CURRENT v.1.1 - The internal magazine of the First Philippine Holdings (FPH) Group by Current Magazine (First Philippine Holdings Corporation)

Volume 1.1

LOPEZ

VIVA MANILA

RISING

LEADERSHIP AT WORK

TOWER A Green Statement for The Futu re

The Old City rediscovers its soul

How to apply leadership skills at work

REIMAGINING KANANGA How KEITECH is reviving Kananga post-Yolanda

RADIUS

Check out what's cool in the neighborhood

VALERIE SOLIVEN

On leading Rockwell Land for growth

CONTENTS

11 Reimagining KANANGA With KEITECH, Kananga residents rebuild their lives— literally—post-Yolanda

14 Lopez Tower Rising

FEATURES

Rockwell’s got a new tower on the block

20 The Leader’s Bookshelf

What our leaders are reading now

28 VIVA MANILA A citizen-led movement breathes new life to Old Manila

30 Nurturing Excellence FPH parents discover facets of excellence through their kids

34 RADIUS Cool eats around Ortigas

The TEAM permission is secured from the Publisher. While care has been

PUBLISHER Federico R. Lopez EDITORIAL BOARD Maria Milagros Agustines Ramon Carandang Anna Karina Gerochi Danilo Gozo Shirley Hombrebueno EDITORIAL TEAM Lorenne Alejandrino Joel Gaborni Rhea Tacata Niña Terol-Zialcita Hazel Velasco

taken to ensure that the information contained is accurate as of the time of printing, some details may have changed as of the time of publication. As applicable, responsibility for any information and views set out lies entirely with the relevant author. Any such views do not necessarily reflect the official position of FPH nor of its management. FPH, the Publisher, and the

Current is an internal

editors may not be held

publication of First

responsible for the use

Philippine Holdings

which may be made

Corporation (“FPH”) with

of the information

office address at 4th

contained herein.

Floor Benpres Building, Exchange Road, corner

For feedback, contact

Meralco Avenue, Ortigas,

the following:

Pasig City. It is intended

Tel: (+63 2) 449 6121

for limited circulation

Fax: (+63 2) 631 4081

and not for general

Email: current.fph@gmail.com

public consumption. Unless otherwise stated, the contents of this

publication—including all original photos, art, and text—are the intellectual property of FPH. Reproduction of

Current is printed on Mohawk Options PC White 104 gsm

THE LOPEZ CREDO We, as employees of the Lopez Group of Companies, believe that our primary reason for being is to serve God and the Filipino people. Thus, we shall always conduct ourselves in a manner that is mindful of the long-term mutual benefit of the Lopez Group, and the various publics we serve. We will be responsible stewards of all our resources, and conscious of our obligation to present and future generations. Since 1928, and in the years and generations to follow, our commitment to the distinctive Lopez values will not change as we remain committed to serve our stakeholders.

THE LOPEZ VALUES In our service to the Filipino people, we will be guided by the following distinct Lopez values: • A pioneering entrepreneurial spirit • Business excellence • Unity • Nationalism • Social justice • Integrity • Employee welfare and wellness We know from generations of experience that it is by living according to these values that a company can be built to last.

photographs, articles, or any portion of this publication, whether in whole or in part, is prohibited unless written

Editor’s Note

PPORTUNITY AND DESIRE are key to change and renewal, and that’s what we’re taking advantage of with this maiden issue of our new internal publication, CURRENT. As the title suggests, together with new leadership DNA, recent corporate re-branding and identity efforts, and an impetus for 360-degree focus and perspective, we are bringing back the cherished Lopez Values and at the same time plugging into a new platform of ideas, information, tips, and truths. CURRENT means new, relevant, and up-to-date in a finger-to-thesocket kind of way. It’s also a power term, one many associate with plugging into a source (especially when your “batt” is low), recharging, and just staying alive. Being connected and clued in is also a way to ensure you receive a steady stream of new information. And that you keep going.

It’s been said that the best way to stay new or “current” is to do just three things: apprentice with a master, go off and be a stranger in a strange land, and finally, to close off your options, narrowing down your choices to a pinprick. All of these do the job of honing, expanding, and defining new direction for yourself and for your organization. We hope our sections entitled: • POWER BANK, with the latest concepts in management and governance; • RADIUS, getting to know and seeing our surroundings with new eyes; • UNPLUG, stories on defining your life as a balance of work and play, family and colleagues, with time for creative pursuits and pleasures; will help contribute to keeping you up-to-date with the latest thoughts and trends on work, play, and personal time. CURRENT is also a term that’s associated with the sea, whose powerful rhythms we hope to open up to in this issue, and issues to come—with in-depth, “go-withthe-flow” articles and information, riding the waves of new ideas to unknown and exciting shores, letting the tide of ideas, perspectives, and experiences flow out to you and back in—enjoying the ride, side by side.

Deedee G. Agustines

CURRENT - adj. 1.a. Belonging to the present time: current events; current leaders.; b. Being in progress now: current negotiations.; 2. Passing from one to another; circulating: current bills and coins.; 3. Prevalent, especially at the present time: current fashions. See Synonyms at prevailing.; 4. Running; flowing. n. 1. A steady, smooth onward movement: a current of air from a fan; a current of spoken words. See Synonyms at flow.; 2. The part of a body of liquid or gas that has a continuous onward movement: rowed out into the river’s swift current.; 3. A general tendency, movement, or course. See Synonyms at tendency.; 4. Symbol i, I Electricity; a. A flow of electric charge.; b. The amount of electric charge flowing past a specified circuit point per unit time. [Middle English curraunt, from Old French corant, present participle of courre, to run, from Latin currere; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]

THE GRID

WELCOME

WE SWITCHED OFF FOR EARTH HOUR!

to The Grid, where you’ll find updates and other useful nuggets of information to energize your work life in the FPH Group.

Earth Hour is an annual celebration, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to celebrate “our commitment to the planet.” It is held on the last Saturday of March, from 8:30 to 9:30PM. This year, Earth Hour fell on March 29, and the FPH group participated by switching off all common-area lights at Benpres.

YOU NAMED OUR NEWSLETTER! In January 2014, we asked you to name our newsletter— and 300 of you responded with clever, well-thoughtout suggestions. After a period of deliberation, our Chairman, Federico R. Lopez, chose the winning title, CURRENT. Congratulations to the four winners, who have each received an iPhone 5S as their prize! • Ricardo Escanlar III, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) • Ramon Manalang, First Philippine Realty Corporation (FPRC) • Mary Trish Rivera, First Philippine Holdings (FPH) • Jovie Yulo, EDC

“[Current] could mean something that’s happening, widespread, or popular (in the company or in the lives of the employees and relevant personalities). It could also represent FPH’s group business—power generation; a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles. Additionally, “Current” refers to movement in a definite direction–this shows the focus of the FPH group, i.e. moving together and in synergy towards the future.” ~ Mary Trish Rivera, FPH

DID YOU NOMINATE YOUR TEAM FOR THE LAA 2013 CYCLE? Nominations for the 2013 cycle of the Lopez Achievement Awards (LAA) were accepted until April 30, 2014. Did YOU nominate YOUR team for the LAA? Here’s a recap of the six LAA categories—and what it takes to win. 1. CUSTOMER FOCUS - Introduction, enhancement, and quality improvement of products or services, customer service, and relationships, leading to customer delight and satisfaction 2. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - Strategic positioning and partnering, business growth, management of assets and funds, liabilities and equities, leading to higher shareholder value and returns

445 3. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Management and improvement of processes, systems, and capabilities, leading to productivity, organizational effectiveness, and efficiency 4. HUMAN RESOURCE FOCUS Improvement in work organization and performance management systems, employee development and well-being, leading to high performance and employee satisfaction 5. CORPORATE IMAGE-BUILDING Proactive communication through word or deed of company values, directions, and activities to relevant stakeholders, leading to a positive corporate image and business reputation 6. PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY Business ethics, governance, environmental stewardship, and community investment, leading to a better climate and support structure for the business and better quality of life for the public.

