lower at P2.7 billion.
The Manila Water Company posted a net income of P1.3 billion, 64-percent
higher than last year. Higher revenues due to strong sales in the east zone,
as well as the impact of the tariff increase implemented at the start of the
year, contributed to this increase.
Revenues grew by 28 percent, nearly five percent of which was
contributed by new businesses in Laguna, Boracay, and Clark. However,
operating expenses increased by 23 percent because of higher
power and overhead costs, resulting from the expansion of water and
wastewater network coverage and the pursuit of new business initiatives.
Manila Water was recently awarded the bulk-water supply project in Cebu
and the rights to purchase a 49-percent stake in Kenh Dong Water Supply,
which owns and operates major water infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam.
Residential and property development revenues grew by 18 percent,
largely due to the success of Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, and Avida
residential products. Combined take-up for the three products nearly
doubled from last year.
Revenues from ALI’s commercial leasing and hotels and resorts
businesses also grew by 21 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as the
real estate unit continued to expand gross leasable area. ALI remains on
track with its P37 billion capital expenditure program for project completion
and land acquisitions this year.
Meanwhile, the Bank of the Philippine Islands registered a net income of
P5.8 billion, significantly higher than last year’s P2.8 billion. Its core banking
business and securities trading gains fueled this increase. Loans grew
by 20 percent, as lending remained brisk across all consumer segments,
while the bank’s 30-day non-performing loan ratio further improved to
2 percent.
BPI’s deposits grew by 7 percent, putting total assets under management
to P716 billion, up 15 percent year-on-year. Net interest income grew by
8 percent, aided by a 14 basis-point improvement in net interest margin.
Trading gains amounting to P3.7 billion, from the sale of some securities
in inventory, further increased the bank’s earnings. BPI is also set to pay
a special cash dividend of P0.50 per share in addition to its regular cash
dividend of P0.90 per share for the first half of the year.
Globe Telecom, for its part, continued to build the momentum it achieved
over the past six quarters. Consolidated revenues in the first quarter of
2012 reached a new record high of P20.2 billion, 6-percent higher than the
previous year. Its mobile business performed strongly, driven by a robust
demand for its postpaid and prepaid services.
Globe’s broadband business also continued to grow, with revenues up
13 percent year-on-year. Its new mobile and broadband services attracted
a substantial number of subscribers. By the first quarter of 2012, Globe’s
mobile subscriber base reached 31 million, up 14 percent from last year, and
its broadband subscriber base rose to 1.5 million, up 26 percent from last
year.
Globe’s subsidy and operating expenses were higher because of the growth
in postpaid customers and expenses related to the company’s network
modernization program. This, coupled with higher financing and other non-
Meanwhile, Ayala’s international businesses experienced improved
performance during the first quarter. Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc.
posted a 128-percent jump in its net income year-on-year, as its revenues
grew by 24 percent. This growth was attributed to the company’s business
expansion in Europe and Mexico, coupled with its reduced operating
expenses.
The investee companies of LiveIt also showed improvements, with
combined revenues of US$255 million. LiveIt’s share was US$83 million,
up 12 percent from last year. Greater scale and cost efficiency resulted
in the 18-percent growth of its EBITDA share to US$7 million and in
the further reduction of its net loss, primarily due to acquisition-related
charges.
Ayala President and Chief Operating Officer FZA noted: “We are
encouraged by the sustained growth trajectory of our core businesses
and the improving performance of our international businesses.
Domestic consumption remains robust which continues to benefit our
core businesses. We continue to pursue our capital investment and
expansion plans, taking advantage of this favorable macro-economic
environment and ensure we sustain our growth momentum moving
forward.”
Ayala is looking to participate in selected infrastructure projects under
the government’s public–private partnership (PPP) program. The
company recently partnered with Metro Pacific Investments Corp. to
jointly pursue light-rail transit projects in Metro Manila. This partnership
came right after Ayala had won the bid for the Daang-Hari road project,
its first under the PPP program.
Ayala was also recently awarded by Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure
Investment Joint Stock Company (CII), the right to purchase a 10-percent
stake in the company. CII is a leading player in the infrastructure sector in
Vietnam, with a portfolio of strategic infrastructure assets, including water
treatment plants and toll roads serving Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding
areas.
Ayala recently raised P10 billion through a corporate bond issue to gear
up for potential capital requirements. It ended the quarter with cash at
the parent level of nearly P14 billion and net to debt equity of 0.23 to 1.
The company’s share price has risen by 47 percent year-to-date.
Harbor Point Mall opens in Subic
Muscle Beach in Los Angeles, California, Harbor Point’s fitness zone also
offers space for footsal, yoga, and martial arts.
“Many associate Subic with vacation,” Tomeldan further said. She
explained how this active lifestyle theme is represented by the mall’s
logo—three casual brushstrokes suggesting a sailboat in motion.
Moreover, Harbor Point promotes respect for the community and for the
environment.
Harbor Point reserves 10 to 15 percent of its mall space for homegrown
concepts such as Café Balooga, a popular watering hole in Olongapo City.
Present at the Harbor Point inauguration are (from left to right) Fertuna Holdings Vice
President Leonardo Dayao, ALI President Antonino Aquino, SBMA Chairman Bobby
Garcia, JAZA, Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr., and ALI Executive Vice
President and Group Head Bobby Dy
As part of its plans to expand its operations in Central Luzon, Ayala Land Inc.
recently launched Harbor Point Mall in Subic. The three-level mall occupies a
6.5-hectare property located along Rizal Highway, at the heart of the Subic Bay
Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales.
Harbor Point is ALI’s second mall in Central Luzon, after MarQuee Mall in
Pampanga. The new mall is part of a mixed-use development that also includes
an office building and a hotel.
As the premier dining and entertainment destination in Subic, the mall is home
to over 300 local and international brands. Its promenade section offers a wide
selection of restaurants, while its entertainment zone is equipped with a gaming
center and four state-of-the-art cinemas.
“We are respectful of what’s in the area,” said ALI Executive Vice President
Bobby Dy. “We integrate and enhance whatever Subic has to offer, to
enrich the lives of our customers.”
In addition, Harbor Point was designed with energy efficiency in mind. It
uses a natural breezeway to keep the area cool, as well as natural lighting
to illuminate the entire activity center. Shoppers are encouraged to have
their eco-bags ready because the mall strictly implements its no-plastic
policy.
“Subic is a haven for super yachts, a cruise ship destination with vibrant
tourism programs and Harbor Point will bring Subic to a new level,” said
Subic Bay Management Authority (SBMA) Chair Bobby Garcia.
“We will also bring live shows, concerts, and community events to the activity
center, which the Ayala Malls are known for,” ALI Head of Operations and Support
Services Rowena Tomeldan said.
Harbor Point
Mall Subic
Carrying the tagline “where every day’s a holiday,” the mall complex will feature
a manmade riverbank and jogging path filled with fitness equipment. Inspired by
Ayala companies receive ‘Platinum Plus’ awards
for good governance
The Ayala group once again topped the list of publicly listed companies
that adhere to the highest standards of good governance.
Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Inc., and the Manila Water Company were
recognized as “Platinum Plus” awardees at the annual dinner of the Institute of
Corporate Directors (ICD) held on May 30.
All nominees for the awards are evaluated based on practices pertaining to
shareholder rights, equitable treatment of shareholders, role of stakeholders,
disclosure and transparency, and board responsibilities. A company that
has a score of 90 to 94 percent is given a “Silver” award, while that which
gets a rating of 95 percent or higher is given a “Gold” standing. A company
receives the “Platinum Plus” award if it has received the “Gold” rating for four
consecutive years.
Delfin Gonzalez Jr. (third from left) and Solomon Hermosura (fourth from left) accept the
award for Ayala Corporation
Other Ayala group companies that received citations from the ICD were the
Bank of the Philippine Islands (Gold), Globe Telecom, Integrated MicroElectronics Inc., and Ayala Land subsidiary Cebu Holdings Inc. (Silver).
“Our experience in the Ayala group, being an enterprise that has been
operating for the past 178 years, affirms that good governance is imperative
in creating a sustainable enterprise over the long term,” said Jaime Augusto
Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation chairman and CEO.
CHI CFO Enrique
Manuel Jr.
BPI Executive Vice
President Antonio Paner
IMI Finance Division Vice
President Jaime Sanchez
This year’s corporate governance scorecard evaluated a total of 196 publicly
listed firms yielding an average score of 76 percent.
ALI President
Antonino Aquino
MWC President and
CEO Gerardo Ablaza Jr.
Globe CFO Albert de
Larrazabal
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
Celebrating Philippine Independence
the Makati Way
Make it Happen,
Make it Makati
goes digital
continued from p.1
ALI Vice President Meann Dy, CNN Hero of the Year Efren
Peñaflorida, Makati City Congresswoman Monique Lagdameo,
and ALI President Antonino Aquino unveil the country’s largest
hand-woven banig Philippine flag
Television personality Angel Jacob hosted the event at the
ATG. She began by introducing ALI Vice President Meann
Dy, who gave the night’s opening remarks.
“We only celebrate two holidays here at the Ayala Triangle
Gardens: Christmas and Philippine Independence Day,” said
Dy. “Independence is about more than just having freedom
because it is what we do with that freedom that really
counts. Independence is only sustainable and fruitful when it
contributes to nation building, through the growth of a stable
economy. That is why it is best to celebrate Independence
Day here in Makati.”
Two other guests also spoke during the event. In response to
Jacob’s question on the importance of celebrating Philippine
Independence day each year, award-winning cultural essayist
and expert Felice Sta. Maria said: “We have to celebrate the
fact that we have a heritage of risk takers who did this risk
taking on behalf of what we now call human rights, but it was
more than just that. June 12 is also a time when we stood for
democracy. We are proponents of democracy and all these
years of freedom have proven that.”
The night’s second guest speaker, CNN 2009 Hero of the
Year Efren Peñaflorida shared his definition of modern day
heroism:
“For me heroism is not like a TV show, a talent show, or a
contest…it’s a call for everybody to use whatever resources,
Make it
Happen,
Make it
Makati
mobile
app
Actor Bodjie Pascua leads the reenactment of the
Declaration of Independence
talents, and skills they have to benefit others. It’s about
serving others with all your heart.”
