Leadership in action, lifting the nation
(First of two parts)
I became part of Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) 20 years ago—and will shortly be officially a lifetime member in a few months.
I joined at a time when internet space was expanding exponentially, and as a young leader who is more enamored with the nerd side of it than the management role, sitting in the company of experienced colleagues gave me perspective that no business school will ever provide.
I am happy that the 20 years also gave me a chance to contribute, serving as chair, vice chair and member of various committees—and as governor for five terms.
I was humbled by the number of times I was nominated to take the lead, but I am a great believer of destiny. I deferred to those who I thought were perhaps better prepared that time, and with plans that I was all too glad to support.
Those two decades of observing and working with fellow MAP members taught me a valuable lesson in leadership— it is not about position but all about custodianship.
It is about carrying forward a legacy built over decades by people who gave their time, wisdom and dedication—not only for themselves, but more importantly, for the future of this nation. And so, two decades today, here we are.
I stand before you not with the assumption that this moment belongs to me alone—because it does not.
This is a moment that belongs to every hand that built the foundation we now stand upon, every voice that shaped the vision we now carry forward, and every member who chose to believe that MAP can be more than a gathering of professionals—it is an association that can be an instrument of genuine national transformation.
We are “living in interesting times,” gathering today at an inflection point in our nation’s history. The new year 2026 that begs for a celebration must be tempered with honesty.
We look back and see a Philippines that has weathered extraordinary storms. The pandemic exposed fault lines in our health-care systems, our economic structures and the fragility of our social safety nets.
Global supply chain disruptions reminded us how vulnerable we remain to forces beyond our borders. Inflation has squeezed the meager income of many Filipino families.
Climate disasters have devastated communities that were still rebuilding from the last calamity. And trust—trust in institutions, in leadership, in the promise of a better tomorrow—has never been more tested repeatedly.
I will not gloss over these challenges to offer comfortable words about how progressive we have been or how steadily we are growing. That would be an insult to the families who still struggle to make ends meet, to the young graduates who cannot find dignified work, to the entrepreneurs whose dreams were deferred by circumstances beyond their control.
We know that the Philippines needs to rebuild—not merely recover—and we must emerge from these trials not just intact, but stronger, more resilient and more unified than before.
MAP has always stood for management excellence—but excellence, if it remains only an aspiration, is not enough. Excellence must be lived. Excellence must be acted upon. Excellence must be shared. The result of such excellence must be beneficial to all. I believe that this is precisely the work we are all being called upon to do.
Theme for 2026: Leadership in action, lifting the nation
We captured these ideals and expressed this in our theme for 2026—Leadership in Action, Lifting the Nation, not as a slogan but as a commitment to embody excellence not in words but in deeds; that leadership is not a title—it is action.
Our country does not need more spectators analyzing its challenges from the sidelines. It needs leaders willing to get into the arena, to work with calloused hands and open hearts and to build something that outlasts our individual tenures.
It asks us to lead not only for profit, but for people; to lift not only our enterprises, but our nation. And while the challenges are real, they are not insurmountable.
We identified three core directions that MAP will undertake to move our vision into action.
Strengthening unity and collaboration for collective impact
No single organization, no matter how talented its members or noble its intentions, can lift a nation alone. Our industries do not exist in isolation. Our strength will be in the harmony of many voices acting together. Leadership in action begins with every stakeholder working together towards common goals.
The challenges we face are systemic, interconnected and require coordinated action across sectors, across institutions, across ideological divides. When we act together, we multiply our strengths, therefore, our first direction is to strengthen unity and broaden cooperation within MAP and beyond its walls.
• We will organize committees around clusters that enable cross-sector convergence to address pressing national issues such as sustainability, health care and inclusive growth.
The expertise of each sector must become a resource across the organization.
• We must likewise find a way to ensure that the innovations developed in Metro Manila will flow to Visayas and Mindanao. Conversely, the grassroots wisdom of our regional members and partners must inform our national strategies.
This year, we will formalize Partnerships for Nation Program—a platform to expand collaboration with government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector.
These will not be ceremonial signings for photo opportunities but will be working partnerships—with clear deliverables, shared accountability and measurable outcomes.
(To be continued)
This was lifted from the Inaugural Speech of the author as the 78 th and the 2026 president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). He is also president and COO of DITO CME Holdings Corp.
