My father, the hero
It took a while before fathers got their own special day on the calendar and proper recognition for their valuable contribution to the family, community and society.
But for these top government officials and leaders of some of the country’s largest corporations, the celebration of their father’s role in their formation does not only happen in June. Rather, it is an everyday affair.
Here, they talk about just how much of an impact their fathers made in their lives and the valuable lessons that helped shape them into the leaders they are today.
1. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque
Trade and Industry secretary
Growing up, my father was a major influence in my life and career. He pushed me to pursue my dreams and goals early on in my life.
He told me to make the most and the best out of my life, so I live a life of no regrets, but to make sure to set boundaries.
Being the eldest in the family, my father was very strict as he reminded me that I needed to set the example for all my siblings to follow.
He often told me that I had to get good grades, as this was all he could give me, and that I would benefit from this in the end.
He also taught me to be focused and disciplined as this was the only way I could succeed in this life.
He told me that I have to trust and to obey, as he was only concerned about my best interest.
He would constantly remind me that I needed to be compassionate and caring in my ways.
He also told me to be brave enough to take a chance—if I win, then it is good, but if I lose, I’m still a winner because of all the lessons that I will learn along the way.
He was very patient with me and would explain to me when I had a lot of questions and when I needed to know more about life.
Oftentimes, he would tell me that I would only be able to understand things when I get older or when the time comes.
Looking back, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I am grateful for the love, the lessons and the sacrifice that he has given me all these years and I am blessed and honored to have a father like him.
He is the wind beneath my wings.
2. Frederic DyBuncio
SM Investments Corp. president and CEO
My family has a long history in business and banking and growing up, I saw firsthand the values that helped build institutions that stood the test of time.
My father taught me that success is earned through hard work, perseverance, integrity and a long-term perspective.
More importantly, he taught me that trust is your most valuable asset. Relationships, reputation and credibility take years to build and must be protected all the time.
These lessons guided me throughout my career in banking and continue to shape my leadership today. They also resonate strongly with SM’s culture.
Like my father, SM believes in creating opportunities, honoring commitments and building for the long term. At the heart of both is a simple principle: sustainable success is achieved when the people and communities around you grow with you.
What makes my father special is the example he set.
Despite coming from a family with a long business heritage, he remained humble, grounded and deeply respectful of others. He taught me to stay curious, recognize opportunities and never lose sight of the people behind every business decision.
He also believed that success comes with responsibility and that businesses should create value not only for shareholders, but also for employees, customers, partners and communities.
Looking back, many of the values he lived by are reflected in SM today: integrity, stewardship, service and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.
His example taught me that leadership is not about personal achievement, but about earning trust, helping others succeed and leaving things better than you found them.
3. Kevin Tan
Alliance Global Group president, CEO and vice chair
One of the most important lessons my father, Andrew, taught me is that success is not entirely self-made.
We all work hard, make sacrifices and persevere, but along the way, we are helped by people, given opportunities and blessed in ways we often take for granted.
That is why gratitude is so important.
Never forget the people who helped you; never take your blessings for granted and never lose your humility.
The more successful we become, the more grateful we should be—because success is not just a product of our own efforts, but also of God’s grace and the generosity of others.
He is special because he is kind to all and he has good heart.
He is also very charming and generous to his family and friends and a very persuasive and inspirational mentor.
4. Tristan Aboitiz
Aboitiz Foods president and CEO
My dad (Bobby Aboitiz) had a philosophy he coined: the bugsay philosophy. Bugsay is the Cebuano word for paddle.
The message behind this was that as you grow into a leader, remember that leadership is not about giving directions from the shore—it is about picking up the paddle yourself and setting the example for others.
Have a clear purpose, make thoughtful plans and work with determination, but always stay humble enough to adjust when circumstances change. Most importantly, understand that success is never achieved alone.
The best leaders help others find their own paddle, align their efforts toward a shared destination and inspire them to keep moving forward together.
If you can do that, you will not only build a successful life—you will leave a meaningful wake for others to follow.
This message of taking personal accountability for driving results and being there to lead your team through good times and bad has shaped the way I approach my role in Aboitiz Foods and these are messages I try to echo to my team as well.
Reflecting on what made my dad special, several qualities come to mind: his kindness, his genuine nature that allowed him to connect with anyone and his humility in finding happiness in life’s simplest things.
He also possessed a remarkable ability for grasping the broader context of any situation.
Ultimately, however, I believe what really made him special was his constant presence in our lives. I will always be deeply appreciative of the way he consistently prioritized spending time with his family, despite all of the competing commitments.
5. Emmanuel Rubio
Meralco PowerGen Corp. president and CEO
The biggest lesson I learned from my father is to value people and relationships. It may sound simple or even cliché, but I’ve found it to be one of the most important foundations of leadership.
My father, Dalmacio Rubio, spent time in government service, built his own construction company and later became an HR head overseeing more than 2,000 highly unionized employees.
What always impressed me was that, whether in the workplace, the community, or our own family, people trusted him and looked to him for guidance.
That lesson has shaped my leadership style.
I am a strong believer in culture because organizations move forward through people. I draw energy from the people around me, making it a point to stay engaged, build connections and remain accessible to people across the organization.
Over time, I realized that my father’s ability to bring people together wasn’t just a personality trait—but also a leadership strength.
He understood that when people feel valued, respected and connected to a common purpose, they can accomplish extraordinary things together.