ALI President Antonino Aquino, Meann Dy, Makati
Congresswoman Monique Lagdameo, and Efren
Peñaflorida unveiled the Philippine flag, after the guest
speakers were interviewed.
The crowd of over 200 enjoyed performances from the Far
Eastern University (FEU) Banda Kawayan. Palihan Hagonoy
also wowed the crowd with their Balagtasayawit (balagtasan,
sayaw, awit) performance.
To cap the night, Original Pilipino Music came alive through
the Tugon Natin Concert presented by Avida. Dubbed
Himig ng Kalayaan, the concert brought together six of the
country’s musical acts: Princess Velasco, Duncan Ramos,
Myrus, Ima Castro, Bituin Escalante, and Noel Cabangon.
This event also celebrated the Nielson Airport’s 75th
Anniversary. The ATG used to be the site of the country’s
first international commercial airport, where the first local and
international flights of Philippine Air Lines (PAL) took off and
touched down.
Flight to Progress: 75 Years of the Nielson Airport, an exhibit
co-organized by ALI and the Filipinas Heritage Library, was
also opened to the public that night. All are enjoined to visit
the free exhibit at the ATG until July 31, 2012.
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) recently launched
a digital campaign for Make it Happen,
Make it Makati, by setting up a website,
mobile application, and various social
networking sites.
The website (www.makeitmakati.
com) features the latest happenings
in Makati City, including events,
promotions, exhibits, movies, and
plays. It also has an integrated Google
map, which shows lists and locations
of places in the city where one can eat,
shop, stay, and do other activities.
Want to get the latest information
on Makati, while on the go? Then
install the Make it Happen, Make
it Makati mobile app on your
smartphone or tablet. Get the freshest
news and updates, locate yourself
anywhere in the city, and find nearby
establishments at any time of the day.
You can download the mobile app
from the Make It Makati website.
You can also stay in the loop about
everything Makati by liking the
campaign on Facebook (www.
facebook.com/makeitmakati) or
following it on Twitter (www.twitter.
com/makeitmakati)
Ayala Malls launch A-Deals discount and promotions website
Ayala Malls have been the premier shopping
and lifestyle destinations in the country for
many years. Families go to Ayala Malls for
whole days of fun and relaxation. There, they
can shop, dine, and be entertained.
This year, the Ayala Malls take the shopping
experience out of the mall through www.
A-Deals.com, its very own online shopping
destination that provides extraordinary
discounts, exclusive offers, and exciting
freebies from Ayala Malls’ merchants.
Vouchers are purchased through the website
and can be redeemed at the Ayala mall of your
choice.
This site offers Ayala Malls’ merchants an
avenue to advertise their brands online, while
also offering mall goers great deals. More
than just providing discounts, the site also
offers limited-edition items, digital raffles, and
other promotions.
Since the soft launch of A-Deals on April 13,
the site has offered more than 30 deals and
delighted more than 400 Ayala Malls shoppers.
A-Deals is also forging partnerships with other
Ayala Land Inc. business units, Globe Telecom,
and Bank of the Philippine Islands to reach a
wider customer base.
Visit www.a-deals.com for more information
The A-Deals
website
homepage
A-Deals offers discounts
and special deals
from various Ayala Mall
merchants
Ayala shows marketing synergy through
Independence Day celebration in Hong Kong
In a show of marketing synergy, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Inc.,
Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Globe Telecom joined forces to
celebrate Philippine Independence Day and the birthday of National
Hero Jose Rizal with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong
on June 17.
More than 15,000 OFWs gathered at the Chater Garden to be part
of the whole day celebration dubbed Isang Hibla, Isang Bansa (One
Thread, One Country). The theme was inspired by an artwork on
Philippine textiles and textures currently on display at the Greenbelt
Tunnel in Makati City. Created by Ayala Corporation Chairman Emeritus
Jaime Zobel de Ayala, the artwork features indigenous textiles, weaves,
and crafts.
ALI, BPI, and Globe contributed to the celebration’s festive atmosphere
by entertaining OFWs with games and interactive booths. ALI’s
international sales team also promoted Amaia’s latest property
developments, while BPI and Globe featured their remittance services.
A number of nongovernmental organizations were also invited to
display native products. A mini-concert headlined by Globe Touch
Mobile brand ambassador Coco Martin capped the event.
Hong Kong–based OFW organizations participate in a dance competition
This is the second year that the Ayala group partnered with the
Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong to commemorate
Philippine Independence Day and the birthday of Jose Rizal, who lived
in Hong Kong for six months before returning to the Philippines.
The event was also held in partnership with Lakbay Dangal Hong Kong,
a group of OFWs trained to give cultural tours around Hong Kong, with
focus on the historical links between the Philippines and the Chinese
special administrative territory. Lakbay Dangal also convenes Hong
Kong–based OFW organizations for key events such as this.
“We pride ourselves as a group that truly champions and promotes the
close historical and cultural links between the Philippines and Hong
Kong,” said Lakbay Dangal Chairman and global sales executive Sonia
Zerrudo. “We thank Don Jaime for the inspiration and the Ayala group
for once again supporting this meaningful event.”
Consul-General Noel Servigon (center), Marichu Servigon (fourth from left),
Ayala’s Emi de Lara (fourth from right) and Mau Barreiro (third from right) with
representatives of ALI International Sales
OFWs sign up for Globe’s GCash
Remit service
Images from JZA’s Textures mural are
displayed at Chater Garden
The Globe team led by Em Diloy-Abenir
The BPI Remittance Center Hong Kong team led by
Managing Director Joi Panganiban (third from left) and
Head of Operations Gary Flores (fourth from left)
A lucky winner brings home a limited
edition bag featuring JZA’s artwork
BPI Tsuen Wan branch OIC Stephen Go
(left) and BPI Remittance Center Hong Kong
Managing Director Joi Panganiban set up
the BPInoy Remittance Booth
New clients open BPI accounts
Trying out the roleta
game at the ALI booth
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
CNN Asia interviews JAZA, FZA about
Ayala’s strong entrepreneurial drive
continued from p.1
JAZA: 2012 is actually looking very good. As Fernando mentioned I think the
country has moved to a whole different level of governance. People are seeing
it. People are respecting it. All our businesses are doing well. In our real estate
business we actually have more projects lined up than ever in our history.
The banking business is reinventing itself and expanding. In all our different
businesses, including our water distribution, we are moving and investing more
capital than ever.
CTA: Ayala launched a new division last year—infrastructure. How big a drag is
infrastructure or the lack of infrastructure on the Philippines’ growth?
The company has always sought to align itself with the
national goals of the country ever since its founding back in
1834, and that’s made us intrinsically part of the fabric of
the nation. We have not remained static, we have adjusted
to the changing times. Change is not something that
Fernando and I fear. I think there has always been a very
strong entrepreneurial drive in past members of the family.
— Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman,
Ayala Corporation, in the CNN Talk Asia interview
CNN Talk Asia (CTA): Let’s start with a big picture of the Philippine economy
in the context of what’s been happening globally. We’ve seen the Euro zone
weakness, US weakness, and China is slowing. What’s the impact [of these
global developments] on the Philippines?
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA): The world has gone through a fairly
seismic shift, but what’s been quite extraordinary in the Philippines is that a
component of the economy that’s been lacking in many developed countries,
which is the demand component of consumption, has been alive and well in
the Philippines.
We have a very unique business model in the country. Manufacturing has
been weaker, but the service economy is alive and there’s been a kind of
demographic shift globally where our service providers in many different fields
have been in demand globally. In turn, about 10 million of our countrymen are
working in many different industries in many countries globally, and as they
earn, they send remittances back.
CTA: Is that the important part of this Philippine growth story?
JAZA: Absolutely. I think it’s a positive thing. About $20 billion are remitted
back to the country. That drives a lot of our consumption, our housing, our
telecommunication, the needs of households, and so the economy has
continued to move based on the consumption-led model.
CTA: The economy is growing relatively fast here in the Philippines now, but
the International Monetary Fund just recently said it’s likely that the Philippine
economy remained a laggard when you compare it with other ASEAN
countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam. First, do you agree with that? And
why is that?
FZA: Very significant. If you talk of roadways, toll roads, the rail system, our
airports, which can be used to encourage more tourism in the country, there’s
an enormous number of things that can be done and you’ve got companies and
foreign partners very interested in participating in this. Also, the banks are ready
to lend, so it is a unique time for the country, and we need to take advantage of
this opportunity.
CTA: One word that is associated with the Philippines is corruption, rightly or
wrongly. How big a problem is it?
JAZA: I think there has been a history. All I can say, and I think we see this
together, is that there has never been as much rigor and seriousness on the part
of this government in addressing the corruption issue as we have seen under the
term of the current president.
CTA: But corruption, would you agree, is endemic in the Philippines and it’s
going to take perhaps a generation for it to be brought under control? Is that a
fair comment?
FZA: It takes time and it depends in what particular area. As a company we have
been operating for many years in this country. We’ve built relationships, we’ve
operated in many parts of the country, and we have not experienced some of the
problems some people claimed that they might have experienced. But overall
you do see corruption in many countries in Asia and throughout the world.
JAZA: Maybe just to add to what Fernando is saying, if you look at any
development equation, as you move up the per capita GNP curve, people get
more educated, standards move up, governance moves up, and corruption
indexes also tend to fall. I have absolutely no doubt that as the Philippines
continues its fairly sharp climb up the GNP curve, and as people start to earn
more, as people start to get better educated, as people start to demand higher
levels of governance, invariably the whole corruption issue also begins to decline.
CTA: Ayala is 178 years old. It’s been through dictatorships, it’s been through
rebellions, it’s been through world wars, it’s been through occupation. What do
you think is the secret of this longevity?
JAZA: More than anything, I think the company has always sought to align itself
with the national goals of the country ever since its founding back in 1834, and
that’s made us intrinsically part of the fabric of the nation. We have not remained
static, we have adjusted to the changing times. Change is not something that I
and Fernando fear. I think there has always been a very strong entrepreneurial
drive in past members of the family. They didn’t sit back and say, “This is our
business and this is the way it’s going to be.” No, we’ve kept an eye on the
changing times, the economy, technology, partnerships, and tried to adjust to
those changing times and be relevant to the needs of those times.
Fernando Zobel de Ayala (FZA): I think the whole of Asia has been growing
very quickly. The Philippines has had its challenges in the past. We’d like
to credit this administration with a lot of reform that has taken place that
has brought about an enormous amount of new confidence or renewed
confidence in the country.
