Federico R. Lopez

Christmas is always a great time to pause and look back at the year just passed. In looking back we hope to celebrate our victories and accomplishments, as well as acknowledge and learn from our failures.

In 2015, at the FPH Group, we further developed a common language and a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving business landscape that we operate in, while keeping in mind that our direction continue to be anchored on the three key themes: strategic clarity, synergy and talent-centricity. I’ve always emphasized that flawless execution remains the critical factor to ensure that we achieve the targets we’ve set for our various businesses.
We also set new markers for success and laid the ground for the realistic pursuit of audacious ideas. We are in a world where size is no longer an assurance of longevity as companies are forced to compete with smaller, more technologically agile players. Each year we look back and celebrate our legacy and the fact that we have pioneered in many diverse fields. But we’re also mindful that being first is not enough. In an age where technology is moving our world faster than ever in history, it’s critical that we stay ahead and our businesses continue the ever-quickening race to stay relevant. “Disruption” and “disintermediation” are among the most common words in business today simply because these forceg, unsuspecting businesses that ignored them. We have to continue to push the boundaries of our coms are real and have crushed many longstandinpanies even further, but we must never lose sight of our grounding mission of uplifting lives.
There is still so much work to do and the world can look daunting but through the eyes of someone with a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit the same world can also look like one that’s exciting and full of opportunities. For me, all these are simply reminders to stay curious, stay innovative to customer needs and pain-points and to stay ahead, way ahead if possible, in a fastchanging world.
Shortly after the New Year we will be moving to our new home at the Rockwell Business Center. Our new workplace should serve to inspire the same goals of strategic clarity, synergy and talent centricity, with design elements that are technology- abled, varied and flexible—dedicated spaces for lifelong learning, wellness and shared facilities that allow thought and ideas to be transmitted throughout our group seamlessly.
As we end the year let me leave you with the words of Henry David Thoreau who says that “the way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.” So I urge you to spend the holidays in a meaningful way, keeping in mind our less fortunate brothers and sisters, our kapamilya, some of whom are still reeling from thedevastation that the recent typhoon Lando wrought—with heavy rains, devastated farms and homes and countless lost lives. We urge everyone to pray for the victims and to share what we can to help out. Thank you once again and, from our family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Federico R. Lopez - Chairman, First Philippine Holdings Corp.