The number of fluorescent bulbs, pin lights, and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that were switched off in Benpres

508 tons

Amount of CO2 emissions saved by the Philippines, thanks to Earth Hour 2014 (Source: Department of Energy)

738 MW

Total estimated amount of power saved in the Philippines (Source: Department of Energy)

15 million

Estimated number of Filipinos who participated in Earth Hour 2014 (With reports from Ryan Garcia, FPRC)

THE GRID

THEY WALKED THE TALK Lopez Group employees reaffirmed their commitment to Employee Welfare and Wellness as they participated in two Walk the Talk events on March 22 and April 26, respectively. On March 22, almost 470 employees trooped to the Makiling National Scout Reservation in Los Baños, managed by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Meanwhile, over 250 employees joined the April 26 Walk the Talk, held at General Gregorio Lim Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite. (With reports from Gerbs de Castro, EDC)

GETTING TO KNOW STA. RITA, SAN LORENZO & PANTABANGAN

CRITERIA DEMONSTRATION OF LOPEZ GROUP VALUES: 40% How did this particular achievement clearly demonstrate at least one of the Lopez Values: A pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, business excellence, unity, nationalism, social justice, integrity, or employee welfare and wellness? EXCEPTIONALITY: 30% What was extraordinary about this achievement? Why was it such “a stroke of genius” or “a world-beating feat”? What miracles did your group perform under limited time and resources? CONTRIBUTION TO BUSINESS RESULTS: 30% How did this achievement contribute to the bottomline or show qualitative results? If the contribution was qualitative in nature, what measures of success can be cited to show its impact? For more information, email lopezachievementawards@gmail.com or ARAgaton@fphc.com

Between February 21 and March 21, 2014, 48 FPH employees participated in a series of “Kapamilyarization Tours” of the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo Power Plants in Sta. Rita, Batangas and the First Gen Hydro Power Plant in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. The tour was organized by the FPH and First Gen HR groups to allow employees to better understand the industry in which the FPH core businesses operate, and to better appreciate their respective roles in bringing power to people’s lives. Aside from seeing how clean, renewable energy is made through our plants, employees also better appreciated the FPH Group’s commitment to environmental stewardship, seeing work done amid the picturesque backdrops of the nine-hectare mangrove in Sta. Rita and the explosion of plant and animal life around our hydroelectric plant complex in Pantabangan. Another round of the Kapamilyarization Tour will be conducted within the year. We wish to thank Engr. Erwin Lorenze Lubis, Maintenance and Outage Planning Engineer of the Sta. Rita/San Lorenzo Power Plants, and Walter Alimusa, Venancio Baltazar, Andy Gubatanga, Deomedes Bagsic, Gerardo Pascual, Bobby Perez, and Mark Anthony Martires of the First Gen Hydro Power Plant for sharing their time and expertise.

BUSINESS CIRCUIT ▶ GROUNDBREAKING HELD FOR SAN GABRIEL POWER PLANT On January 14, 2014, First Gen held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 414-megawatt San Gabriel Combined Cycle Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Sta. Rita, Batangas. President Benigno Aquino III keynoted the event, accompanied by Sec. Jericho Petilla of the Department of Energy, and other Cabinet officials. The San Gabriel project is just the first of three plants planned for the site, with a total capacity of 1,342 MW to be built until 2019. First Gen,

THE GRID

which contracted Siemens AG and Siemens, Inc. for the project, has targeted 2016 for the start of San Gabriel’s commercial operations. ▶ 32 SANSON INTRODUCED IN CEBU Rockwell Land enters Cebu through the 3.2-hectare 32 Sanson residential project in Lahug, launched in the first quarter of 2014. Encircled by greenery, the development’s five lowrise residential towers provide easy access to the business community in the area. It boasts the reliable luxury of Rockwell’s developments: a subterranean road that frees up the grounds for pedestrians, an exclusive elevated entry, and structures designed according to stringent standards of safety. The development consists of 355 units, with completion targeted by 2016.

▶ PEZA OKS SPECIAL ECOZONE FOR EXPANSION

THEY’RE GOING TO SCHOOL— THANKS TO YOU! John David Tanay and Eman Vincent Balderrama, both third-year Mechanical Engineering students of PUP Taguig, will be supported through another year of college—thanks to YOUR participation in the Auction for Education held on March 4, 2014. A total of 134 employees from First Gen, FPH, and First Philec participated in the vintage goods sale and bingo game, raising a total of Php133,184.25 (vs. the target of Php102,000.00). Aside from Tanay and Balderrama, another scholar will be identified before the start of the schoolyear, and will likewise be given tuition support. (With reports from Janice OrtañezDugan, First Gen)

Lopez-controlled First Philippine Industrial Park Inc. (FPIP)’s 92-hectare expansion in Santo Tomas has received government approval. On February 14, 2014, President Aquino signed Presidential Proclamation No. 722, designating the expansion project as a special economic zone. “This project is timely as the Philippines is, rightfully, attracting more attention and consideration as a competitive, viable manufacturing site,” FPIP President Edwin S. CoSeteng said in announcing the succeeding Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) agreement signed on February 27, 2014. The project is seen to play a significant role in ensuring inclusive growth through job generation and the empowerment of the manufacturing sector. ▶ FIRST BALFOUR IN TIMOR-LESTE On February 19 to 21, 2014, First Balfour joined the Philippine Construction Trade Mission to Timor-Leste. The trade mission was organized by the Philippine Overseas Construction Board. Business Development Manager Rafael Hernandez represented First Balfour to the trade mission, along with a group of Filipino construction and consultancy company representatives, to obtain a first-hand experience in exploring various business opportunities in Timor-Leste.

THE GRID

UN LAUNCHES DECADE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL The United Nations (UN), on April 9, 2014, launched the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (2014-2014), at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York. According to the UN, its objectives are to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and share renewable energy globally. “Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and a healthy environment. Sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “That is why I launched the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative in 2011. Now, the Decade and Forum will help us stay on track to meet the objectives we have set.” (Source: UN News Centre, UN.org)

▶ THERMAPRIME EXPANDS CRANE FLEET ThermaPrime Well Services Inc. has further beefed up its capabilities as a leading geothermal drilling company by acquiring a new fleet of eight cranes. The cranes were made by Tadanao Ltd., the largest Japan-based manufacturer of cranes and aerial work platforms. ThermaPrime will deploy the cranes to support drilling operations in different geothermal sites of EDC.

▶ FOREIGN, FILIPINO EXPERTS HOLD FORUM ON REBUILDING STRATEGIES

FPH Chairman and CEO, Mr. Federico Lopez

The Oscar M. Lopez Center and the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) jointly hosted an experts forum on rebuilding communities and ecosystems. More than 200 foreign and Filipino scientists, engineers, and practitioners from various disciplines discussed the current state of knowledge and how they can be applied to Yolanda affected areas. “I strongly believe that a complete rehabilitation and recovery process will require not only strong governance but solid scientific foundation as well,” PARR Sec. Panfilo Lacson said.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) and Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank. (Photo Credit: UN Photo/ Eskinder Debebe on www.se4all.org)

▶ FPIP AND KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL FOUNDATION, INC. “LEEP” FOR K-12 First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), Inc., in partnership with the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI), sponsored and co-organized a workshop showcasing Knowledge Channel’s Learning Effectively through Enhanced Pedagogies (LEEP) program. A brainchild of KCFI President Rina Lopez-Bautista, LEEP is designed to train teachers to create an environment of fun in implementing the K+12. FPIP, with KCFI as partner, hosted the LEEP training workshop for the benefit of public elementary school heads and teachers from the Park’s host communities. The training workshop was held on Jan. 16 and 17, 2014, at the Santo Tomas Suites inside FPIP in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and was facilitated by former Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo, now a Knowledge Channel consultant.

PULSE

Who Will Make

The Cut?

The post-graduation months often come with an influx of CVs and job applications all waiting to be read and processed. We asked human resource experts from around the FPH Group to give us their take on who should make the cut for their respective companies.

PULSE

“We are constantly in search of individuals who are humble, hardworking, fun-loving, and smart; we look for exceptional people who will love to work with a diverse group of talented individuals and make a difference for our country.” Sidney Cordero Senior Manager, Human Resources, First Gen

“Over and above the needed academic preparation and experience, we look for the following attributes that increase the chances of prospective employees to thrive and succeed in our organization: • Willingness to explore and learn • Independent thinking and optimism • Healthy self confidence • Work ethic and driven • Ability to thrive in adversity and a heart to serve.” Caloy Salonga Vice President, Human Resources & Admin Head First Balfour

“We need graduates who have an analytical mind, have good communication and interpersonal skills, [are] resourceful and self-starters, [with] a healthy mix of individualism, team spirit, and a learning appetite. They would have to have a good combination of these skills and the attitude that can be honed to meet the organization’s specific needs.” Jun Lizardo Vice President, Corporate Services Department / HR,IT, Purchasing, Admin, Business Development FPIP

1. Good communication skills 2. Analytical 3. Results-oriented (works efficiently, shows commitment to work) 4. Team worker (good interpersonal skills, has the ability to build good relationships with co-employees) 5. Has the potential to eventually become a good leader 6. Willingness to learn and to share what he/she knows 7. Good attitude and able to adapt/ adjust easily to any type of work environment Jun Mayo Vice President, Human Resources, CSG & Sector Head for PV First Philec

PULSE

HIRING? QUESTIONS TO ASK

“Studies show that bad hiring judgments can cost companies as much as 30% of a new employee’s first-year paycheck*. How will you know which candidates are right for YOUR team? Here are some indicators to watch for and some questions to ask.” (Source: Targeted Selection, Development Dimensions International, Inc.; with special thanks to Ross Hamo, FPH)

01 INITIATIVE ▶ How a candidate “actively attempts to influence events and people to achieve goals; self-starting rather than passive acceptance. Taking imaginative, creative action to achieve goals beyond what is called for” Q “Give me an example of being in a situation where things were not going well and you turned it around. What did you do? Why did you do it? What was the outcome?” 02 MOTIVATION ▶ What “[stimulates] and intrinsically [rewards] an individual” Q “Give me an example of where you worked the hardest and felt the greatest sense of achievement. What did you do? What happened?” 03 STRESS TOLERANCE ▶ An individual’s “stability of performance under pressure and/or opposition; handling [of] disappointment, and/or rejection while maintaining effectiveness” Q “Give an example of when your work was criticized. What was wrong with it and how did you deal with it?”