CTA: Your brother mentioned entrepreneurial, but if you talk to most people
about Ayala Corporation, they will say that it’s a very well-managed company,
but it is a conservatively managed company. Can you be conservative and
entrepreneurial at the same time?
Another aspect that we’re seeing which we’re, of course, extremely pleased
about is that Filipinos have brought an enormous amount of funds back
into the country. If you look at the stock market and the impact that the local
funds have had, if you look at the asset management part of all our banking
systems, it’s been growing about 20 percent or more each year, which is an
indication that Filipinos are bringing their money back and investing in the
country.
FZA: Absolutely. I think being entrepreneurial is really about starting major new
initiatives and through history we’ve gone into new businesses over time. For
example, we knew very little about the water industry and about managing a
water system. There weren’t any set rules at the time. It was uncharted territory
for us, but we wanted to fix the water system of Manila. And we knew that it would
have an impact on a lot of people who had no water in the past. We’ve made a
success of it. So I think we’ve shown that we can be entrepreneurial. At the same
time, we know that the world goes through very deep cycles and we want to
make sure that the company continues over a very long period of time.
CTA: Set against this backdrop, let’s talk about Ayala Corporation. Last year
there were record numbers coming from your banking division, real estate,
and your water division. What’s 2012 looking like for Ayala?
Manila Water spends P300 M to upgrade water
treatment plant
Plant 1 treats 470 million liters of water per day. It provides water for Quezon
City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and parts of Manila and Makati.
The multimillion MWC project increased the capacity of the Balara plant
by an additional 130 million liters per day. This was done to ensure
sufficient potable water during the summer months and to meet the future
increase in water demand.
MWC’s Balara Treatment Plant 1
Manila Water Company recently completed the P300-million process and capacity
upgrade of its oldest treatment plant. Built in 1935, the Balara Water Treatment
The plant’s treatment process was also upgraded, so that the quality of
water produced surpasses the Philippine National Standards for Drinking
Water (PNSDW). The facility now houses 10 gravity sand filters that treat raw
water coming from the La Mesa reservoir. The plant also uses a combined
air and water backwash system for a more efficient treatment process.
Structural improvements were also made to safeguard the facility and to
guarantee that the plant is earthquake resilient.
Ayala group takes part in 45th ADB meeting
Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime
Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Manila Water
Company President and CEO Gerardo Ablaza
Jr. were among the distinguished panelists
of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of
Governors of the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) held from May 2 to 5.
JAZA (center) speaks at the ADB meeting
Dubbed Manila 2012, the global event was
attended by more than 4,000 government and
business leaders, finance officials, development
experts, members of civil society, the academe,
and the media from 67 ADB member countries.
In a panel which carried the subject, Asian
Financing for Asian Growth: The Rise of IntraRegional Capital Flows, JAZA exchanged views
with AIA Group Chief Investment officer John
Chu, ANZ Chief Economist Paul Gruenwald;
and Changyong Rhee, ADB chief economist.
Singapore Ambassador VP Hirubalan, PSE President Hans Sicat,
Singapore Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Jane
Ittogi (Shanmugaratnam’s wife), and Mano Hirubalan (Hirubalan’s
wife)
JAZA also talked about the vision of Ayala for
the Asian region in light of recent international
investments, particularly MWC in Vietnam and
Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. in China.
cities—Upscaling Successful Practices. He
shared MWC’s success in delivering highquality water and wastewater services to 6.2
million people in Metro Manila’s east zone.
He highlighted the services they give to urban
poor communities through a public–private
partnership with the Metropolitan Waterworks
and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Other issues raised during the forum included
the fact that a significant number of peoples
across Asia still do not have access to
clean water and basic sanitation facilities—
issues MWC is actively resolving within the
communities it serves.
JAZA was one of the industry leaders who
hosted a private dinner for ADB governors in his
residence.
Manila 2012 was sponsored in part by Ayala
Corporation, with Globe Telecom providing the
conference’s communications and broadband
requirements.
Meanwhile, Ablaza served as a panelist in the
forum Meeting the Water Challenge in Asian
BPI President
Aurelio Montinola
III and and BBVA
Southeast Asia
Executivce
Director Carlos
Gaston Lopez
PPP Center Executive Director Cosette Canilao, Gracita Tolentino
Sieber, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, and Shell Philippines
Chairman Edgardo Chua
JAZA and
Bankers
Association
of the
Philippines
President
Albert
Villarosa
National
Competitiveness
Council CoChairman
Guillermo Luz
and Pacific
Main Holdings
Chairman Anton
Periquet
Spanish
Ambassador
Jorge Domecq,
Carlos Gaston
Lopez, and JZA
John Philip
Orbeta,
Cambodian
Ambassador
Hos Sereythonh,
and DPWH
Undersecretary
Rogelio Singson
Lizzie
Zobel,
Edgardo
Chua, and
JAZA
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
JZA’s Parcels murals displayed at The Aston
JZA’s Parcels series of murals graces the lobby and
lounges of The Aston, a new high-rise section of Two
Serendra in Bonifacio Global City. The murals, reproduced
on 12-millimeter-thick glass panels backlit with LED lights,
feature brightly colored crumpled papers and ribbons that
catch the eye with their myriad textures and hues.
JZA joins Alveo
executives led by
President Robert
Lao in front of a
Parcels mural
Parcels accentuates the minimalist interior design fashioned
by designer J. Anton Mendoza of J. Antonio Mendoza Design
Consultants. Similarly, Kenneth Cobonpue’s Bloom Chair, which
won the Coup de Coeur Award at the Maison et Object Paris in
September 2009, adorn the lobby to complement The Aston’s
minimalist interiors.
JZA’s Parcels
mural graces
The Aston’s
lounge
Manila Water builds country’s
first ISO accredited water meter
testing lab
The unique residential development marries the two key
elements of stylish elegant living: timeless design and fine
pieces of art. The structure’s design elements place the utmost
importance on lifestyle essentials and world-class Filipino design.
The Aston at Two Serendra creates an inviting community for
cosmopolitan urban dwellers.
Globe introduces Nokia Lumia 800
at summer launch party
Hundreds of Nokia fanatics,
celebrities, and media guests
trooped to Beso Cucina Vinoteka,
Bonifacio Global City, to attend
Globe Telecom’s Nokia Lumia
800 summer launch party.
Interactive screens featuring
introductory videos of the new
Nokia phone lined the venue’s
entrance, while device booths
allowed guests to try using the
phone. Guests were also treated
to free-flowing Spanish food and
drinks throughout the night.
MWC President and CEO Gerardo Ablaza (right) receives the ISO 17025
accreditation from Jaime L. Olmos, officer-in-charge of the Philippine
Accreditation Office
The Manila Water Company’s Metrology Center was recently awarded
an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation, for compliance with international
standards for competence of testing and calibration laboratories. All
MWC water meters go through the Metrology Center before installation
to assure their accuracy in registering water consumption.
Regular monitoring and re-examination of the Metrology Center and its
processes and equipment will be done by the Philippine Accreditation Office
to ensure continuous adherence to international standards for the generation
of accurate and reliable data. This will ensure that MWC’s current and future
customers enjoy the convenience of having 100-percent accurate water meter
readings.
Model Joey Mead was the event’s
emcee. She introduced Globe
senior adviser for Consumer
Business Peter Bithos and Nokia
Philippines General Manager and Head of Sales Dharmesh Goshalia, both of
who attested to the strong ties between the telecommunication companies.
“As the expert in devices with our fully customizable postpaid plans, Globe
is proud to be the exclusive partner of Nokia in launching the Nokia Lumia
800, the ultimate social media phone that integrates all your social networks’
features on your phonebook,” explained Bithos.
Livening up the party were Nokia Lumia 800 ambassadors Slater Young, Divine
Smith, Guji Lorenzana, Mikael Daez, Ashley Gosiengfiao, and Callum David.
Beauty queen Miriam Quiambao, fashion blogger Lauren Uy, fashion designer
Rajo Laurel, and Philippine Volcano team member Eric Tsai, were among the
other local personalities who attended the event. Globe and Nokia gave away
35 Lumia phones to lucky guests.
To learn more about the Globe Nokia Lumia 800, visit www.globe.com.ph/
nokialumia
First Ayala group job fair draws hundreds of applicants
Job openings are organized by specialization
Job seekers register for the Fast Track job fair
Hundreds of job applicants participated in Fast
Track, the Ayala group’s first-ever job fair held
on June 21, at the Glorietta Activity Center.
John Philip Orbeta, head of the Ayala Group
Human Resources Council, toured Ayala
Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel
de Ayala around the exhibit area during the
daylong event.
John Philip Orbeta (left) shows JAZA around the job fair
“Why join the Ayala group when there are
opportunities elsewhere?” asked Orbeta. “First of all
we’re the oldest company in the country. We’re 178
years old. If you are going to join any company, you
are probably better off with one that’s going to be
around for the long term. Secondly, we have a very
strong commitment to nation building. If you look at
our companies, there are many things we can do
and are doing for the country.”
Organized by the Talent Management Network
(TalentNet), the job fair gave jobseekers the
opportunity to learn about and apply to 20
companies within the Ayala group, including Ayala
Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe
Telecom, the Manila Water Company, Integrated
Micro-Electronics Inc., Ayala Automotive, and business
outsourcing companies under LiveIt Solutions.
Job applications for positions in sales, marketing,
customer service, finance, project/business
development, engineering, and information technology
were accepted.
“There are so many things that we can get involved in
as a conglomerate and as a group of companies. We
hope that you can join us because we do need your
talents to keep our engines running. What we always
tell people is to pick a role that you love doing ... the
most important thing is that you’re enjoying your work,”
Orbeta stressed.
The event also featured interactive games and booths
for Globe and BPI products and services, as well as
career talks on power dressing for interviews and
harnessing social media for job hunting. To close the
event, participants and mall goers were entertained by
the music of Rico Blanco and Never the Strangers.
Never the Strangers perform at the job fair
Top Ayala executives participate in third Ayala LEAP
Senior officers and managers of the Ayala group at the third Ayala LEAP
Now on its third year, the Ayala Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program
(Ayala LEAP) continues to hone talented individuals and potential business
leaders within the Ayala group of companies.
