Seasoned executives and entrepreneurs converged at the 3rd Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Summit on Shared Prosperity last Thursday. Former Finance Secretary Jesus Estanislao and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Francisco Lim delivered the keynote speeches. Dr. Mohammad Imtiaz Hossain of Sunway Business School also shared insights from the Malaysian experience.

This writer was a member of the panel that delved into the theme, Shared Prosperity and Steward Governance Toward our Dream Philippines, together with Mr. Alfredo Angeles, President of Pilipinas Multi-Line Corporation, and Dr. Patrick Adriel Aure, Founding Director of the PHINMA De La Salle University Center for Business and Society.

Having worked with Dr. Estanislao in the Cabinet of President Corazon Aquino during the post-EDSA era, I have witnessed his unflagging dedication to building strong institutions through good governance as the founder of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and its allied organization, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) that is dedicated to promoting excellence in not-for-profit organizations including government entities.

It was during his stint as Chairman of the Institute of Corporate Directors that Dr. Estanislao began what has turned out to be a lifelong crusade for excellence on governance. Observing the serious dip in national morale in brought about by the flood control scandal and the unprecedented corruption that characterized the enactment of the 2025 national budget, he issued “a call from one citizen who hopes and believes that the Philippines could rise again.”

To the question, “Is there still hope?”, his answer is Yes! He declares: “The most effective antidote to corruption is good governance.”

He observed that deeply embedded corruption is caused by the erosion of values. He called for transformation that would enable the attainment of three important goals, namely, first: institutions that shape how we work; families that shape how we live; and communities that influence how we belong. By embracing these ideals with urgency and resolve, he expressed optimism on their realization.

He called for the cultivation and practice of a managerial ethos founded on the concepts and principles of being Maka-Diyos (God-fearing); Maka-Tao (pro-people); Maka-Kalikasan (pro-environment); and Maka-Bansa (love of country).

He called on the audience to do what is needed to enable and transform their organizations to be a force for good. Each institution must commit to adopt core values that would underpin its purpose and action, and thereby enable it to fulfill its commitment to contribute to the advancement of national progress.

He cited Iloilo City as a model for good governance under immediate past Mayor Jerry Treñas who was supported by former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

During the open forum, Dr. Estanislao also commended former Public Works Secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson, who was honored by the MAP as Management Man of the Year for his sterling stewardship of an erstwhile graft-ridden Department of Public Works and Highways as a paragon of good governance during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Secretary Singson, who was in the audience, shared how he cleaned up the DPWH by focusing on the right projects, constructed using the right process, and completed at the right price — a stark contrast to the proliferation of ghost projects that were exposed last year to the great consternation of an enraged citizenry that continues to call for punishment and retribution.

During his closing keynote, Chairman Lim discussed the vital reforms undertaken at the Securities and Exchange Commission to enable corporations to flourish and thrive, be they startups or well-established organizations.

The foregoing calls to action address the key parameters for operationalizing the Diwa-Kapwa ethos, as I wrote in my previous column:

“A business leader guided by Diwa-Kapwa does not measure success solely by profit margins, but by how value is created and shared—how workers are treated, how communities are uplifted, how environmental resources are stewarded. Profit remains important, but it is pursued within a broader framework of responsibility.

“A public servant animated by Diwa-Kapwa resists the temptations of patronage and rent-seeking. Instead, he or she prioritizes transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in policymaking. Programs are designed not as doleouts, but as pathways to empowerment.

“A citizen imbued with Diwa-Kapwa moves beyond passive expectation. There is a willingness to participate, to hold institutions accountable, and to contribute—however modestly—to collective wellbeing.”

In this sense, Diwa-Kapwa is not a slogan. It is a discipline. It requires conscious effort to align our actions with our professed values, especially in environments where the opposite is often rewarded.”

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