04 LEADERSHIP ▶ How a person uses “appropriate interpersonal styles and methods in guiding individuals (subordinates, peers, superiors) or groups toward maximum results” Q “What has been your most difficult experience in giving others direction? What specifically did you do? What was the outcome?” 05 DECISION-MAKING ▶ One’s “readiness to make decisions, tender judgments, and to commit with confidence after carefully weighing the consequences of alternative actions. Risk-taking balanced by judgment in selecting a course of action in which the benefits appear greater than the risks” Q “Tell me about your to-do list. What is always at the top and what is always at the bottom? How are new items added to the list? Walk me through your priority-setting process.” 06 PERSUASIVENESS ▶ An individual’s “ability to convince others, help groups to work together” Q “Tell me about your most difficult supervisor. Give me an example. How did you handle this supervisor?” *Source: Forbes Magazine

imagining Kananga

t is ironic that in a town that relies mainly on lowproduction agriculture sits the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest wet geothermal field. The Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF), operated by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), straddles along Kananga and neighboring Ormoc City, with a production area of 7,400 hectares within a concession area of 50,361 hectares. It generates a total capacity of over 700 MW across five geothermal power plants, and employs 747 regular geologists, engineers, and other professionals. Seeing the need to upgrade the local communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s livelihood and earning potential, EDC entered into a partnership with the Municipality of Kananga and the Technical Education and Skills Development

Authority (TESDA) to develop a values-based vocational school that would then teach practical yet beneficial mechanical and industrial skills to high school students and make them employable immediately after graduation. This was aimed to be an alternative to college education. Established in 2009, the Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology (KEITECH) has since become the premiere technical-vocational training center in West Leyte. It offers skills-building in three sectors: (a) Construction; (b) Metals and Engineering; and (c) Tourism, Health, and Social Services. It also integrates discipline and values formation among its trainees, which is greatly appreciated by parents and current employers. Since 2010, KEITECH has produced over 508 graduates, including females specializing in welding. KEITECH maintains a “94% employment rate” for its graduates who now are gainfully employed mostly in Leyte, Cebu, Manila, Subic, Batangas, North Cotabato, and Surigao. Some graduates have also gotten jobs outside of the Philippines, such as in Malaysia, the Middle East, Sweden, and in cruise ships that ply routes in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

“ Is this a chance and an opportunity for you to reimagine and redraw the whole economy so that [the people of Kananga] have a chance at something better? ”

Photos courtesy of KEITECH

THE CHALLENGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY The destruction wrought by super typhoon Yolanda brought three concentric crises to EDC. First was how to restore power in an area that was completely downed by the “world’s strongest typhoon in recorded history;” next was how to account for its 747 employees and their families; last, and most far-reaching of all, was how to help the community get back on its feet again. In a recent interview, FPH and EDC Chairman Federico R. Lopez (FRL) shared the questions management had to face in the aftermath of Yolanda. “[If] you give them fishing boats, you start replanting coconut trees, you give other vegetables to plant, what you’re basically doing is that you’re tiding them over… but you’re basically just bringing them back to where they were before,” FRL pointed out. “The question is: Do we like where they were before?” He continued, “The poverty levels are very high, and if you’re just basically restoring the old order, is that the right thing to do? Or, is this a chance and an opportunity for you to reimagine and redraw the whole economy so that [the people of Kananga] have a chance at something better?” EDC chose to “reimagine” the economic landscape of Kananga, and in the process also “reimagined” KEITECH’s short courses. Instead of running for 11 months for a full program, short courses in Carpentry NCII, Plumbing NCII, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII will run for three months each, offering a quicker turnaround time between enrollment and employability. While the regular training is focused on high school graduates, this extension course will train members of families dislocated by Yolanda.

FRL explained, “When we were discussing the rebuilding [of the KEITECH program], we also thought about all the rebuilding that has to happen in Leyte. Maybe this is a chance to re-orient [KEITECH] because of the need for so many carpenters, plumbers, and electricians to rebuild [the towns].” “We went in the direction to rebuild the school, but also to reorient the curriculum. We think it can now benefit a [larger] number of people over the same period, and at the same time, cater to the crying need… [With] all the rebuilding efforts needed, you’re going to need all those kinds of workers,” Mr. Lopez pointed out. Beyond this, FRL believes that reorienting the local community from agricultural jobs to industrial jobs will have greater impact and will be more beneficial in the long run. “When productivity is very low, wages are also very low, so you can’t [take people] out of that poverty cycle. Here in the industrial sector, productivity is much higher, wages are also much higher. The kind of multiplier [effect] you get in the economy will be quite impressive— quite staggering— if you can pull it off.” “[We’re] rebuilding not only their homes, but we’re also rebuilding their source of livelihood,” Mr. Lopez emphasized. “When one person in a family is able to graduate from vocational courses and then get a job— or even get a job abroad—the impact that it has on poverty alleviation is so strong.”

“ [We’re] rebuilding not only their homes, but we’re also rebuilding their source of livelihood. ”

KEITECH Instructional Head Susanto Cormero explaining plumbing equipment to FPH Chairman Emeritus Oscar M. Lopez (OML), FPH Chairman & CEO Federico R. Lopez (FRL), and FPH Chief Sustainability Officer, Agnes de Jesus

THE WAY FORWARD At present, KEITECH is gearing up to train over 1,000 trainees in 27 months, instead of only 250 trainees in the same period. Beneficiaries will come from Ormoc City, Kananga Leyte, and Leyte District 2, and will be trained on carpentry, electrical, and plumbing courses. Once they shall have finished the program, beneficiaries will then be tapped to rebuild schools in their respective areas. The program is thus seen to help strengthen their sense of ownership of the project and to promote the “bayanihan” spirit in the area. According to Dr. Emiliano “Butch” Saceda II, Administrator of KEITECH, “The most ideal scheme is for all KEITECH trainees to live-in during weekdays with the inclusion of additional skills in basic masonry and welding, as well as for values formation, as this will be EDC’s chance to influence our immediate community on the importance of values as part of economic development.” According the FRL, the Company is also exploring rolling out this program to other plant locations. KEITECH may be just one program among many. But for the over 1,000 individuals and families it hopes to empower over the next 27 months, this could very well spell the difference between a life of despair and a reimagined life of hope and possibility.

Cover P O W E RSTORY ED BY GOOD

LOPEZ

TOWER

RISING by Benjamin K. Liboro

t Rockwell Center, between One Rockwell and the Ateneo Professional Schools, a new edifice is rising. It is called the Lopez Tower, a 21-storey “green building” that demonstrates the Lopez Group’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

“ The idea for [the Lopez Tower] was part of the original Rockwell Center masterplan... ”

According to Lopez Group Chairman Emeritus Oscar M. Lopez, who spoke at the groundbreaking of The Lopez Tower in April 2012, “The idea for [the Lopez Tower] was part of the original Rockwell Center masterplan… The vagaries of the financial markets, especially the Asian financial crisis of 1997, pushed back and altogether changed many of our plans for Rockwell Center… And yet, we find ourselves here today, looking forward to a place where [we] can. . . build together a better future for our customers, employees, communities, all our stakeholders— especially our country.” With a total floor area of over 30,000 square

meters, the building will house at least 1,200 employees. A number of executive offices will occupy the topmost floor. Companies of the FPH Group will occupy a total of 17 floors, while the second floor will house a “city studio” for ABS-CBN, an Integrated Corporate Communications media center, and a function hall. The ground floor will be occupied by prime retail establishments. Each office floor will have a usable area of approximately 2,000 square meters in four quadrants around a central utility core. The four quadrants symbolize entrepreneurship, integrity, excellence, and public service—congruent with the Lopez Values.

A perspective of the “Work Café” at the “Collaborative Floor”. Photo courtesy of Arco, with special thanks to Jason Vistro, EDC

External perspective photos courtesy of Rockwell Land, with special thanks to Camie Mirasol and Melissa Aboy

“ The four quadrants symbolize entrepreneurship, integrity, leadership, and public service. ”

BUILDING IT “GREEN” True to the FPH Group’s mission of stewarding sustainability, the Lopez Tower will continue to implement sustainable practices from construction until building completion, such as recycling construction waste and supporting locally available materials with high-recycled content . The building will also be designed according to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certification standards. It will employ “green building” features, such as providing a sizeable amount of landscaped areas at the ground level, solar panels at the roof deck, rainwater collection for irrigation and low flush fixtures, low emissivity glass, LED lighting, and

an energy-efficient air-conditioning system. CO2 levels will be monitored by sensors located at each floor, while good indoor air quality will be continuously maintained by limiting the use of off-gassing construction materials. Excavation works for the building started in July 2012, and tower construction has currently reached the 17th floor, with four physical floors left to be constructed. Topping-off of the roofdeck will be completed no later than July 2014. All floors will be turned over for fit-out starting August 2014 and are expected to be completed—and ready for moving in—by January 2015.

