Lopez Credo"The musicale Undaunted was restaged at the Philsports Arena for the 82nd anniversary celebration of the Group. Over 3,000 officers and staff members trooped to the venue to see cast members, including Lopez Group employees and family members, reprise their roles in the show first run in April for the birthday of chairman emeritus OML. “Undaunted” had George de Jesus as director, scriptwriter and lyricist and Roy del Valle as composer, arranger and musical director. Stage veteran Audie Gemora played the role of OML and Jojo Molina played Lopez Holdings chairman Manuel M. Lopez."

The Lopez CredoFrom OML’s speech delivered on the restaging of the “Undaunted” musicale on June 25, 2010.

WITHIN the next few months, we will cascade an internal campaign that will introduce the Lopez Group Credo across all companies in the Group. I thought about this a few months ago while I was visiting Sumitomo in Japan. I asked the Sumitomo executive who was hosting me what is Sumitomo’s secret of longevity since it was over 400 years old and still going strong. The executive pulled out his wallet and took out a card on which was printed the Sumitomo Credo.

I was told that every Sumitomo employee carries it around not just in his pocket but more importantly, in his heart. They live by the Credo in all facets of corporate life wherever they may be in the world. I thought about that for a while and realized that we too have such a Credo but we have not taken time to make it known to our employees and use it to guide our everyday business. What better time to launch it internally than now as I turn over reins of the Lopez Group to my younger brother Manolo, who now heads Lopez Holdings. Helping him out are my nephew Gabby, who has ably steered the broadcast and communications group, and my son Piki, who will now head the power group and First Holdings.

Manolo will now play a very active role in the management of the Group as he takes leave from his 24 years of leading Meralco through its most difficult times. I am particularly proud of my brother’s work ethic and genuine concern for all levels of the workforce which he showed in Meralco. His effective management philosophy which he summarizes in just one word, malasakit, had been successfully implemented in Meralco. I am certain he will lead the Lopez Group investments toward new directions aligned with the values handed down to us by our forebears, and contributing to national development at the same time.

Now that I have more time on my hands as I have turned over leadership of the Lopez Group to the younger generation, I will personally reach out to all of you and talk to you about this Lopez Group Credo. Cascading our Credo across the Lopez Group will also bring us back to our roots, the reasons my father and uncle founded it. By disseminating the Credo Group-wide we hope to increase pride in belonging to the Lopez Group.

The Lopez Credo ValuesLet me go through this brief Credo: WE, as employees of the Lopez Group of companies, believe that our primary reason for being is to serve 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.

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 and concern for employee welfare and wellness. We know from generations of experience that it is by living according to these values that a company will be built to last.

Beyond pride in being a part of the Lopez Group, we are hoping the Credo will effective clarify the employee value proposition… what it means to be an employee in the Group. In other words, the Credo will also make it clear what is expected of each employee to include such things as upright conduct, positive attitude and service orientation. The Credo also gives the employee ideas on what to expect from the employer. Hopefully, like in the case of Sumitomo, we are thus planting the seeds for a group of companies that will be here for all times because the Group is “built to last.”

One of the values I want to instill is unity. Our businesses may encompass various industries not the least related to each other. But when one side of the Group is hurting, like the human body, so will the other parts feel it. We are not seen in the eyes of the public as separate companies but part of the Lopez Group. It makes sense for us to think of ourselves as part of one Group as well.

I realize what we are about to undertake is not an easy task. It would not be easy to propose unity through a set of shared values and code of conduct to some 14,000 employees in different corporate identities, spread across the Philippines. The concept is not unfamiliar to all of us because that is what being Kapamilya is all about. Whenever ABS-CBN talks of being Kapamilya, it is not an empty advertising claim. In a sense, what we not seek to accomplish is to give more meaning to the Kapamilya concept.

In sum, the values in the Lopez Credo are nothing more than what we are already doing now in the areas of business excellence and corporate social responsibility. In the next few weeks, we are gathering all our key executives to thresh out how the values in the Lopez credo apply to their companies. I expect those in leadership positions in the Lopez companies to sufficiently embody the credo for their followers to be inspired. Cascading workshops will then happen at the corporate level where the managers and employees of the different companies will have the chance to express their ideas on how best to practice the values of the Credo in their daily work. In so doing, I am hopeful that in time these core values of the Group will be held in common by everyone in any Lopez company so that each one will stand out in the community as one among the best.”