Holdings, Globe Telecom, Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., LiveIt Investments,
Ayala Group legal, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and the Manila Water
Company. These managers handle key roles such as company operations,
finance, treasury, marketing, sales, and engineering.
The 14-week executive education program, which ran from March 21 to June
20, featured lectures and group discussions, as well as case study and project
presentations, facilitated by Harvard Business School faculty through a virtual
learning environment.
Ayala LEAP’s curriculum, developed in 2012, focuses on the Ayala group’s
four essential business drivers: strategy and execution, customer centricity,
innovation and growth, and transformational leadership.
This year’s batch of participants, collectively known as Cohort 5, were composed
of 33 senior officers and managers from Ayala Land Inc., Ayala Automotive
Scott Anthony and Professors Vijay Govindarajan, Ranjay Gulati, Rajiv Lal, and
Amy Edmonson were this year’s program speakers.
10
Green initiaves of the
Ayala group of companies
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
Manila Water launches ‘Toka, Toka’ environmental advocacy program
Television host and weatherman “Kuya Kim” Atienza was tapped to be the
ambassador for MWC’s information and advocacy campaign. The “Toka,
Toka” program stresses the company’s 3As: awareness, action, and
acquisition.
The program involves making shareholders aware of the company’s
environmental advocacy, taking action towards managing household and
instititutional wastewater, and acquring local and national partners to work on
initiatives within their communities.
Thus, MWC has identified “four small ownable acts” that communities
can start with: desludging septic tanks every five years, practicing trash
segregation according to biodgegradablilty, connecting MWC’s sewer lines
to residential areas, and participation in MWC’s environmental projects.
Manila Water President and CEO Gerry Ablaza Jr. (sixth from
right), members of the MWC management committee, and MWC
employees make the “Toka, Toka” sign during the program’s launch
Manila Water Company recently launched an environmental campaign dubbed
“Toka, Toka” which means assuming responsibility for certain actions to
protect, keep, and revive the environment.
BPI’s Sustainable Energy Financing
program wins G-20 grant
The “Toka, Toka” program was inspired by MWC’s environmental advocacy
partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. and the Asian Development Bank.
The partnership focuses on the protection of rivers, which the company sees
as its main business source.
“Toka, Toka” was recently launched in Manila, and will soon be launched in
other communities serviced by MWC.
Ayala holds workshop for
sustainability reporting
A total of 30 Ayala group representatives participated in a two-day
workshop on sustainability reporting practices and methodology in
preparation for the drafting of the conglomerate-wide and individual
company reports. Ayala Corporation’s risk management team, led by
Chief Finance Officer Chito Conzalez and Associate Director Cathy
Hufana-Ang, organized the workshop.
G-20 representatives headed by Matthew Gamser (seated third from left) with BPI President
Aurelio Montinola III (seated fourth from left)
The Bank of the Philippine Islands is scaling up its Sustainable Energy Finance
(SEF) program using a $1.2-million (P50.4 million) grant it won at the 2012 G-20
SME Finance Challenge in Seoul, Korea.
The bank received the grant for its innovative financing scheme, which focused
on bolstering the energy projects of small and medium enterprises (SME). Its
SEF program was the only East Asian winner among the 14 grant awardees
worldwide. Over 200 entries were submitted to the contest.
The bank plans to use the grant to increase SME awareness of energy efficiency
and renewable energy projects. It will enhance the bank’s capacity to deliver
financing and technical services to clients through its Lending Group.
BPI President and CEO Aurelio Montinola III said: “As a pioneer in green banking
and in developing the SME market, BPI is thankful for the grant that will enable us
to expand our SEF program. Under this program, we have been able to disburse
over P5.1 billion in loans to sustainable energy projects, many of them belonging
to small entrepreneurs.”
The BPI SEF program was developed in partnership with the International
Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group. The SEF program seeks to
provide financing for companies interested in cutting their energy consumption,
producing green energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ayala group uses the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework
in measuring and disclosing economic, environmental, social, and
governance performance for its sustainability reports. GRI is a global,
nonprofit organization with a network of 30,000 sustainability experts
and has strategic partnerships with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), the UN Global Compact, the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Its sustainability
report framework, now on version 3.1, is widely used around the world.
The Ayala group pioneered sustainability reporting in the country.
Manila Water Company released the first report in 2005, followed by
Ayala Land (in 2007), then the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe
Telecom, and Cebu Holdings in 2009. Ayala was also the first Philippine
conglomerate to publish a group-wide report, which covered its
consolidated reports for 2008.
In 2009, Manila Water was the first local company to publish a report
with a GRI level of A (self-declared). This year, Globe published
Ayala’s first externally assured B-level report. Globe is the first
telecommunications company and one of the few companies in the
country to have an audited sustainability report.
Present at the workshop were representatives from the Ayala group
Sustainability Council, including Ayala Group Head for Corporate
Resources John Philip Orbeta, BPI Chief Environmental Officer Randy
Maranan, Manila Water Head of Sustainable Development Carla Kim,
Corporate Communications heads Emily de Lara (Ayala), Yoly Crisanto
(Globe), and Jorge Marco (ALI), and members of various units involved
in the reporting process.
BPI funds construction of the
country’s first refuse-derived fuel
plant
Globe mobile technology to power
National Greening Program
Globe Telecom has partnered with the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE)
to aid the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) through the use of
mobile technology.
The FPE is one of two civil-society organizations assisting the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in implementing the NGP. Together,
the two organizations seek to plant and maintain 50 million seedlings of indigenous
trees.
Globe and FPE signed a memorandum of agreement in the presence of DENR
Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Marlo Mendoza.
BPI officers headed by Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Gil Buenaventura (seated fourth from left) and GATSI representatives headed by
Nixon Lim
The Bank of the Philippine Islands granted Green Alternative
Technology Specialists Inc. (GATSI) a P150-million loan to
facilitate the construction of the first refuse-derived fuel (RDF)
plant in the Philippines on May 30. The plant will be located at
the Rodriguez Sanitary Landfill in Montalban, Rizal.
Converting solid waste to energy creates RDF, a substitute for coal
and fossil fuel. Combustible components of municipal wastes such as
plastic and biodegradable materials will be shredded and dehydrated
via waste converter technology to produce RDF.
GATSI has entered into a joint venture with Solid Cement Corp. Under
the agreement, GATSI will produce and supply RDF to the cement
company for 10 years. This partnership earned the Father Neri Satur
Award for Environmental Heroism by the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR).
This project funding is part of BPI’s Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF)
program, which seeks to make it easy for companies and institutions
to invest in energy efficient and renewable energy projects.
According to the agreement, Globe, through its corporate social responsibility
team, will provide information and communications technology (ICT) support for
FPE through the rapid registration of seedlings. The technology will also facilitate
payments between the DENR and participating organizations.
“One of the pillars of Globe Bridging Communities is iConserve, whereby we show
active corporate citizenship in the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of
critical environment areas in the Philippines just like what NGP is doing to mitigate
the destruction of the country’s natural resources,” said Rob Nazal, head of
corporate social responsibility at Globe.
Globe will be donating 380 mobile phones and Globe Bridging Communities SIM
Cards with special discounted rates to indigenous communities, nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders.
A P5,000-monthly Text Connect facility will also be set up for efficient and real-time
monitoring of production, planting, and progress of seedlings. Moreover, Globe will
provide free Internet connection and free calls during critical project activities.
“ICT, particularly mobile technology which Globe is offering, is a critical tool for
indigenous peoples organizations to be actively engaged, for service payment and
advisory support to be efficient, and for the program’s overall monitoring, reporting,
and evaluation systems to happen in real time,” said Danny Valenzuela, FPE CEO.
Globe commits P800,000 to Cordillera
Conservation Trust
BanKO, IFC provide
microfinance services for
entrepreneurs
BPI Globe BanKO (BanKO) recently signed a twoyear advisory agreement with the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s arm for the private
sector, to provide microfinance services for clean energy
and energy-saving projects in the country.
Globe Corporate
Communications Head Yoly
Crisanto (standing, middle)
turns over part of the donations
raised during the Globe
Cordillera Challenge 3 to
JP Alipio, executive director of
Cordillera Conservation Trust
Globe Telecom recently committed P800,000
to the Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT) for
the establishment of 20 seedling nurseries as a
relevant, practical, and sustainable solution to
environmental problems in the Cordillera region.
This amount is P200,000 more than last year’s
commitment.
Globe raised P569,000 from external registrants
and various sponsors of the Globe Cordillera
Challenge 3 biking event. Two hundred twentytwo bikers from all over the country pedaled from
Baguio City to Mt. Cabuyao Summit for the event.
Meanwhile, the Globe Adventure Club, a group
of sports-minded Globe employees donated
P198,000 from their own fund-raising efforts.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of
support not only from our own employees but
from the biking communities and individuals
who get together to save the environment,
particularly the Cordilleras. On our part, we
will continue to work with CCT to deliver our
promise of a better future for the Cordilleras
and its people,” said Globe Corporate
Communications head Yoly Crisanto.
BanKO is the first mircofinance-focused bank in the country
to partner with IFC and its sustainable energy finance (SEF)
program. The Bank of the Philippine Islands and Banco de
Oro (BDO) had earlier partnerships with IFC that focused
on working with large corporate investors and small and
medium enterprises (SME). The BanKO–IFC partnership
aims to make SEF products accessible to micro and small
enterprises as well as ordinary homeowners.
By using BanKO’s microfinance network, IFC can focus
on connecting with customers it could not reach and find
niche markets where it can help the most. The IFC will also
conduct a market study to gain deeper knowledge of the
demand for potential SEF projects.
“We are excited about this program. The smaller businesses
and lower-income families are actually paying the highest
prices for energy. Through the Sustainable Energy Finance
program, we can help them conserve energy and access
cheaper and environment-friendly sources of power,” said
BanKO President Teresita Tan.
12
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
AYLC Batch 2011 graduates share stories of leadership
Working on this project inspired him and his friends to seek other grants for
more community projects. Their persistence paid off when they won the British
Council’s I am a Changemaker social enterprise business plan competition and the
Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grant competition.
AYLC 2011
delegates
with Ayala
representatives
The Ayala Young Leaders Congress batch 2011 celebrated on May 26 its
graduation party dubbed Shindig 2012: Ignite. Accelerate. Drive. Ayala group
executives and Talent Net representatives joined 81 alumni of Batch Kislap, one
year after their AYLC experience. During the event, the graduates shared stories
about their leadership accomplishments over the past year.