“ All interior fit-outs for both collaborative floors and typical office floors will be designed to LEED Gold Certification standards... ”

DESIGNING FOR SYNERGY During the last quarter of 2012, two study groups drawn from FPH’s executive talent pool were asked to conceptualize an ideal and modern office design that would promote synergy across the group, unlock its innovation and creativity, and embody the Lopez Values. They both presented visions for a building dramatically different from the offices that currently house the FPH member companies. Their visions provoked keen discussion among the group’s senior leaders on how the new corporate offices should be designed. In mid-2013, a “Design for Synergy” committee

was formed to oversee the design and fit-out of the new offices. The committee is composed of Anna Karina P. Gerochi, Shirley C. Hombrebueno, Earl Jason Vistro, and Charlie R. Valerio, and is headed by Benjamin K. Liboro. The committee met with workspace experts to further explore the FPH Group’s needs and objectives for the design and interiors of the building, and a study was conducted over a six-week period in October and November 2013. By December 2013, the findings and recommendations were presented to FPH’s senior leaders. The centerpiece of the Lopez Tower will

be three collaborative floors that are currently nicknamed the “Social Floor”, the “Quiet Floor”, and the “Project Floor”, respectively. The Social Floor will house will house a large work café that will encourage and enable groups to huddle and work together, training rooms that can be merged into a town hall; gym and wellness facilities; club rooms with showers; and a modern cafeteria. The Quiet Floor will house a large working board room, a complex of meeting rooms of various sizes and shapes—some equipped for tele- and video-conferencing—and quiet areas where staff members can plug in their devices and work away from the bustle of the Social Floor. Meanwhile, the Project Floor will feature conference room and work-room clusters where multi-discipline

teams assembled for longer-term project development activities and bid preparation work can be housed. As currently planned, these collaborative floors will occupy the 9th, 10th, and 11th floors. In envisioning the design of the collaborative floors, FPH Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez (FRL) took inspiration from the late Steve Jobs’ design for the Pixar headquarters, which was created with the belief that, “Everybody has to run into each other.” According to FRL, “Even in an era of texting, email, Facebook, and Skype, even the most creative companies in the world never discount the power of a chance encounter. It’s something to think about if we want to encourage more collaboration, creativity, and synergy.” As such, all interior fit-outs for both collaborative floors and typical office floors will be characterized by open, bright, airy designs, with

A collaborative area in the “Quiet Floor.” Photo courtesy of Arco, with special thanks to Jason Vistro, EDC

work station clusters, huddle areas, and interior staircases designed to promote collaboration and synergy across the different companies and businesses. Particular attention will be paid by the designers to ergonomics and healthy workplace habits. The office designs will fully recognize that four generations of employees spanning the twentysomething Millennials to the sixty-something Seniors will be working together in a dynamic, innovative, creative,

“ It is our desire to

promote that inclusive kapamilya spirit... ”

collaborative, and energetic workplace. As OML himself had said, “It is our desire to promote that inclusive kapamilya spirit that is important in engaging the workforce, and letting them know they have a home, a future, and always a higher purpose while they work with and within the Lopez Group.”

What is LEED? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, a “green building” certification program that evaluates construction and design projects according to five rating systems: Building design and construction, interior design and construction, building operations and maintenance, neighborhood development, and homes (for residential developments). It considers a wide variety of factors, including an “integrative process” to design, location and transportation, the use of sustainable building materials and the reduction of waste, water efficiency, energyand atmosphere-saving strategies, sustainability, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and its ability to address local environmental concerns. There are currently four LEED certification levels: LEED-certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. (Source: The official LEED website, http://www.usgbc. org/leed#certification)

Power P O W E R BANK BANK

I n f o r mation | In sigh t | In spirat ion

The Leader’s

Bookshelf What feeds the minds of great leaders? For this issue of Current, we take a sneak peek at what our leaders are reading—and what they’d recommend for YOUR bookshelf.

“I would recommend the book High Rise by Jerry Adler because it is relevant to our business not just on the technical side—but the drama and personalities behind a project is something we can relate to.” Nestor Padilla President, Rockwell Land

“It isn’t a business book but [it offers] lots of leadership lessons on dealing with adversity, working with what you have, and following your own path. Soon to be a movie.” Deedee Agustines Assistant Vice President, Integrated Corporate Communications, FPH

“The book focuses on substance rather than on techniques of leadership... not on what leaders do but on what they value and believe in, which is anchored on certain principles— what they care about, how they live their life and see themselves fit in this world. It springs from within of who they are as much as what they do.” Ariel Ong President, Philec

o n L e a d e r s h i p a n d M a n age m en t

POWER BANK

In This Issue: • The Leader's Bookshelf • Applying Leadership Principles at Work • Building Resilience “Easy to read, well-written and, I would say, the best book on globalization that I have read.” Arthur De Guia President, First Philec

“This book showcases Abraham Lincoln’s political genius and leadership style right smack into the U.S.’ most challenging period a s a nation—the Civil War. Prof. Goodwin’s use of newspaper accounts of events makes it a good, exciting read.” Danny Gozo Adviser, Integrated Corporate Communications, FPH “I subscribe to the Harvard Business Review. Aside from being [an] easy read, it provides good insights on current events, live business cases, and management styles of great business leaders.” Valerie Soliven Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Rockwell Land

“I think it can be a great guide for leaders who need to orchestrate the delivery of goals and results for their organizations. It’s practical and timeless, and I made a lot of markings and tabs so I can go back to it for reference.” Bunny Gerochi Vice President for Human Resource Management, First Gen/FPH

“In this book you see the strengths and flaws of leaders and the people who make things happen for them behind the scenes.” Ricky Carandang Consultant, Integrated Corporate Communications, FPH

POWER BANK Read more about Kevin Kruse’s article on leadership by typing this shortlink, <http://onforb. es/1npnfOw>, or by scanning the QR code

Applying Leadership Principles at Work From the earliest empire-builders to industrial-age pioneers, to revolutionaries in politics, culture, society, and technology, there is always a leader who serves as a rallying point and as a trailblazer. What sets these people apart from the rest? What makes a great leader? SETTING THE VISION. Leaders set the strategic direction by painting a clear picture of what they want to achieve. Apply it now: Start by visualizing the outcome of your tasks. Begin your meetings and professional engagements with the words, “Here’s what we want to achieve.” As your responsibilities become greater, you’ll find that the things you want to achieve also become bigger. GETTING THE BUY-IN. Leaders are able to articulate the “why” of every task, connecting the tactical to the strategic, the action to the dream. Apply it now: Be sure that each member of your team understands the guiding principles behind each task. Prop up each action point against consistent principles and imperatives. They’ll respect you more, knowing that the task has value in achieving your vision.

HARNESSING STRENGTHS. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts only if the parts are assembled well, allowing them to interact optimally. The task of the leader is to encourage each team member to perform at their best, and to enable complementary strengths to work well together. Apply it now: Know your team’s individual strengths and give them tasks that allow them to shine. Give each member of your team enough elbow room to execute their tasks to the best of their abilities; when needed, pair up individuals with complementary strengths who can compensate for each other’s weaknesses and still arrive at the best possible output. Arm your team with tools and inspiration to develop their skills and sharpen their expertise. Celebrate victories and properly processes the team’s challenges.

CREATING A CULTURE OF EMPOWERMENT AND RESPECT. Leaders create conditions where everyone props each other up; these also strengthen teamwork and allow diverse individuals to perform as a cohesive whole. Apply it now: Know what each member of your team is capable of. Ask for help, and show gratitude when you get help. Use questions rather than answers and directives to drive discussions. Discourage and defuse negative back-talk—negating actions. Externally, take responsibility for shortcomings, and give credit to your team for successes. Never tolerate mediocrity, but be sure to also show your appreciation for people who go the extra mile. INSPIRING MOTION. Leaders motivate their teams so as to drive outcomes. Apply it now: Delegate, but always do your fair share of the tasks. If you were able to articulate the importance of your final output and explain how it adheres to your overall vision, your team will respond. Demonstrate that the project is moving along by ticking off tasks on a board to which everyone has access. LEADERSHIP AS PROCESS In a Forbes Magazine article, leadership expert Kevin Kruse broke down several definitions of leadership by top CEOs. He then proceeded to define leadership as “a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.” Clearly, the mere exercise of authority is not enough, and neither are plain, just-get-it-done efforts and actions without an intended outcome. Leadership is a process: It involves several factors converging into one that can drive results, and ultimately, achieve a vision.

