BIZ BUZZ: New faces join MAP’s top table

One of the country’s most influential business groups is welcoming new names to its top body.

We’re talking about the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), which recently elected five new governors for 2027 to 2028, bringing together an economist, a lawyer, a banker and two business executives to help steer the organization over the next two years.

Among those elected is economist Cielito “Ciel” Habito, chair and founding partner of Brain Trust Inc., who will be joined by lawyer Lorna Kapunan, senior partner at Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices.

Also securing seats are Karen Batungbacal, partner at CEO Advisors Inc.; John Clifford “Cliff” Eala, founder and CEO of BS Works; and Maria Corazon “Corrie” Purisima, HSBC Philippines’ treasurer and head of markets and securities services, who also sits on the bank’s country executive committee.

As MAP governors, they will also serve concurrently as MAP Research and Development Foundation trustees.

They will join four incumbent governors who will continue serving on MAP’s board in 2027: Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines vice chair Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III, San Miguel Food and Beverage independent director Jaime “Jimmy” Bautista, DITO CME Holdings president and chief operating officer Donald Lim, and BPI Asset Management and Trust president and CEO Maria Theresa “Tere” Marcial.

That makes for quite a lineup, with expertise spanning banking, telecommunications, food and beverage, corporate management, law and economic policy.