Lily Jean Cacatian, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree in BS
Development Communications from the University of Southern Mindanao, talked
about how AYLC strengthened her passion for nation building.
Their social enterprise project called Gasa sa Guso (Gifts from Seaweed): An
Integrated Education and Entrepreneurship Program for the Pangan-an Island
Youth, was the winning entry for both contests. Due to the decrease of fish stock
on their island.The project sought to promote seaweed farm operations as a
sustainable means of livelihood for a fishing community.
“Right now, we are organizing the community because eventually, we would
encourage them to form a cooperative so that they will own the enterprise,”
Abarcar said.
Jay-R Mendoza, on the other hand, was an advocate of youth leadership. He
conducted leadership training for 72 of the most promising youth leaders in Rizal
Province. He even invited fellow AYLC batch mates Aeron Christian Morado and
John Aries Tudla to speak as panelists during the workshop.
“I kept on joining and I volunteered myself for more community and extension
works and even had my own project implemented,” said Cacatian, a Sangguniang
Kabataan kagawad. She was also a former senator of the student council and
president of the Development Communications Society.
“AYLC ignited the realization that the service I could give should not be confined
within the four corners of our university,” shared Mendoza, who graduated magna
cum laude with a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree from the University
of Rizal System–Morong. He also received several leadership excellence awards
during his graduation.
She spearheaded Go Green!, a rehabilitation project for the Kabacan Watershed
in Cotabato. The comprehensive tree-planting project had a monitoring system
to ensure the growth and protection of seedlings planted. The project began on
September 2011, and was turned over to the Municipal Environment and Natural
Resources Office on March 2012.
Then, Katrina Lee, who graduated magna cum laude with a BS Business
Administration degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, said: “AYLC has
inspired me to love my work and involvements with more passion, bring them and
my teams to “the next level,” and face challenges with more courage and trust in
the people around me.”
Michael Angelo Abarcar, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in BS
Accountancy from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, shared how
the concept of servant leadership changed his perspective on what it truly meant to
be a leader.
Lee was an officer of Tugon, a student organization focused on the protection of
children’s rights. She headed the Tugon Weekly Area Insertions and Day-Outs.
This activity brought together organization members and National Service Training
Program (NSTP) students to help in the healing process of sexually abused girls
through various development programs and activities.
Abarcar led his first large-scale community project entitled Pag-asa sa Pagbasa:
Flickering Hope to the Youth of Pangan-an Island through a Functional School
Library. This project was made possible through a P50,000 grant from the Colgate
Fresh U Project.
The AYLC is a concrete expression of the Ayala group’s commitment to national
development. It is the keystone of “Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders.” The program
was launched in 1998 by the Ayala group of companies as a strategic investment
in the youth, and ultimately, in the future of the country.
Leadership Communities launched in Samar, Capiz, and Baguio
Leadership Communities (LeadCom), Ayala Foundation’s effort to bring the Ayala
Young Leaders Congress experience to different parts of the country, was brought
to three separate locations in the first half of the year.
LeadCom’s launch in Samar, Capiz, and Baguio City reached a total of 292
student leaders and 74 facilitators. After the project launch in each LeadCom area,
partner schools are expected to implement their own leadership programs. In
addition, campers are given seed money to implement service projects within their
communities.
In Samar, 30 representatives from Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU),
Samar State University, University of Eastern Philippines, and AMA College
Learning Center, were trained to become LeadCom facilitators. These facilitators
led a three-day leadership camp for 97 student leaders coming from these partner
schools. Held on April 12 to 14 at the NWSSU campus, the camp was keynoted by
Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento of Samar’s first district.
In Capiz, 21 representatives from the Colegio de la Purisima Boulevard
Campus, Filamer Christian University (FCU), Capiz State University, and the
College of St. John–Roxas were trained as LeadCom facilitators. A total of 98
students from the partner schools attended the leadership camp held at FCU.
Rev. Dr. Domingo Diel, president of FCU, keynoted the camp.
Meanwhile, Globe’s Bridging Communities partnered with AFI for the Baguio City
launch of LeadCom. Trained to become facilitators were 23 representatives from
Participants in LeadCom Capiz
the Benguet State University, Cordillera Career Development College, University
of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, and Saint Louis University. Benguet State
hosted the three-day leadership camp on May 21 to 23, attended by 97 student
leaders and keynoted by Chery Daytec-Yangot, legal counsel of the Save 182
Movement.
Ayala Foundation’s LeadCom was officially launched in November 2011, in
partnership with Active Aid Partners, a Danish nongovernmental organization. It
was piloted in Catanduanes and Oriental Mindoro before being brought to other
areas.
JZA presents tropical treasures in calendar and note cards
Evoking the genteel spirit of the tropics, the calendar and note cards
explore similar themes found in the book Encounter with Paradise (Filipinas
Foundation/Ayala Foundation, 1980), JZA’s depiction of the traditions, arts,
and cultures of Papua New Guinea.
“Nature’s beauty is remarkably endless and complex: there seems to be no
way for a single artist to apprehend its workings exhaustively,” said JZA. “One
is humbled in the face of such a powerful force, so I simply try in my work to
freeze or capture some of these moments of natural beauty, not to interpret
nature—an impossible task—but to posit what I hope are new ways of viewing
and portraying its wonders in photographs.”
Tropical Riches cover
Tropical Riches, January 2013
Tropical Riches, the 2013 calendar designed by Ayala Corporation Chairman Emeritus
Jaime Zobel de Ayala, features a wealth of tropical materials, shapes, and textures.
Shells, buri mats, weaves, and other materials native to the Philippines and other Pacific
islands adorn the calendar’s pages.
JZA, whose works have been widely exhibited in the country, graduated with a
degree in Architectural Sciences from Harvard University. He is the first Filipino
photographer to be confirmed “Licentiate” by the Royal Photographic Society,
and has garnered similar commendations from the French and Spanish
governments.
For corporate orders please e-mail bareiro.ma@ayala.com.ph
Ayala moves for
TEN Moves
Manuel Baldemor’s Timeless Swiss
Landscape at the Ayala Museum
In 1862, Switzerland opened its first Asiabased consulate in Manila. This was the start of
uninterrupted bilateral relations between the two
countries for a century and a half. Today, the
Philippines has the second largest Swiss community
in Asia. Switzerland is also one of the top 10 foreign
investors in the Philippines.
From left: Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo
Sieber, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary
Rafael Seguis, Manuel Baldemor, and AFI President
Luli Heras-De Leon during the ceremonial ringing of the
cowbell
The Ayala Museum, in partnership with the Swiss
Embassy Manila, the Department of Foreign
Affairs, and UBS Investment Bank, presents
Timeless Swiss Landscapes, an exhibition of
paintings by the award-winning artist Manuel
Baldemor.
For more information on the Ayala Museum and
Timeless Swiss Landscape by Manuel Baldemor,
call 757 7117 to 21 or e-mail museum_inquiry@
ayalafoundation.org
AFI Senior Director for
Arts and Culture Mariles
Gustilo gives the opening
remarks
Organized in celebration of the 150th year of official
Philippine–Swiss relations, the exhibit ran from May 28
to July 1 at the Ayala Museum’s ground-floor gallery.
Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC)
and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) have
offered salary deduction as a channel by which their
employees can donate to TEN Moves. Meanwhile,
Ayala Corporation pledged P2.5 million to offset the
cost of the campaign’s secretariat operations for
2012.
Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Integrated MicroElectronics Inc., and Ayala Young Leaders Congress
(AYLC) 2012 have also given donations and pledges
to TEN Moves, while a number of AYLC delegates
and alumni have implemented the campaign in their
respective schools.
A fund-raising campaign of Bayanihang
Pampaaralan, TEN Moves seeks to raise resources
to build 10,000 public school classrooms by October
10, 2012. Its strategy is to get 2 million Filipinos
to donate P3,000 in total, or P300 a month for 10
months. This is equivalent to P10 per day for 10
months.
TEN Moves focuses on harnessing the generosity
of individual Filipino donors such as students,
employees, parishioners, and the public at large.
Launched in October 2011, this campaign gives
each person an opportunity to respond to our
country’s education crisis in a manner that makes
giving easy, convenient, and secure.
Baldemor is the first Filipino artist to be granted an artistin-residence scholarship at the Internationale Austach
Ateliers in Basel, Switzerland, in 2004. As a result of
his art residency and subsequent trips to Switzerland,
Baldemor painted over 100 Swiss landscapes.
Each of the paintings were inspired by the serene and
ephemeral charm of the country’s towns and cities. The
Swiss art scene, which has an artistic climate that is
supportive of fresh ideas and formal experimentation,
also moved him.
Members of the Ayala group are helping the
TEN (The Entire Nation) Moves campaign in
order to address the lack of classrooms in the
country.
Old Town in Sepia
Aquarelle, pen
and ink on paper
55.88 x 38.1 cm
1994
For more information on how you can help TEN
Moves, please visit www.tenmoves.org or call (02)
752 1186 / 752 1061. You may also like the TEN
Moves Facebook page (www.facebook.com/
TENMoves) and follow the campaign on Twitter
(www.twitter.com/TEN_Moves)
14
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
Isuzu Cavite kicks off 2012
Isuzu Family Challenge
BanKO, Globe partner for CSR programs
In photo are (from left) BanKO
Community Banking Group
Vice President Jose Raul
Jereza IV, BanKO President
Teresita Tan, Globe President
and CEO Ernest Cu, and
Globe CSR Head Rob Nazal
BPI Globe BanKO (BanKO) has partnered with Globe Telecom to promote financial inclusion
and bring banking services to fisher folk, coffee farmers, and marginalized communities in the
country.
Participants in the Isuzu Cavite Family Challenge
Isuzu Automotive Dealership Inc. (IADI) and Isuzu
Philippines Corporation welcomed summer by holding
the Isuzu Family Challenge, a series of family activities
organized by Isuzu dealerships throughout the country.
Isuzu Cavite kicked off the series on April 14. The first
challenge, in which 15 teams participated, was the fueleconomy challenge. Teams drove from Isuzu Cavite to
Chateau Royale Sports and Country Club in Nasugbu,
Batangas, where a fun-filled program awaited them.
