That’s the title of the second book on ethics to be published by the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). The first volume titled Ethics: Black, White, or Gray? was released in 2018, and both book projects were spearheaded by FINEX Liaison Director Florencia Gozon Tarriela.
The second volume will be launched on November 28, 2022 at the Board of Investments (BOI) office in Makati City. Hosting the event is Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), of which the BOI is an attached agency.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla wrote the foreword of the book together with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Emilio Aquino. Under then Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., the BSP gave its full support for the publication of the first ethics book, which became a huge success in terms of sales and distribution in the academe.
This time, the second book is divided into two parts. The first part is about captains of industry and the values they instilled in their families as well as the organizations that they headed. Featured in this section are Henry Sy Sr. of the SM Group, Washington Sycip of the SGV Group, Ramon Del Rosario Jr. of the PHINMA Group, Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. of the Rustan’s Group, and Felipe Gozon of GMA Network.
In the second part of the 250-page book, the writers from the public sector include DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, SEC Commissioner Kelvin Lester Lee, former SEC Chair Teresita Herbosa, and Atty. Lilia de Lima, formerly the Chair and Director General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. From the private sector, articles were contributed by Insular Life Chair Nina Aguas, Mansfield & Fielders Chair Josiah Go, ECHOstore Founder Pacita Juan, SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim, and Jack Madrid, CEO of the IT and Business Processing Association of the Philippines.
From the ranks of the FINEX membership, 2022 President Michael Arcatomy Guarin and several past presidents submitted their personal views on ethics. All in all, there are 50 articles in this new edition whose editorial board was led by FINEX Ethics Committee Chair Wilma Inventor Miranda, Editor-in-Chief Reynaldo Lugtu Jr., and Managing Editor Reynaldo Abilo. Lugtu is also the FINEX Information & Communication Technology Committee Chair while Abilo is the FINEX Young Finance Officers Committee Chair.
Miranda said “the Ethics Committee, with its advocacy to promote ethics not only in business but in the young minds of our future generations, intends to give this not only to its members and contributors but also to schools and libraries.” She hopes the book will inspire readers to pursue the right ethical values and do the right things right.
J. Albert Gamboa is a Life Member of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). He is the Chairman of the FINEX Media Affairs Committee and the Editor-in-Chief of FINEX Digest. The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views of these institutions and the Manila Bulletin. #FinexPhils www.finex.org.ph