POWER BANK

Jargon Buster WESM With rising power rates and scorching days ahead, the news is filled with a strange acronym called “WESM.” What is it and how does it work? There may be different Market Clearing Prices (MCP) every hour depending on the Demand Level--MCP will be higher with higher demand because more expensive generation will be dispatched

dispatch instructions as to how much electricity they should be generating.

The power plant that is last in merit order ranking to be dispatched—and therefore the one that can fill the last unit of demand—is what is called the “market clearing plant” for the hour.

However, illustration above is limited to a single node dispatch optimization which is unable to show effect of (1) Transmission loss; (2) Congestion costs; and (3) Varying bid offers from generators every hour Source: Power 101 slides by Mr. Carlo Vega. Printed with permission.

ESM stands for Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. While not exactly an energy “stock market” in the strictest sense of the word, it serves as a good metaphor for the fact that transactions occur hourly, with prices also changing by the hour, determined by supply and demand balance.

Here’s a simplified version of how it works. Do remember that there are other factors affecting WESM prices, so treat this example as an illustration only.

hour of demand, each power plant submits to the Market Operator/ PEMC how much electricity it can generate and its price offer for that trading interval.

Total electricity demand for each hour is determined by the Market Operator of WESM or the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC). Each hour is considered a “trading interval,” so a day has 24 training intervals.

At least two hours before the start of the

Generators are then ranked from lowest to highest price, in what is called a “merit order dispatch” ranking. The lowest-priced generator will be dispatched first, then the next lowest, then so on.

Based on the forecasted electricity demand for the hour, generators are given

The price offered by the market clearing plant is the WESM price for that hour. All electricity generated for that hour will be priced at the current WESM price. According to Mr. Carlo Vega, Assistant Vice President – Regulatory and Business Development, First Gen, “The Market Clearing Prices (MCP) [may vary] every hour, depending on the demand level. The MCP will be higher with higher electricity demand because plants that generate more expensive electricity will be dispatched.” Special thanks to Mr. Vega for sharing his expertise during our Power 101 seminar.

POWER BANK

RESILIENT AMID THE STORMS Super typhoon Yolanda was the “world’s strongest storm in recorded history”—but it won’t be the last disaster to hit the Philippines. What can we draw from, to build organizational resilience amid potentially destructive disruptions?

n November 8, 2013, the “world’s strongest typhoon in recorded history” chose the Philippines as its destination, making its first landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Over the next 17 hours, Yolanda went “island-hopping” and made landfall five more times, in different islands in the Visayas and in Palawan. Within a few hours, death and destruction were evident everywhere. Buildings had collapsed; coastal communities had been flattened; villagers had been killed by a 20-foot “storm surge” that nobody understood early enough. In the same province lay the world’s largest wet steamfield and integrated geothermal power plant, run by EDC. According to FPH and EDC Chairman Federico R. Lopez (FRL), “When [Yolanda] hit Leyte, it destroyed all our power plants there. Not a single kilowatt-hour was being produced.” What happened next, from the lenses of EDC and the FPH Group, was a story worthy of cinematic treatment: Teams came in to secure the hundreds of employees and families of the FPH Group that were located in Leyte. Supplies and reinforcements

were flown and shipped in to quickly restore some sense of order on the ground. Company leadership flew in to coordinate logistical support with and for local governments. Employees from different locations jumped in to help where they could. “There were no casualties [among employees], and there were no family casualties,” FRL was relieved to have pointed out. “But once they recognized that they were being helped—even before they had roofs on their homes, and even before it could really be ascertained that everything [was all right]—all of them, because they were helped, also wanted to help the community around them,” FRL recounted. “They actually became the backbone of a whole relief effort not only [for] their immediate community, but practically [for] the entire island of Leyte.” What made it possible for EDC employees to quickly bounce back from a horrific disaster that had altogether claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced millions more? What enabled the FPH Group to quickly respond to the crisis and act more like a SWAT Team than a large conglomerate?

THE RESILIENCE IMPERATIVE Halfway around the world, authors Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy, in the book, Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back (Simon & Schuster, 2012), have asked similar questions. “Around the world, in disciplines as seemingly disconnected as economics, ecology, political science, cognitive science, and digital networking, scientists, policymakers, technologists, corporate leaders, and activists alike are asking the same basic questions: What causes one system to break and another to rebound? How much change can a system absorb and still retain its integrity and purpose? What characteristics make a system adaptive to change? In an age of constant disruption, how do we build in better shock absorbers for ourselves, our communities, companies, economies, societies, and the planet?” In the chapter called “The Resilience Imperative,” the authors point out: “If we cannot control the volatile tides of change, we can learn to build better boats. We can design—and redesign— organizations, institutions, and systems to better absorb disruption, operate under a wider variety of conditions, and shift more fluidly from one circumstance to the next. To do that, we need to understand the emerging field of resilience.”

WHAT IS RESILIENCE? Zolli and Healy acknowledged that “resilience” can mean different things in the context of different industries, and they borrow from the fields of ecology and sociology to phrase their definition: The capacity of a system, enterprise, or a person to maintain its core purpose and integrity in the face of dramatically changed circumstances.

RESILIENCE—THE LOPEZ WAY FPH Chairman Federico R. Lopez (FRL) has often spoken of how Lopez Values have helped FPH and the Lopez Group navigate rough terrain during times of uncertainty. In a speech given in October 2013, FRL said: “When you look back through history it’s tempting to simply say that the

POWER BANK

According to another author and consultant, Dean Robb, a resilient organization is able to do the following: • Create structure, and to dissolve it • Provide safety (not necessarily security or stability) in the midst of change • Manage the emotional consequences of continuous transformation and change: anxiety and grief • Learn, develop and grow Meanwhile, a 2013 white paper published by the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School shares a human resource-centered perspective to building resilient organizations: “Resilient organizational culture gives all employees—from the CEO down—permission to take care of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs with the understanding that when these needs are tended to, resilience occurs, and the entire organization benefits through increased productivity, job performance, retention, engagement, and physical well-being.” Lopez Group is merely paying the price of having values [and] principles... Our road to sustained growth as a business group will only commence when we have a keen awareness of [our] flaws, the humility to accept them, and the will and fortitude to do something about it.” “Thinking strategically, proper planning and execution, and having ‘the right people in the right seats’ and (most especially) working together for synergy can overcome even the most adverse conditions. We must never, ever forget that,” FRL stressed. Sidney Cordero, Senior Manager for Learning and Development at First Gen, shares what struck him most about how resilience is lived out in the Lopez Group, with the Lopez Values as a bedrock. “Our history tells of how the Lopez Family has adapted exceptionally well in the face of adversity and challenging life experiences; they remained steadfast in their pursuit of audacious dreams and to make our nation proud. What we see as resilience then and now is actually the

[demonstration of the] legendary values of the Lopezes, shared and lived by our people all these years. This is why it is so important to choose talents who share the same set of values. We are cohesive and agile this way.” Milo Alejo, Assistant Vice President in the Strategy and Risk Management Group of EDC, saw firsthand during the Yolanda crisis management operations how having a shared set of values contributed to the company’s resilience during one of the worst crises to ever hit the Philippines. “EDC executives haven’t been that long in the group,” he says, referring to EDC’s ongoing transformation and transition, “but what I can tell you is at that point—during the crisis team meeting—I [was] blessed to see that the values of these guys were the same. There was no question about it.” Mr. Alejo points to three elements that became crucial in responding to the Yolanda crisis: “One, very clear priorities; two, very clear roles; three, clear communications… People knew what needed to be done.” Alejo also revealed another critical element in being able to respond well during a crisis: “Trust.” “There [was] a level of trust between us and the [local governments]… Trust [between] each department to do their respective tasks well… Trust between employees and management. . .that ‘we’ve got your backs.’” “We listened. We heard what they need. We also anticipated their requirements beforehand… We needed to be a symbol of hope,” Alejo shared. In assessing how the FPH Group handled Yolanda and the other challenging events of 2013, FPH President Elpidio Ibañez (ELI) likened the experience to a “stress test.” “It wasn’t as bad as what happened during Martial Law… but it was difficult, nonetheless,” ELI admitted. “But I think the group performed relatively well in facing up to that stress test. It showed, first of all, that the risk management efforts we have been undertaking for many years now [have] started to really show their effectiveness… It shows how far the group has come in terms of building up the businesses and making

them robust and resilient to whatever challenges there may be.” For Mr. Alejo, resilience in a time of crisis became paramount because there were many lives at stake. He shared, “In the messaging for our crisis operations, we had a banner that said, ‘Bangon EDC: Maraming umaasa sa atin (Rise EDC: People are counting on us).’ [We were urged] to think selflessly, to think less about ourselves and more about the community. That message was very strong, and we sent a message that everyone is taken care of.” At the bedrock of all this were two Lopez Values that stood out amid the crisis. “The sense of nationalism and social justice is very strong,” Alejo shared. “I think it’s very well-ingrained in our colleagues that we’re not just here to operate a business, we’re here to change… We knew that we were making a difference. That’s what counted.”