The 100-km drive demonstrated the fuel efficiency of
Isuzu vehicles, particularly the 2007 and later models.
Non-Isuzu teams were also invited to witness and
experience the performance of Isuzu vehicles. Test
units were provided at the country club for the nonIsuzu teams to drive around.
BanKO is the country’s first mobile-savings bank. It encourages the habit of saving among
indigenous communities by providing them the opportunity to open their own bank accounts.
BanKO accounts earn an interest of 1 percent per annum, provided they maintain an average
daily balance of P2,000 for the year.
For its part, Globe makes BanKO’s services accessible through mobile phones, using the Globe
Bridging Communities (GBC) SIM card. Through GBC’s i-Prosper program, BanKO and Globe
make it possible for people from lower-income segments to gain access to financial services.
“We are happy that through our partnership with BPI Globe BanKO, we are able to provide
financial services and livelihood opportunities to the masses. We aim to serve communities that
traditional financial institutions cannot reach,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.
AYLC alumna becomes youngest ARMM legislator
The family day was made possible through
sponsorships from Caltex Philippines, Chowking,
Carryboy Accessories, Suburbia Automotive Ventures
Inc. Auto Detailing, Timezone, and the Bank of the
Philippine Islands.
The Isuzu Family Challenge is scheduled every
Saturday, from April 14 to September 22, in all of
Isuzu’s 19 dealerships.
HCMI, Petron aid motorists
during Holy Week
Sittie Lao (right)
with President
Benigno Aquino
III during her
oath-taking in
Malacañang
Sittie Norhanie Hamdag Lao, a 22-year-old
alumna of Ayala Young Leaders Congress
(AYLC) Batch 2009, made history on May 8
when she became the youngest legislator
in the history of the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). President Benigno
Aquino III led the oath-taking of the 27 new
officers-in-charge of the ARMM Regional
Legislative Assembly.
Lao was chosen because of her advocacy
and track record in youth development.
Thus, known local civil-society organizations
endorsed her to represent the second
district of Lanao de Sur. From hundreds
of applicants, she was chosen to lead her
district composed of 22 municipalities.
Lao said that her passion for service
began during her college years and was
strengthened because of her leadership
experience with AYLC: “I owe so much to
AYLC. It taught me the importance of holding
onto my values and convictions. I believe I
would not have been as brave to challenge
the status quo if I had not been a part of
AYLC. It is also because of my batch mates
in AYLC that I also continue to be inspired
of doing great things despite the many
challenges.”
Ayala Group Events
Honda Cars Makati Inc. (HCMI) joined Petron’s Lakbay
Alalay 2012 project to provide free safety inspection
and emergency assistance to motorists during Holy
Week last April. HCMI service tents were set up
in selected Petron stations along the North Luzon
Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway
(SLEX), in anticipation of increased vehicular traffic.
HCMI offered free 20-point checkups for Honda
vehicles and free 10-point checkups for non-Honda
vehicles, to ensure the safety of motorists as they left
and returned to Metro Manila. They also provided onsite service for motorists who encountered vehicular
problems during their drive.
Distrito Makati Late Night Food Market
Amorsolo Open Parking Lot (near Makati Medical Center)
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
http://www.facebook.com/distritomakati
Book Editorial Design
With Ige Ramos
Filipinas Heritage Library
August 2, 9, 16, and 23
http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph
Make It Happen. Make It Makati
Makati: Capture It as I Happens
(Photography Contest)
June 22 to July 12
http://www.makeitmakati.com
Images of a Nation: Victorio Edades
Ayala Museum
Ongoing until July 29, 2012
Third-floor gallery
http://www.ayalamuseum.org
Business Writing and English Proficiency
With Isabelita Reyes
Filipinas Heritage Library
July 21
http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph
Sharaku Interpreted by
Japan’s Contemporary Artists
Ayala Museum
July 10 to September 16, 2012
http://www.ayalamuseum.org
Bulletin
Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific holds
simultaneous Youth Builds
Ayala TBI organizes
TechBootCamp, Innovation
Forum on telehealth
Telehealth, or the use of telecommunications technology
to deliver health-related services, was the focus of the
Health Innovation by Pinoys (HIP) TechBootCamp and
Innovation Forum organized by the Ayala Technology
Business Incubator (Ayala TBI) and ACCESS Health
International.
FZA and Sylvia Zobel speak
to children at the Navotas
Youth Build
Habitat for Humanity held its Asia-Pacific-wide Youth Build 2012 on May 12 with volunteers
from the Philippines, China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand holding simultaneous home-building
activities in their respective countries.
In the Philippines, at least 3,700 volunteers joined the Youth Build activities in Cagayan de Oro City and
Navotas City, for the benefit of Filipinos who had lost their homes to typhoons. The displaced families
currently live in evacuation centers, where there is limited access to health and sanitation facilities.
“Whenever we think of disasters, the images that come to us are sad and depressing,” said Habitat for
Humanity Philippines CEO and Managing Director Charlie Ayco. “But with this Youth Build, I hope we
also remember that this time it’s the youth who are taking the step toward rebuilding the lives, homes,
and communities of the people affected. At such a young age, helping 200 families have a home is a big
initiative.”
Joining the Philippine volunteers at the Navotas Youth Build was Sylvia Zobel, daughter of Ayala
Corporation President and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala. Her father and 50 of her friends from the
International School Manila joined her. Together, they built homes in honor of their friend Harry. They also
raised around P1 million for the construction of homes.
“We want to help people and do it in a way that Harry’s memory stays alive,” said Sylvia in a newspaper
interview. Four of the 200 homes built in Navotas on that day were built in Harry’s name.
Ayala Museum joins Google Art Project
The HIP TechBootCamp, held at the UP-Ayala Land
TechnoHub on March 10, 17, 24, and April 14, sought
to generate ideas and applications using telehealth
systems. These systems could then be transformed into
technology enterprises that would target Filipinos living
in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas
(GIDA), where access to health services is lacking.
The camp began with Idea Pitches Day, where
participating teams presented technology, application,
market, and business models to a panel of experts.
The panel was composed of representatives from
Carillon Venture Partners, the Development Bank of
the Philippines, Hybridigm Consulting, ICCP Venture
Partners, the Astra Group of Companies, GCash, and the
Galing Pook Foundation.
There was also a session on paradigm shift, during
which doctors from the University of the Philippines
National Health Care Center talked about what it takes
to be a “doctor to the barrios,” and the application and
integration of health informatics.
In addition, Asian Social Enterprise Incubator founder
Markus Dietrich stressed the advantages of the latest
backorder processing (BoP) models of no-frills services
and distribution channels when dealing with suppliers
and manufacturers. He also promoted the idea of
“inclusive business.”
Meanwhile, the Innovation Forum on telehealth was held
on March 31 at the Brokenshire Hospital Compound in
Davao City.
Ninety-four participants, composed of medical doctors,
nurses, midwives, school administrators, IT specialists,
IT students, health advocates, and business startups,
attended the forum. Participants were divided into
seven teams, each of which identified a pressing health
problem and proposed innovative solutions.
Diorama 39
Proclamation of
Independence from
Spain
from the 60-piece
exhibition, The Diorama
Experience
Photo by Arnel Murillo
The Ayala Museum recently joined the
Google Art Project (www.googleartproject.
com), a global partnership between Google
and 151 cultural institutions in 40 countries
to make artwork accessible to anyone,
anywhere, anytime. As of April, more than
30,000 high-resolution images of artworks
from around the world can now be viewed
online.
For its part, the Ayala Museum has submitted
photographs of 15 out of 60 dioramas from its
popular The Diorama Experience exhibition.
These dioramas, which depict significant
moments in Philippine history, can now be
viewed online after a few mouse clicks.
“We’re really excited to be part of the Google Art
Project,” said Ayala Foundation Senior Director
for Arts and Culture Mariles Gustilo. “It is really
a great way to bring the richness of Philippine
history and art to the world, no matter how far
and what time of day.”
“Google is committed to bringing all types of
culture online and making it accessible. The Art
Project demonstrates how the Internet helps
spread knowledge,” stressed Google Vice
President for Engineering Nelson Mattos.
FZA appointed to the
National Museum Board
President Benigno Aquino III recently appointed Ayala
Corporation President Fernando Zobel de Ayala as the
private sector’s representative to the National Museum
Board.
FZA took over the board seat vacated by former
National Museum Director Corazon Alvina. His term will
end on March 24, 2014.
The National Museum is dedicated to “the mission
of collecting, preserving, studying, interpreting, and
exhibiting the cultural and natural history specimens of
the Philippines, from the historic times to the present,
albeit the diversity of their cultural origins.”
FZA was chosen for his strong commitment to the
promotion and enrichment of Philippine art and culture.
16
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
ALI signs joint venture for
retail with Rustan group
Ayala companies cited by FinanceAsia,
Corporate Governance Asia
Ayala Land Inc. is entering into a joint venture for
retail with Specialty Investments Inc. (SII), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Stores Specialists Inc., which
in turn is part of the Rustan group of companies.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange,
ALI said joint venture is a way for the companies
to “pursue opportunities in the Philippine retail
sector.”
One of the biggest retail companies in the
Philippines, SII has exclusive rights to sell,
distribute, and market in the country a variety
of international brands. These brands include
Cartier, Gucci, Prada, Zara, Calvin Klein Jeans,
Gap, Burberry, Marks & Spencer, Ralph Lauren,
Debenhams, Lacoste, and Nine West.
“The partnership with SII will enable ALI to support
its mixed-use developments and, at the same time,
grow its recurring income portfolio,” ALI Deputy
Compliance Officer Pamela Ann Perez said.
In addition, the partnership with SII will
provide retail support for many of ALI’s retail
developments.
Globe begins seven-year
upgrade of business
support systems
Globe Telecom has begun a seven-year
upgrading of its business support systems
(BSS) and enterprise system warehouse
to enhance its postpaid and prepaid
telecommunications services. Globe is working
with Amdocs InTouch, a leading provider of
BSS, operations support systems, and network
product solutions.
“Amdocs will be implementing a convergent
prepaid-postpaid solution which will help Globe
introduce innovative, convergent service bundles
and price plans,” said Globe Chief Information
Officer Henry Aguda.
