First Philippine Holdings CorporationSlain US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, brother of beloved US President John F. Kennedy, said it best: “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”

And if there is one thing that describes the Lopez Group of companies, it is that it dares to bet the house in the name of doing something new that presents tremendous growth opportunities that will benefit not just the company, but the nation as well.

That singular trait, which has been handed down through generations of Lopezes, is one of the many reasons Elpidio L. Ibañez has devoted most of his career to First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPHC), where he sits as president, chief operating officer and FPHC board member. “One thing about the Lopezes is that they are not afraid to take calculated risks. They are always ready to bet the house,” the 60-year-old Ibañez says. “That’s part of being pioneering.”