APPROACHES TO BUILDING RESILIENCE • Put talents out of their comfort zone. For example, someone from Accounting can be assigned to Business Development to be stretched and [to] create new success stories and new capabilities. • Plan the development solutions of our people. [We need] to help them with the needed knowledge and skills to perform well on the job and to prepare for their next roles. • Solve big problems together and help others succeed. Collaboration and teamwork are very strong competencies of our people. • Pursue breakthroughs and become catalysts. Create small and big wins continuously as we try to make a difference for our country. • Have fun together and share successes. • Focus on our purpose and on what matters most. We should be clear about our purpose and our priorities. Taken from an e-mail interview with Mr. Sidney Cordero, First Gen

UNPLUG

take a

breather!

Weekends are for sun, fun, family, and simply for unplugging and recharging your batteries. Join Current as we step out and show you cool stuff you can enjoy after office hours. In This Issue

Health & Wellness Hard-Working Fruits for Your Everyday Meals Travel Viva Manila! Family Nurturing Excellence Arts & Culture Complicated Radius Close Eats

UNPLUG

HARD-WORKING FRUITS

FOR YOUR EVERYDAY MEALS With all the different lives you lead, how can you boost your immune system, fuel your body, and stay in decent shape? The simple answer: take a good serving of fruit every day. Apart from the fact that fruits are a recommended part of our daily diet because they’re excellent sources of vitamins, they’re also delicious. The next time you visit the supermarket, make sure to drop these fruits into your cart. MANGOES are for MONDAYS. For the start of the week, try having a few slices of mangoes for breakfast, or as a mid-afternoon snack. Aside from supplying you with your needed dose of Vitamins C and A, mangoes are also a good source of fiber and antioxidants, which help minimize the risk of cancer. The best part of eating mangoes: they’re readily available in our part of the world. Go BANANAS on TUESDAYS. You probably already know that bananas are packed with potassium, but do you know why this is important? As an electrolyte, potassium keeps the body functioning at a stable pace, helping you deal with stress and heavy workloads. Bananas also provide magnesium, calcium, and iron—minerals essential to keep your body healthy, as you try to be even more productive on the second day of the work week. Lastly, taking a banana after every meal fills you up and keeps you from wasting calories on junk food. #WATERMELONWEDNESDAYS. It’s the hump day, and you’re already likely feeling the weight of all the tasks you need to accomplish over the next couple of days. Have some watermelon—whether in a fruit shake (minimal sugar, of course!) or a side dish to lunch—to reinvigorate you for the rest of the week. Watermelons, like tomatoes, are rich in lycopene, which helps combat cancer and heart disease. A-OK with ORANGES on THURSDAYS. Eating a single orange is enough to provide you with your Vitamin C needs for the day, which in turn boosts your immune system. You’ll need this, especially if you’ve been hard at work since Monday, and

you’re feeling slightly under the weather (the sub-arctic temperatures in the office don’t help either). Apart from that, oranges are also a good source of fiber—which can help with constipation, keep blood sugar under control, and lower cholesterol. PAPAYAS and Payday FRIDAYS. Consider this: it’s been a busy week, and you’re probably tired and even look it. Have a papaya for breakfast and come into the office looking like you’ve just come from the weekend. Since you’ll probably be heading out with friends for a well-deserved session of dinner and drinks, having some more papaya for lunch is actually a good idea: it helps balance your cholesterol aside from keeping you looking young. #STRAWBERRYSATURDAYS. There’s nothing better than sleeping in a few extra hours on the first day of the weekend, having brunch with your friends, and sipping on a strawberry smoothie or snacking on some fresh strawberries. Strawberries provide Vitamins C and A, and Folate—the right set of vitamins to recover from a Friday of parties and gatherings. To add to that, strawberries aren’t as sinful as you might think: they’re low in calories and high in fiber, with one cup containing just a little over 50 calories. Fruit SALAD SUNDAYS. For a little indulgence while spending your time with loved ones, why not whip up some fruit salad for that family lunch? Feel free to add some sweetened cream to the mix. After all, if you skip the fruit cocktail and, instead, slice up a variety of fresh fruit, you’ll have a fairly balanced, still-healthy dessert that everyone—from your grandparents to the babies in the family—can enjoy. It’s also the perfect motivation to get back to the daily grind of work—and another week of eating healthy, one fruit at a time.

UNPLUG

Photos crowdsourced from Viva Manila’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Used with permission from Viva Manila

Want to know what’s cool in Manila? Follow the hashtag #vivamanila on Instagram or Twitter, or like the VivaManila Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ vivamanila.org

Viva

Manila! An exuberant cultural resurgence is taking place in the City of Manila.

hese days, you’ll see pedestrians and bikers enjoying carless “Pasyal Sundays” at Intramuros, early-morning joggers and families enjoying brunch at Malate, poets and jilted lovers alike performing spoken word poetry near the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), artists and entrepreneurs selling their goods at Escolta… and so much more. It all began as a hashtag (#vivamanila) started by one of Manila’s most popular residents, thespian-tour guide Carlos Celdran. Now, Viva Manila is a citizen-driven movement that includes Manileños from all walks of life—and even nonresidents hoping to bite into Manila’s authentic flavor.

According to Julia Nebrija, an urban planner and co-founder of Viva Manila, “Carlos [Celdran] started the hashtag #vivamanila when he was the Tourism Consultant to the City of Manila, but… Viva Manila is Viva Manila because of its partners.” She explains, “Although we do create new events, most of what we do is connect the dots for things which already exist.” One of the more popular events under Viva Manila is the Sunday Pasyal, a monthly afternoon affair where, as Nebrija explains, “we close down one street in Intramuros and host a completely free, completely public day of arts and culture.”

UNPLUG

Photo courtesy of Carlos Celdran The group is now looking to expand outside of Intramuros and host activities in covered spaces, such as in Escolta, in anticipation of the rainy season. “The general feel from our audience is that they are really happy to have something to do besides go to a mall… Especially with our Sunday Pasyal, people enjoy having a different type of Sunday activity. Many of our events change

the way people see Manila, mostly because there is very little information about what to do in Manila and when.” “In this sense, people are surprised that Manila is not just a sketchy red-light district.” Manila has gone from glorious to gaudy and is now back to rediscovering the source of its glory: its people—these proud, artistic residents who are only too happy to bare their love for their city by sharing what they have. It’s one big street party, and non-Manileños are bound to feel a tinge of envy for what they’re missing in their own cities. So, go ahead, walk on the road less traveled and experience some downtown soul—you just might discover that you left your heart in Manila, after all. *Jane’s Walk: A growing movement of free, locally led walking tours inspired by the work of urban planner Jane Jacobs. Learn more at <www.janeswalk.org>

Check out these spots to enjoy the Viva Manila vibe: HOT SPOT

COOL TRIP

The Bar@1951

Sonic Experimentation (with vinyl, live music, and video jams) on Tuesday nights

Escolta

Saturday Future Market, a bazaar that features arts, crafts, artisanal products, and other cool finds—bringing the old shopping district of Escolta back to life

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila

Contemporary art exhibitions and regular artist talks and art workshops

Intramuros Sev’s Café

Carlos Celdran’s walking tours and the Sunday Pasyal

Basement level, Legaspi Towers 300, Vito Cruz cor. Roxas Boulevard, Malate

Poetry Slam (every first Wednesday of the month), Speak Philippines! Open Mic Night (even third Saturday of the month), and drum jams using recycled instruments

Eat Café at V Hotel

Sunday Vinyl Brunch

1951 Adriatico Street, Malate First United Building, Escolta, Binondo Bangko Sentral Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Malate

2/F V Hotel, Adriatico Street, Malate

UNPLUG

NURTURING

EXCELLENCE

We know what Business Excellence looks like; we see it in planning sessions, in charts, and in reports at work. But what does excellence look like at home and in your kids’ lives? Is it being Number One in class, achieving a goal, or doing what one loves? In this article, Current sparks a conversation with six parents in the FPH Group whose children have graduated this year, and explores what excellence means for them. 01 Eva Lobitana Office Services Assistant, First Philec When you flip the covers of his notebooks, you’ll discover the secret to his success. It was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” which Eva Lobitana patiently wrote on all of her eldest son Paolo’s notebooks. It was her way of comforting her children, who at one point had to transfer to public school due to the family’s financial constraints. That line kept her sons going and dreaming. A few years later, Paolo and his younger brother graduated with top honors (as Valedictorian and First Honorable Mention, respectively) from that school. For Eva and her children, excellence meant making the most out of their God-given talents. Aside from being a scholar of the Philippine Science High School, Paolo was also into sports— swimming, table tennis, Frisbee, and martial arts, both in high school and college. His passion for anime also led him to excel in Japanese culture and in Nihongo. Academic scholarships from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Ateneo Schools Parents Council Scholarship (ASPAC) paved the way for Paolo to graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Chemistry, cum laude. What’s the secret? “There’s no secret, because just like ordinary parents, my husband and I showed

our love for [Paolo], but not through material things, because we had few of those,” Eva shares. “We gave him our time, our ears, and our hearts when he needed us, even during moments of heartbreak. We gave him the rod of discipline at times when he needed it, but also all the time to rest and be alone when he wanted these.” If there was one thing that Eva and her husband, Boy, would like to pass on to Paolo, it would be: “… Wings from the Lord. He knows that when he starts to use these wings on his own, he will surely soar high, and no one can ever take these wings away from him.” 02 Bunny Gerochi Vice President and Head of Human Resources Management, First Gen & FPH She holds her breath while watching him perform. / Maybe it’s his delivery. / Maybe it’s the magical connection with the audience. / For sure, it makes her heart overflow. Bunny Gerochi’s sons have been active members of their schools’ theater groups. Their penchant and talent for performing arts is something she is so proud of today, but discovered almost by accident a few years ago. Her son Jacob was in a play, acting, singing, dancing, and delivering his lines in pure Filipino—which surprised and delighted Bunny.