Meanwhile, Amdocs Southeast Asia’s Amir Ofek
made the following statement during the annual
Amdocs InTouch conference in Miami, Florida:
“We believe that by modernizing and consolidating
business support systems and data warehouse
systems, Globe will be able to deliver better
customer experience, improve time to market, and
offer differentiated services.”
Aside from upgrading Globe’s postpaid and
prepaid mobile operations, Amdocs will also be
upgrading the company’s wireless, wire line, and
broadband operations.
“This will enable Globe to manage its customer
relationships better across various product offerings
and provide a new level of personalized experience
that customers are looking for,” Ofek explained.
CFO Chito
Gonzales
(third from
left) receives
the citations
for Ayala
ALI
President
Antonino
Aquino is
cited as
one of the
country’s
best CEOs
Ayala Corporation is the Philippines’ best managed company, according to the annual poll of
FinanceAsia, a leading financial publishing company covering the region’s capital and banking
markets.
Ayala Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, and Manila Water Company ranked third,
fifth, sixth, and eighth place among other local companies.
Ayala Corporation was also named best in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility
(CSR). It ranked second place for investor relations.
Meanwhile, BPI, ALI, and Globe ranked third, fifth, and seventh best in governance. Globe and BPI were
in fourth and eight place for investor relations, while MWC, Globe, and BPI were in second, sixth, and
seventh place for CSR.
Moreover, Globe, BPI, and the Ayala were ranked second, third, and sixth best among companies most
committed to a strong dividend policy. ALI President Antonino Aquino was also cited as one of the best
CEOs in the Philippines.
In addition, regional publication Corporate Governance Asia once again recognized corporate
governance in the Ayala group as among the Best of Asia. Ayala, ALI, MWC, and ALI subsidiary Cebu
Property Ventures and Development Corporation were among the companies recognized for continuing
to lead the way in initiating best practices which provide an open, ethical, and continuing dialogue with
stakeholders in the spirit of fairness and Asian values.
Ayala Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala was also recognized as one of the outstanding
corporate directors from boards of public and private companies in Asia. The magazine’s 8th Corporate
Governance Asia Annual Recognition Awards and 3rd Asian Corporate Director Recognitions Awards
were jointly held on June 20 in Hong Kong.
BPI wins at Banking and Payments Asia Awards
The Bank of the Philippines won several awards at
the Banking and Payments Asia (BPA) Trailblazer
Awards held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront
Hotel, Singapore, on May 11. The bank accepted
the Prepaid Product Excellence award, Government
Category, for Pantawid Pasada, a government
program that subsidizes a part of jeepney drivers’
fuel expenses.
“The successful and timely implementation of the
Public Transport Assistance Program, Pantawid
Pasada, is a testament to how the Bank of the
Philippine Islands, as a leading financial institution,
focuses not only on uplifting its consumers’ lives but
also the enrichment of the Philippines as a nation,”
said BPI Vice President and Debit and Prepaid
Department head Aileen Lamasuta.
To serve as a vehicle to disburse fuel subsidies for
220,000 identified transport groups in the country,
BPI, in cooperation with the Department of Energy
(DOE), developed a reloadable proprietary prepaid
card, used by the government.
Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya (of which Pantawid
Pasada is a component) opened bank accounts
with BPI Globe BanKO during the launch of a public–
private partnership project between the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Globe
Telecom.
The DOE electronically loads the card using BPI’s
Expresslink real-time fund-transfer system. Once
loaded, the card may be used to purchase fuel
in more than half of all retail gasoline stations
nationwide.
BPI also received special commendations for Channel
Excellence in Internet Banking through BPI Express
Online and for Process Excellence in Customer
Centricity through BPI Express Assist (BEA).
To carry out the program, BPI had to overcome two Banking and Payments Asia is Asia’s leading journal
for retail banking and payments.
challenges within a short time: producing 200,000
prepaid cards, and making these interoperable with
the bank’s point-of-sale terminals.
Bulletin
BPI Asset Management
named Best Fund House
three years in a row
Ernest Cu is CEO of the Year
—Frost & Sullivan
Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu was named CEO of the year (Service Provider) by
global business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan during the 9th Annual Asia Pacific ICT
awards ceremony held recently at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.
Cu was chosen for his visionary leadership in positioning Globe as a customer-focused, servicecentric company that delivers superior customer experience.
“Globe is transforming holistically—from the way we think and compete in this business, to
modernizing our whole service infrastructure that will make customer experience our true differentiating
advantage,” Cu said in his speech.
Cu expressed optimism over Globe’s future in providing the country with the best mobile services.
Thus, the company has rolled out its modernization program during the first half of the year.
“Our determination is strong because we have the support and loyalty of our customers behind us.
I have seen the one great thing that spells a huge difference in any undertaking of this scale—our
people having the heart, not just to fight, but to win. People who declare ‘I love Globe’ and thus,
people who now dare to put the customer first,” he stressed.
Every year, Frost & Sullivan identifies outstanding industry achievements by companies in regional
and global markets through in-depth interviews, market analysis, performance measurements, and
benchmarking of market participants.
Results are presented to an independent panel of judges, composed of influential personalities,
decision-makers, and thought leaders from information and communications technology (ICT) sectors
across Asia.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands’ Asset
Management Team was named Best
Fund House in the Philippines for the third
consecutive year during AsianInvestors’
Investment Performance Awards 2012.
BPI was the only Philippine bank that won
an award during the ceremony held at the
Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong, on May 24.
AsianInvestor is an esteemed asset
management and institutional investment
publication in Asia, which recognizes
institutions that have emerged as the best
in their respective categories through its
annual awards. Winners are selected after
stringent research and assessment based
on performance, innovation, and market
leadership.
BPI’s Asset Management Team also won the
Gold distinction for the Reader’s Digest Trusted
Brand Investment Funds Category for the sixth
year, and was awarded at a ceremony held at
the Genting Club, Resorts World.
Manila Water among
Asia’s best IT users
FHL wins INASP international
photo competition
MWC Customer
Affairs Manager for
East Zone Business
Operations Diana
Lou Buenaventura
accepts the CIO 100
citation
FHL’s three
winning entries
carrying the
theme Bringing
Libraries to Life
The Filipinas Heritage Library recently won an international advocacy and photography
competition organized by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific
Publications (INASP).
Dubbed Bringing Libraries to Life, the contest sought to promote “the activity of librarians involved
in advocacy work, raising awareness and support for their libraries with people of influence in their
institutions and wider user community,” as stated on INSAP’s official website.
Besides FHL, the Ateneo de Manila University’s Rizal Library, and University of the Philippines’
College of Engineering Library, were the other winners from the Philippines.
FHL had three winning entries, which featured the library as a repository for digitized Filipino music,
a modern research center on Philippine art, culture, and history, and a pocket of silence where
researchers and readers can concentrate on their work.
CIO Magazine certified the Manila Water
Company among Asia’s top performing
enterprise users of information
technology (IT) for 2012. MWC was
cited for its customer care and
billing system–customer relationship
management (CCBS-CRM) project.
The first major CRM project in the
country, CCBS-CRM uses a geographical
information system (GIS), which is a
mapping system that pinpoints precise
customer location via Global Positioning
System (GPS) coordinates.
According to CIO’s official website, “Every
year, the CIO 100 Awards honor 100
companies that demonstrate excellence
and achievement in IT … that are using IT
in innovative ways to deliver competitive
advantage to the enterprise and enable
growth.”
18
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
MOAs inked for OurLibrary projects in Quezon province
The local government units (LGU) of Infanta and Lucena City in Quezon
province each signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Ayala
Foundation Inc. (AFI) and BPI Foundation Inc. (BFI) to develop community
libraries aimed at expanding and enriching the learning experience of
students and residents of the said localities.
On May 11, the MOA for the Infanta project was signed at the Infanta Municipal
Building Annex. Signatories and witnesses to the MOA were Mayor Filipina Grace
America, AFI President Maria Lourdes Heras-de Leon, AFI Senior Director Ma.
Elizabeth Gustilo, BFI Executive Director Florendo Maranan, Member and Chair
of Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Education Rodante Potes, and BFI
Finance and Administrative Officer Gina Astilla. Also present during the MOA
signing was Vice Mayor Ricardo Macasaet III.
The LGU of Infanta allotted space for the Municipal Library at the fourth floor of
the Municipal Building Annex. Aside from this, the LGU also committed to provide
logistical support and resources for capacity-building activities, donate additional
books and other materials for the library collection, and hire and deploy one or
more full-time librarians.
For the Lucena project, the City Government of Lucena, AFI, and BFI, partnered
with the Department of Education (DepEd)—Lucena City. DepEd allocated space
for the community library in the Lucena West I Elementary School.
The MOA was signed in Lucena on June 6 by the following signatories and
witnesses: Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga, DepEd Lucena Schools Division
Superintendent Dr. Aniano Ogayon, AFI President Maria Lourdes Heras-de Leon,
BFI Executive Director Florendo Maranan, Member and Chair of Sangguniang
Panlungsod Committee on Education Felix Avillo, and BFI Finance and
Administrative Officer Gina Astilla.
James Cooper, popular beauty expert and chair of Lucena’s Pasayahan Festival,
was also present during the MOA signing. Cooper, who had also envisioned a
Infanta Mayor Filipina Grace
America (third from right), AFI
President Maria Lourdes Herasde Leon (center), BPI Foundation
Executive Director Florendo
Maranan (second from right),
and AFI Senior Director Ma.
Elizabeth Gustilo (third from left),
and other reprsentatives from the
local government
learning center in the city, said that proceeds from the festival would help fund
the OurLibrary project in Lucena.
AFI, through the Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL), spearheads OurLibrary,
which aims to develop the resource materials, facilities, and library services
for communities, especially for the youth. FHL acquires books and materials
that comprise the seed collection of libraries, installs an online public access
catalog (OPAC), and conducts training in librarianship. Related activities that
aim to promote a greater love of reading and learning as well as awareness
and appreciation of local heritage are also initiated through this project.
Meanwhile, BFI provides funds for both projects through the Doña Isabel
Garcia Trust Fund. Doña Isabel, a Spanish lady who lived in Infanta for several
years, entrusted funds to BPI to be used for various development projects in
the town that she considered home. The LGUs are also providing counterpart
funding including maintenance and operating expenses and salaries of
designated librarians.
Both community libraries will be completed six months after the signing of the
agreement. The libraries will be open to the public.