That’s a lesson I continue to carry with me every day.
6. Mybelle Aragon-GoBio
Robinsons Land Corp. president and CEO
My dearest Papa, Atty. Antonio “Baby” Aragon (+), was a graduate of the Ateneo Law School who easily passed the bar on the strength of his natural intelligence.
After a brief stint in private practice, he dedicated 34 years of his life to the National Bureau of Investigation, eventually rising to become its director.
Serving during the bureau’s legendary “glory days,” he anchored his life in absolute honor, defining what it truly meant to be a servant of the people.
He taught me that integrity is a leader’s truest compass.
Watching him serve for over three decades with unyielding principles,
always running toward those who needed help the most and quietly sacrificing his own comforts, I learned that the true measure of a career is not based on what you take from the world, but on the enduring good you leave behind.
Because he stood as living proof that genuinely honest public servants exist, he is the sole reason I have not completely lost faith in the government.
That flawless radar for honor guided my own career path. Shortly before he passed away, he met John Gokongwei and James Go and told me to stay with Robinsons Land because they are decent people.
Coming from a man who spent his entire life judging true character, his blessing became my ultimate career anchor, proving that aligning with decency and integrity is the only real way to succeed.
He was a beautiful contradiction: a legendary sharpshooter who walked with such fierce, quiet courage that he refused to ever have a bodyguard, yet an effortlessly intelligent NBI leader who was brilliantly witty, funny and full of joy.
But what truly aches with beauty is his deeply generous heart, a heart that beat most fiercely for his family, whom he loved beyond measure.
In a world of compromise, he chose to be rich only in friends, turning away wealth and accepting only home-cooked food (at most) from those he helped.
He proudly displayed the title of “public servant” on his office nameplate like a badge of absolute honor and it is that rare, noble spirit—both as a defender of the people and the anchor of our home—that made my Papa the forever king of our hearts.
7. Delfin Angelo Wenceslao
D.M. Wenceslao and Associates CEO
If I were to sum it all up, the most important lesson I learned from my dad (Delfin) is that everything in life worth doing is hard. Real estate and construction are a grit and effort business.
The more effort you put in, the better the product, the easier it is to sell, the better your numbers will be.
There are a lot of things I admire about him, but among all his traits, these are what I will best remember most about him.
He had a love for learning. Ever since I can remember, my dad was constantly reading. He would always have a book in his hand and piles of books in every nook and corner of our house.
He had a passion for entrepreneurship. I learned from him that there are no such things as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. working hours when you are the owner of a company. He always remained simple and modest. My dad never cared for brands or luxuries. He worked for the joy and fulfillment of building and creating something.
He prioritized his family (especially my mom). From meeting with me and my brothers regularly to guide us on our future plans, to reminding us to send flowers to my mom on Mother’s Day, he was an example of how to be a dad in this world.
8. Jerome Ong
CDO Foodsphere president and CEO
I learned so many lessons from my dad that I consider myself blessed to be his son. His discipline and work ethic were admirable. I never saw him give up and he always found a way to get things done.
He was a problem-solver who remained calm under pressure and he helped people without expecting anything in return.
What impacted me most was how grounded he remained despite all that he had achieved.
It is easy to be consumed by success, achievements or material things, but none of these ever changed him.
I have tried to emulate him by being prudent in financial decisions at work, by showing appreciation to the people who helped us along the way regardless of their role or position and by remembering that success means very little if you lose your values in the process.
My father was Jose Ong and he sadly passed away six years ago.
To many people, he was a professor and entrepreneur. To our family, he was the steady presence who kept us together.
He supported my mother every step of the way in building CDO, believing in her vision and working alongside her through the challenges.
What made him special was his ability to balance strength and humility.
He led by example, teaching us the importance of hard work, integrity, perseverance and concern for others. Looking back, I realize that the greatest legacy he left us was not the business itself, but the kind of person he showed us how to be.
9. Alfredo Austria
DMCI Homes president
My father was a simple man, yet a highly competent, hardworking and deeply dedicated medical doctor.
From him, I learned the importance of true dedication to one’s profession—the value of continuously studying, learning and improving oneself in order to serve not only patients and clients, but the wider community as well.
I also observed that he did not rely on material possessions for happiness. Through his example, I came to understand that fulfillment can also be found in being a sincere and committed professional, finding purpose and joy in meaningful work and service to others.
10. Tereso Panga
Philippine Economic Zone Authority director general
It wasn’t evident when I was growing up, but it is clearer now that the foundation of my career success was greatly influenced by my father.
At a time when holding two jobs was uncommon, my dad was already taking on multiple roles: serving full-time as an executive judge, teaching evening classes as a part-time law professor and working as a farmer on weekends to provide for our family—all while my mother managed the home front.
Through his example, he showed my seven siblings and me the true meaning of hard work and dedication.
He taught us the importance of continuous learning, of doing every job well and carrying out every task the way it should be done—every time.
He also gave us a clear moral compass on how to conduct ourselves with integrity, whether at home or in public. His constant guidance kept us on proper path and not tread on muddy roads.
Today, these values of integrity, perseverance and excellence continue to guide me in my family life and throughout my career as a public servant. He remains my North Star!
With divine guidance from the Lord God, my siblings and I honor Dad’s legacy by following in his footsteps. Thank you Dad for everything!
(First of two parts)
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