“He didn’t even tell us he had a major role—and he was awesome,” Bunny shares. She remembers how she and her husband looked at each other quizzingly, as if to ask, “Is this Jacob?” Since then she has seen her four sons perform on stage, and also take on roles as stage artist and musician, and even crew. Three of them graduated this year, from grade school, junior high, and high school. Bunny admits that she “had to let go of my [own] notion of excellence, which was focused mostly on academics.” She saw a different facet of excellence shine through in her sons’ commitment to theater—a field that requires intense focus, imagination, and perseverance. “They also learned to be team players, and be great whether in the limelight or in the background.” “[Excellence is] commitment and delivering on that commitment. It’s maximizing yourself and giving your best, whatever talent or role is given to you—to bloom where you are planted.” Bunny muses. As a working mom, she has contemplated switching priorities several times, to help her sons in school. “But at the point where you think you’re about to change course, something happens to tell you they’re fine, you’re fine… When that happens, my husband and I ask ourselves, what is God trying to tell us?”

UNPLUG

She looks at the stage and sees her sons floor the audience with an epic performance. In her heart of hearts, she knows the answer. 03 Mila and Ardel Fadri Assistant Vice-Presidents, FPH He had an eye for patterns. / An ear for rhythm. / A mind that imagines. / A heart that gives. Ardel and Mila Fadri’s only son, Gab, made waves within the FPH family when word got around that he graduated from the Ateneo Junior High School with multiple awards. “He is every parent’s dream,” Mila says, “But he’s not a super boy,” Ardel is quick to add. On top of his academic and extracurricular achievements, Gab was recognized by the Singapore Examination and Assessments Board for his exceptional score in the International Primary School Leaving Examination (iPSLE), a test that was conducted among the entire batch of graduating Grade 8 junior high students at the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School to see if they are at par with Singaporean students of their level. Among the entire batch, only Gab got in the range A of all subjects tested: English, Math, and Science. More than this, however, what surprised the Fadris was how Gab used his talents to help his batchmates by making exam reviewers and conducting review sessions. “He never told us at the beginning. We observed him later working on the reviewers although we thought it was just for a small group of classmates and friends. We were surprised when the parents [of his schoolmates] were thanking us,” Ardel said. This giving attitude was a trait that Mila and Ardel had nurtured in Gab early on. They would often tell him, “Don’t feel that you are losing something when you share it with others. In fact, you multiply your abilities.” True enough, Gab’s reviewers has reached around 150 students in his batch (as of the last estimate). For Ardel and Mila, excellence is hard work, diligence, and patience. But all these would be nothing without values. The motivation to achieve “has to be for the right reasons, not mainly for recognition.”

With all these achievements, Gab is still a kid at heart. He is a voracious reader whose joy comes from trips to bookstores like Bestsellers, NBS, Powerbooks, and Fully Booked. During trips abroad, he will not miss the chance to go to Barnes and Noble and Kinokuniya. His eyes would light up as he watches the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga—interested with detail and harmony that goes into the magic of thousands of multi-colored lights put together. He loves to build and create —whether it is online or a work of his hands. And like any kid, he plays games on his laptop or tablet. So when people ask, how do you raise a child who excels in almost all fields? “It’s a combination of many things,” the Fadris say. “Each child is a unique individual. Parents have to know each one well. Treat your child with respect and dignity… most importantly love and understanding should permeate the home.” 04 Eana Tibay Senior Manager for HR, First Philec A single mom, Eana Tibay knew that she holds a very big responsibility in molding her son, Cyzar Raphael, into a person of integrity. While Cyzar’s father makes sure to visit Cyzar and tutor him from time to time, Eana’s parents played a big role to help raise the young boy. . . As such, Eana brought Cyzar up to value the importance of character and of people. “I have always told him that material things never last—but relationships, people, and learning are treasures [that remain] with you all through your life.” Cyzar’s positive attitude is matched with his active involvement in school, his passion for books, and his curiosity for anything under the sun. Cyzar also represents his school in quiz bees and in national competitions. Communication is also key, Eana says. “We talk, all the time. Communication— two-way, sincere, and from the heart—is very vital to bring out the best in him. . . I let him analyze and call the shots, see and decide based on the big picture, and the [potential] impact [of his decisions]. He also [got from] me his good PR skills and the passion to talk and interact.”

Cyzar has all the ingredients to succeed, and Eana reminds him that excellence is all about following through on his dreams. “I always tell him that [he alone] can make his dreams come true—so he has to work for [them] and put a lot of dedication and diligence to it. I respect his individuality; I make him decide; I encourage him [through the] little or big endeavors he takes on.” 05 Precila Belgira Senior Accounting Manager, FPIP At high noon, the graduation processional pipes in the air. As the tempo builds, she savors the feeling of gratefulness. “The graduation march makes you reminisce [about] your grateful moments and [your] bittersweet memories,” Precila Belgira shares, recounting her proudest moment this summer. Imagine having two college graduates as children—both of whom are achievers in their own right. Precila’s daughter, Shiela Lei (BS Electronics and Communications Engineering, University of the Philippines), was a leader in her school organization and a member of the famous UPIS Pep Squad. Her son, Mar Lemuel (BS Accounting Technology, University of the East), was a student leader as well as an athlete. For Precila, they comprised her picture of excellence: giving your 100% in anything you do. How does one raise well-rounded achievers? It’s a combination of different things. “We always encourage our children to be their best. We give a lot of [support] in anything they have ever wanted to do. . . we’ve gone to every practice, been to every game, gotten up to drive to auditions. We celebrate and give rewards for winning moments and eat out to cheer them up during struggling days.” If there was one virtue Precila and husband, Leo, would like their children to exemplify for the rest of their lives, that would be kindness—treating everyone as their equal, being brave enough to admit when they’re wrong, and thinking first before speaking. “I want them to understand and believe that the source of kindness is the Lord, the giver of life.”

UNPLUG

ARTS & CULTURE

COMPLICATED

The Philippines’ Colonial Past in an Interconnected World

ust like any parent-child relationship, or like that that indefinable and at times exhausting Facebook relationship status, the Philippines’ relationship with its colonizers— particularly Spain and the United States—is filled with complexities that cannot be reduced to mere labels or oversimplification. Our country has fought and bled for its freedom—yes—but we’ve also embraced much of our colonial identity and made it unmistakably ours as only Pinoys can. From our food to our clothing, our music, our social structures,

and the “halo-halo” way in which the country works, our Filipino identity cannot be separated from our colonial history, much like one cannot separate lesh from bone. This is the idea behind “Complicated”, the latest exhibition of the Lopez Museum that tackles the deep, ineffable relationship between the Philippines and its colonial past. It features works by contemporary artists Mike Adrao and Leslie de Chavez, and contemporary dancer and choreographer Ea Torrado, juxtaposed with works

UNPLUG

by Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Juvenal Sansó, Bencab, Ang Kiukok, Manansala, Jerry Elizalde Navarro, and other artworks from the Lopez Museum collection. Nominee for the most in-yourface piece in the exhibition is Leslie de Chavez’s State of Your Liberty, which features a black, upside-down Statue of Liberty that seems to have been discarded in a crate. The base of the statue holds up a miniature world of shanties, resembling an informal settler community, with most of the houses displaying advertisements for foreign sodas, detergents, and the like. It is at once weighing the statue down yet is also held up by it—an interesting commentary on the way our society is structured and on whose culture, really, makes a larger impact in our everyday lives. Mike Adrao, meanwhile, completed all his works for “Complicated” in 11 months, and following a spinal injury that influenced a number of his pieces. He came up with two deeply interesting concepts, Pillars and Infectious, that seek to display the progression of colonialism in the Philippines. For Pillars, Adrao showed that beneath all the chaos lies an element of a human body, which could be interpreted as a symbol for the atrocities to humanity directly or indirectly caused by colonialism. The fusion of symmetric beauty and horror that Adrao has orchestrated in his work may instill in some viewers a sense of trouble or unease—an effect that only proves his success in unveiling some aspects of the Philippines’ equally troubled relationship with its own colonial nature. Inspired by Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, dancer/choreographer Ea Torrado conceptualized and executed a frenzied performance, where she plays