JZA judges BPI’s Ayala Olympics photo contest
JZA spoke to members of the BPI Camera Club during the awarding
ceremonies. He talked about his love for photography and shared some
camera techniques. He also expressed his appreciation for how the Olympics
photos depicted “the triumph of hard work, teamwork, synergy, fun, and the
pride of being One Triumphant Ayala.”
Paolo Tiong’s entry wins first place
JZA views the Ayala Olympics 2012 photos
Teamwork Works, the 2012 Ayala Olympics Photo Exhibit, showcased over 100
images taken by the Bank of the Philippine Islands Camera Club during the
quadrennial sporting event. The exhibit was on view at the BPI Head Office Front
Lobby from April 28 to May 4.
From among the photos on exhibit four winners were chosen by three judges,
namely: Ayala Corporation Chairman Emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ayala
Corporation Human Resources Head John Philip Orbeta, and BPI Consumer
Banking Group Executive Vice President Nabbie Alejo.
BPI Call Center agent Paolo Tiong’s photo of the Olympics’ mixed relay event
won best photo. Tiong explained how he learned that one needs determination
to overcome challenges. “It was a very challenging experience since I was
under the heat of the sun,” he said. “I positioned myself near the last runner of
the relay. I anticipated where I should focus my camera and when to press the
shutter. Timing was important.”
BPI athletes and cheerleaders also presented to BPI President
Aurelio Montinola III the trophies and medals they had won during the 2012
Olympics. Montinola then posed a challenge for the BPI team—to win the
championship at the 2016 Olympics.
The following were the winning photographers: First Place, Paolo Tiong (Call
Center); Second Place, Reynaldo Acejo (Treasury Operations Department);
Third Place, Leilani Corazon Seculles (Loans Operations Division).
Publisher John Philip Orbeta Editor-in-Chief Maritoni Ortigas Editorial Consultant Emi de Lara Managing Editor Paul de Guzman Deputy Managing Editor Verne Ahyong
Assistant Editor Janella Cacdac-Siena Graphic Designer Alezza Buenviaje Advertising Manager Ciela Cayton Photographer Jaime Martinez
CORRESPONDENTS Ayala Corporation Gale Launio Ayala Land, Inc. Suzette Naval, Christine Lim-Siruelo, Rommel Santiago, Nedz Manangan
Bank of the Philippine Islands Sarah Hernaez, Rachelle Dangin Globe Telecom Jan Vincent Ibesate Manila Water Company Ranny Habaluyas, Alberto Ramirez
Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. Fred Blancas Ayala Foundation, Inc. Verne Ahyong, Lis Baumgart Ayala Automotive Group Monina Macavinta
Additional Photography Erik Liongoren, page 20
Editorial Office Filipinas Heritage Library Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle Makati City 1224, Philippines Telephone (632) 892 1801 local 14 Facsimile (632) 892 1810
E-mail AyalaNow@filipinaslibrary.org.ph URL www.ayala.com.ph/press_room_ayala_now.php
A Page from Ayala History
The Nielson Tower and Airport
The Nielson Tower
served as the control
tower and passenger
depot of the Nielson
Airport, inaugurated
in 1937
The Ayala Triangle stands at the very heart of the Makati Central Business
District—a hub for business, leisure, and culture. But aside from being a
prestigious business address, the site of a research and cultural center, a
foodie paradise, a place for running enthusiasts, and a convergence point for
colleagues, families, and friends, the Ayala Triangle is also a hub for history.
What most people do not know is that the Ayala Triangle used to be the site of
the country’s first international commercial airport. The Nielson Tower, which
now houses the Filipinas Heritage Library, used to be the airport control tower
and passenger depot, while Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas used to be the
airport runways.
In 1937, Ayala y Compañia (now Ayala Corporation) leased a portion of its
property in Hacienda San Pedro de Makati (now Makati City) to New Zealand–
born businessman Laurie Reuben Nielson and his business partners, who
planned to build a pioneering full-service airport and aviation school.
Nielson Airport, inaugurated on July 17, 1937, had two runways with a combined
length of almost one kilometer. These runways formed the sides of the triangle,
with Culi-Culi Road (now Makati Avenue) forming the base. From the air, the
building was shaped like an aircraft—the lobby and offices were the aircraft’s
body, the oval-shaped waiting lounge resembled its wings, and the control tower
was its cockpit.
The Nielson Airport occupied a key place in the development of aviation
in the Philippines. It became the take-off and landing site of the country’s
first airlines, the Philippine Air Taxi Company (renamed Philippine Air Lines)
and the Iloilo-Negros Air Express. In fact, PAL’s inaugural flight took off
from Nielson on June 15, 1941. Soon, PAL began offering flights to Nueva
Vizcaya, Cagayan, Leyte, Cebu, Camarines Sur, and Albay. PAL was
preparing for international flights, but these plans were put on hold by the
outbreak of the Second World War.
Today, the Nielson
Tower is the home of
the Filipinas Heritage
Library
most important travel hubs in Asia. As commercial aviation in the country
continued to grow, the country’s leading airport had to move to a different site,
In 1948, airport operations moved to Nichols Airfield (now Villamor Air Base) in
Pasay City. The Nielson Tower and Airport were handed back to Ayala y Cia.
At this point, Ayala, under the leadership of managing partner Joseph
McMicking, was setting into motion an ambitious plan to transform its Makati
property into one of the most sophisticated business, commercial, and
residential districts in Asia. As the Makati Central Business District grew, the
airport tower was used for various purposes. Between the late 1940s to the early
1990s, the tower served as the headquarters of the Ayala Police Detachment,
the office for the Ayala-affiliated Integrated Property Management Corporation
(now Ayala Property Management Corporation), and site for the exclusive
Nielson Tower Club and Restaurant, which was run by renowned restaurateur
Glenda Barretto.
After the lease of the Nielson Tower Club and Restaurant expired in the
1990s, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Inc., and Ayala Foundation Inc. thought
establishing an educational and cultural center in the tower. Thus was born the
Filipinas Heritage Library, an electronic research center; a repository of books
and other materials in Philippine art, culture, and history; and a center for the
promotion of culture and the arts.
In August 1996, the Filipinas Heritage Library, “Ayala’s gift to the nation” in
commemoration of the Centennial of the Philippine Revolution, was inaugurated,
with President Fidel V. Ramos as guest of honor.
From June to July, Ayala Land and the Filipinas Heritage Library are presenting
Flight to Progress: 75 Years of the Nielson Airport at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.
This outdoor exhibit highlights the Ayala Triangle’s rich history, and the many
bold ideas that “took flight” in the area. Other activities, such as lectures,
walking tours, and indoor exhibits, are also scheduled.
Nielson Airport resumed operations in 1946, and soon became known as the
“original, biggest, and best-equipped airport in the Far East” and one of the
Celebrating 75 years of Nielson Airport
Laurie Reuben
Nielson, Andres
Soriano y Roxas,
and Col. Joseph
McMicking are
three pillars of
the MCBD
Flight to Progress: 75 Years of the Nielson Airport is an exhibit co-organized by
Ayala Land Inc., and the Filipinas Heritage Library. The exhibit, which features
important milestones in the airport’s history, will be on display at the Ayala
Triangle Gardens until July 31, 2012.
For more information, “like” the Make It Happen. Make It Makati. page and the
Filipinas Heritage Library page on Facebook or visit http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.
ph or http://makeitmakati.com
ALI envisions the Makati
of the Future to be a hub
of business, lifestyle, and
culture in Asia with the
Ayala Triangle Gardens
at its center
The Ayala Triangle,
once the country’s
first international
commercial airport and
now the center of the
MCBD, is indeed where
great things take flight
20
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 16, Number 3, May-June 2012
Archbishop of Lipa launches centennial book,
recognizes Ayala’s support with Verzosa award
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala joined executives of the Ayala Corporation
and South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation (SLTEC) in launching A
Century of Faith, a coffee table book on the centennial of the Archdiocese
of Lipa.
Archbishop Ramón Argüelles led the June 20 event. With him were Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, and Guiseppe Pinto, papal nuncio to the Philippines.
More than 1,000 members of the religious community and the laity of Batangas
gathered at the Minor Basilica of St. Martin of Tours in Taal, Batangas, for the
event, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Lipa. The
Taal basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church in Southeast Asia.
After the mass, Archbishop Arguelles presented JAZA with the Verzosa Award in
recognition of Ayala Corporation’s contribution in publishing A Century of Faith.
The award was named in honor of Archbishop Alfredo Verzosa, the first Filipino
bishop (1916–1950) of Lipa.
The 300-page book, which recounts the spiritual journey of the Catholic faithful
in Batangas and features stunning new photographs of Batangas churches and
icons, was published by the Archdiocese of Lipa with guidance and support
from Ayala’s corporate communications team. Its printing was co-sponsored by
First Gen Corporation and other benefactors including the Bank of the Philippine
Islands and the Manila Water Company.
Lopez and Ayala group officials join Lipa Archbishop Arguelles (third from left), Giuseppe
Pinto (fourth from left), JAZA, Monsignor Alfredo Madlangbayan (second from right), and
Monsignor Gabor Pinter (right) after the launch of A Century of Faith
Ayala Chief Financial Officer Chito Gonzalez and Corporate Resources Group
Head John Philip Orbeta also attended the event, together with Patrice Clausse
of Ayala’s Corporate Strategy and Development team and former Ayala
Foundation President Victoria Garchitorena.
They were joined by SLTEC officers Francisco Viray and Ver Francisco, and BPI
officers Randy Maranan, Rita Canchela, and Gerry Magpantay.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit programs of the Archdiocese of
Lipa. For inquiries, call the Lipa Archdiocesan Chancery at (043) 756 2572
SLTEC President Francisco Viray
receives the first signed copy of the
book from Archbishop Arguelles
A sample page from the Lipa book
Ayala’s Patrice Clausse, Vicky
Garchitorena, and JP Orbeta
BPI Batangas area Vice President Gerry
Magpantay and Corporate Communications
Head Rita Canchela, National Artist Ramon
Orlina, and BPI Foundation Executive
Director Randy Maranan
A
Century
of Faith
book
cover
Hundreds of people attend
mass and the book launch
JAZA
receives
Verzosa
Award for
Ayala as
given by
Archbishop
Arguelles
The foreword of the Lipa book