EJ Qua Hiansen

Investing in knowledge

Benjamin Franklin's words, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” resonate deeply. This belief was instilled in my family, with my parents valuing education as the key to shaping our lives. 

Ensuring food security

Food is the most essential requirement for human sustenance, especially regarding nutrition. We have to have enough to eat and eat the right food to fuel our bodies. Unfortunately, food is inaccessible for many Filipinos, and eating the right food is a luxury when they do not have enough food.

Setting the path

Finance students today have more knowledge than previous generations, and they need to in order to keep up with the rapid pace of technological innovation. I made this remark during the Intercollegiate Finance Competition (ICFC) finals held last year at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This event was organized by the Junior FINEX Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) in partnership with JP Morgan Chase & Co. This year, we are holding our 24th iteration of the ICFC, and we are inviting schools nationwide to participate so that we can see the future of Philippine finance. 

The economics of integrity

I recently re-read “The Economics of Integrity: From Dairy Farmers to Toyota, How Wealth is Built on Trust and What That Means for Our Future” by Anna Bernasek and it is a book that I recommend reading. Bernasek wrote the book after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, which largely resulted from the meltdown of American subprime mortgages. This backdrop is reflected in how she wrote the book. 

For church and pope

Caritas Manila, the lead social service and development ministry of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, is celebrating 70 years of service to the poor and marginalized. They have done amazing things due to their ability to bring people together to alleviate poverty, including mobilizing volunteers who contribute their time and talent as well as partnering with businesses. Caritas Manila has programs for youth and education, livelihood, restorative justice, health, and servant leadership among others.