Rizal’s character “Sisa.” The six-minute performance, shown through a video installation, is a commentary on the state of the desaparecidos (“the disappeared”) in the Philippines and is a magnificent act that aptly and ably combines grace and jaggedness. Evoking all at once feelings of loss, helplessness, pain, and horror, Torrado touches on the “Sisa” in everyone and calls for a resolution to injustices that continue to hound Philippine society today. Co-curators Ethel Villafranca and Ricky Francisco have carefully curated the rest of the exhibit to show the interaction and interplay between classical works and colonial pieces, and reactions by the featured contemporary artists. According to Villafranca and Francisco, “’Complicated’ attempts to situate the works of Adrao, de Chavez, and Torrado in the company of a selection of works by all these artists from the Lopez Museum and Library collection to create a counter vision, one that also looks back like the artistic forebears, and the collector Eugenio Lopez Sr., but configures a not-so-idealized view of what is Filipino, replete with our social ills and vices, to the trauma of the colonial experience.” There are many other noteworthy pieces in the exhibit that amuse, disturb, but ultimately serve as points of reflection about a truly complicated subject in a deeply interconnected world. Whether you are an experienced culture or a newbie to the art world, “Complicated” is an experience that is not to be missed. “Complicated” runs at The Lopez Memorial Museum and Library, with support from the Tin-aw Art Gallery, until August 2, 2014. For more information, call Tina at (02) 631 2417 or email <lmmpasig@gmail.com> Photos courtesy of the Lopez Memorial Library and Museum, with special thanks to Paolo Arago

UNPLUG

RADIUS Meet Radius, our practical, no-frills guide to dining, entertainment, and leisure options just around the block. For our maiden issue, we’ll take you through three dining establishments that offer variety in ambience, cuisine, and overall dining experience.

CLOSE EATS Black Olive Cervecería

Camino Verde Road, Capitol Commons A must-try for upscale meetings (or after-work dates), Black Olive is one of the newer foodie haunts in this side of town. Its sleek interiors, mood-setting playlist, and impressive display of bottles immediately show you that this is a good place to unwind and sample some fine spirits. As a cervecería, Black Olive boasts an impressive list of wines, spirits, and European beers on tap: Hoegaarden, Paulaner in different varieties, and Chimay, among others. We like the Stella Artois–a steal for Php150 a pint here. The menu is decidedly Mediterranean—Black Olive’s appetizers, cheeses, pizza varieties, and savory paella are sure to transport your palate to another continent. • Best for: Casual dinner meetings that won’t stretch too long, or after-office dates—especially if you both enjoy a good beer!

• Expect to spend: Php500 and Php600 per person (without drinks) • Must-tries: The specialty, Black Olive Paella (Php635 for 2), Thin-Crust Shrimp and Chili Pizza (Php505) • How to get there: From Benpres, take Meralco Avenue and turn LEFT at CAPTAIN HENRY JAVIER STREET. At the first traffic light you see, turn RIGHT to enter CAPITOL COMMONS. This won’t take more than 10 minutes even if you leave during rush hour.

JOE’S MEAT SHACK East Capitol Drive

If you prefer a straightforward chunk of beef, then Joe’s Meat Shack’s branch at Kapitolyo is the place to go. True to its name, the menu packs a macho punch: Sandwiches and burgers in hearty servings are reasonably priced, fullflavored, and designed to be taken in big mouthfuls. We also recommend some other mains, such as the Southern Fried

Chicken and Angus Beef Belly—as well as other appetizers that can double as pulutan. With a laid-back atmosphere and prices that won’t hurt your pocket, Joe’s Meat Shack is comfort food (or rather, meat) at its best. • Best for: Quick lunch runs, or dinner and beers with the officemates • Expect to spend: Php200-Php300 per person • Must-tries: Angus Beef Belly (Php195), Angus Steak and Fries (Php420) • How to get there: Head off in the same direction as CAPITOL COMMONS and traverse the entire CAMINO VERDE ROAD to emerge at the KAPITOLYO ROTUNDA at Shaw. Enter the Kapitolyo foodie area by turning LEFT at EAST CAPITOL DRIVE; after a block, you’ll find Joe’s Meat Shack to your left.

LAST HOME RESTO BAR

UNPLUG

MC Home Depot, Julia Vargas Avenue If you’re into the indie arts and culture scene and are looking for a more intimate hangout, then head off to Last Home. Here’s a fun fact: Last Home is the kind of place where, once a week, award-winning poets gather to let off steam and talk shop, before turning to their notebooks to write. This is not a hotel bar, and it won’t get any Michelin stars. What you’ll get, though, is good pulutan priced below Php200 and straightforward drinks. The kitchen can cook up its share of brilliance, too. You won’t see it on the menu, but Last Home offers a nice plate of Mediterranean Pork—two slices of chops served with rice and a secret peanut sauce. It’s also the perfect place for a couple buckets of beer after work. • Best for: Inuman sessions after a few hours of overtime • Expect to spend: Php200-Php300 per person, depending on how much you drink • Must-tries: Taco Spring Rolls, Siomai, Mediterranean Pork (all under Php200) • How to get there: Get to JULIA VARGAS and drive towards C5. Before Lanuza, take the U-turn slot by CITY GOLF, then veer RIGHT IMMEDIATELY so you can turn into MC HOME DEPOT. Just follow the road after entering, go straight to the end, then turn LEFT. The dimly-lit bar at the corner is Last Home.

Photos courtesy of Black Olive, Joe’s Meat Shack, walkandeat.blogspot.com, and Last Home Restobar. To add them on Facebook, just type in BlackOlivePH and LastHomeBar

UNPLUG

FRAME

For our first installment of Frame, we catch up with Rockwell Land’s Valerie Soliven on leading Rockwell’s growth, working with Carlos Ott, and achieving work-life balance. It’s an exciting time for Rockwell Land. How would you describe the vibe at Rockwell these days? Everyone at Rockwell, from upper management all the way to our frontliners, is eager to partake in the thriving real estate market today, and to seek opportunities to continuously deliver innovative products and quality to our clientele in the future. What do you think is Rockwell’s secret to bold, daring innovation? We truly believe that the heart of innovation in Rockwell lies within our people. Our young, dynamic, and creative teams, paired with experienced and passionate leaders, enjoy a synergistic working relationship . . . We aim to create a professional environment that fosters new ideas and nurtures fresh talent, encouraging a culture of innovation and excellence. What was it like working with Carlos Ott? What do you think can we learn from an outstanding creative force like him? Being able to work with Carlos Ott was inspiring. His expertise in the global field and his skill in architecture is evident in his work ethic and designs, but at the same time he remains down to earth and approachable. Carlos Ott has truly encouraged us to fearlessly think outside of the box, and to go beyond the ordinary.

With Rockwell’s expansion naturally comes an expansion of your sales and marketing force. What qualities do you look for in hiring members of your team? Rockwell looks for people who possess skill, talent, and a passion for meeting the needs of our clients . . . I believe it is the desire to please our clients that motivates and inspires our Sales and Marketing team, and a drive to consistently exceed expectations, both of management and of their clientele. What has been your biggest leadership challenge so far— and how did you bounce back from it? Having been in Rockwell for more than a decade, I have seen the company and its people grow. The biggest and most exciting challenge so far has been managing and coaching a staff continuously increasing in size, and creating an environment in which this great pool of talent can thrive. By trying to understand what motivates our frontliners and keeping in mind their welfare, my team and I have been able to lead the Sales and Marketing team to the company’s shared goals. What do you love most about coming to work every day? The working environment in Rockwell remains, for me, incomparable. The enthusiasm for their work that each

member of the company exudes, and the satisfaction of being able to make our clients happy are truly fulfilling. What do you think can we learn from “the Rockwell life” that you hope more Filipinos can imbibe—whether or not they own a piece of Rockwell? More than anything, the Rockwell life is about community. It is about sharing experiences with your neighbors, enjoying the safety and beauty of your environment, while at the same time respecting each other’s privacy. What keeps you grounded amidst all the beauty and luxury that surrounds you at work? At the end of the day, I still believe in focusing on the simple things—family, friends, health, which are all just as important and essential to happiness. How do you define work-life balance, and how do you strive to achieve it? Managing both career and personal life is a tough act, but I believe that the key is spending quality time with your loved ones. When I’m at work, I am completely focused on it, but when I get home I try and make sure that all of my time is spent for myself or with my family.

UNPLUG

TURNYOUR

CLUTTER INTO

A MUSICAL

QUARTET Instruments are made to make music. If you are no longer using your musical instruments, the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth accepts pre-loved instruments. Donating a musical instrument is a great way to create opportunities for young musicians who lack the financial resources to reach their full potential. You may donate directly to Ang Misyon, Inc., G/F Benpres Bldg., Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, or we can pick it up at your place. A certificate of donation will be given to you and will also be acknowledged at our website, www.angmisyon.com.