By Caesar Vallejos
Eagle News Service
The Philippines’ biggest business awards that recognize leadership excellence honored two of the country’s leading public and private figures as Lifetime Contributors of the Year: SM Investments Vice Chairman and BDO Chairman Teresita Sy-Coson and former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr.
Asia CEO Awards 2018 was held at the Marriott Hotel with the theme “Let’s Build this Country!”
Tech changes
In her acceptance speech, Tessie Sy-Coson said that her companies’ challenge is to “sustain agility and build a cross-organizational capabilities to meet future demands.”
“Technological changes are changing the lifestyles, consumption habits and the behavior of our future consumers,” she added.
“It has inspired us to improve processes in operations and logistics that will provide greater customer experience, motivating our organizations to have more efficiency and productivity with the end goal of producing better financial results, more customer loyalty and stronger employee engagement,” Sy-Coson said.
“At this stage in my life, many people are looking into slower pace or even retirement,” she said. “ It seems that I still have to learn a lot and work more hours to meet the challenges of our business demand,” Sy-Coson added.
The only Filipina in Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the World hinted at working more years as she said “I have to work more to justify the award that was given to me today.”
Not perfect but BSP has what it takes
For his part, the Lifetime Contributor from the private sector stressed that “the mandate of the Central Bank is clear but its implementation is prone to challenges and complicated by so many moving parts — the national, regional and global environments keep on changing with varying speed, depth and impact.”
Credited for making the Bank Sentral “one of the most well-respected and credible central banks in the region, Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.’s term was highlighted by “low and stable inflation, liquid and well-capitalized banking systems, safe and reliable payment system, strong financial position and a comprehensive financial inclusion program.”
In spite of these achievements he humbly said, “we are not perfect, but most of the time, where ir mattered the most, we achieved our objectives.”
Governor Tetangco asked what most people are asking: “how can we move forward with today’s challenges?“
“Given that certain conditions today are different from those prevailing under my term, as a former governor, I can tell you that the BSP has what it takes to address the challenges. It is ready and its record speaks for itself,” Tetangco said.
On the other hand, keynote speaker Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga cited an Oxford study that forecasts the Philippines to be the 18th biggest global economy in 20 years. He said “this is the best time to be Asian, this is the best time to be Filipino. We are going to build a Philippines that will be kinder, safer and happier. The former sick man of Asia is now the most robust economy in Asia.”
