Ambassador Manuel M. LopezLet us stay the course

By God’s grace, 2014 has turned out to be a year of recovery.

After the super typhoon struck the Visayas islands last year, we have seen our fellow Filipinos, and indeed the entire world, unite to aid the victims in their darkest hour. Relief and rehabilitation efforts continue to be challenged by the gravity of the devastation, and by the dispersed nature of the communities affected.

It has been impossible to reach everybody quickly enough, but for those whom we have reached—whether through the distribution of food packs, hygiene kits and ABS-CBN mobile SIM cards; the building of schools; the funding of boats for displaced fishermen; or the mounting of TV viewing stations when there was yet no electricity— we ensured that we not only shared material things, but also compassion, understanding, faith and a true helping hand.

With tragedy (political conflict, war, illness) besetting other parts of the world, we are called upon to stand in solidarity with the rest of humanity, the very same ones who reached out to us and our kababayan in our time of need. Let us take every precaution and participate in active discussions that promote peace, freedom, global health and the dignity of man.

For the Lopez Group, we have begun to reap the benefits of prudent investments made in the last three to four years. We continue to be in investment mode, as we see even more opportunities in a steadily growing Philippine economy.

I wish to thank all of our Lopez Group kapamilya for the perseverance that made recovery possible, both for our group of companies, and for our fellow Filipinos who continue to struggle for a better life.

In 2015, let us stay the course and remain supportive of rehabilitation efforts, whether initiated by government or by the private sector. Let us maintain the mind-set of building better, for a better Philippines.

In behalf of my wife Maritess, our children and grandchildren, I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a prosperous new year.

AMBASSADOR MANUEL M. LOPEZ

Chairman, Lopez Group