5th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit

MANILA, Philippines - Ninety of the country’s most promising third and fourth year college students gathered for the 5th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit (AFLBS) held recently at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City.

The annual summit’s theme “Finding Your Passion, Shaping Your Future,” aimed to provide the young delegates a glimpse of the corporate life while at the same time help them realize their future roles in nation-building.

The two-day event gave the participants an intimate and challenging experience of corporate life that will heighten their zeal to lead and excel in their respective career choices.

It also featured talks on different business functions and concepts by top executives across the Aboitiz Group.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) president and CEO Erramon Aboitiz, AEV chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Aboitiz Construction Group CEO and chairman Roberto Aboitiz, Aboitiz Foundation Trustee Romy Ronquillo, AEV chief human resource officer Txabi Aboitiz, Pilmico president Sabin Aboitiz, AEV chief finance officer Stephen Paradies, Aboitiz Foundation EVP and managing trustee Sonny Carpio, and AEV chief reputation officer Sebastian Lacson spoke on various topics. Among the topics were business strategy, leadership, people development, customer service, brand building, corporate social responsibility, and personal financial management.

Efren Peñaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year 2009, was the special guest speaker. Peñaflorida was given the award for pioneering Kariton Klassrums (pushcart classrooms) to provide education to poor children in Cavite. He established the Dynamic Teen Company in 1997 and roamed the province to teach children basic literacy skills, values formation and personal hygiene.

The AFLBS participants were chosen based on their academic achievements, contributions in extra-curricular activities, community involvement, and excellent results in interview screenings. Of the 90 delegates, 40 are from nine Cebu-based schools while 50 study in colleges and universities across the country.

The delegates were given an opportunity to dine with Aboitiz executives, an exciting opportunity to exchange interesting ideas and insights. The summit culminated in a group challenge, usually a case study, and the participants were asked to present their output before a panel of executives.

The AFLBS, first held in 2006, is organized by Aboitiz Corporate HR to help inspire young Filipinos to develop renewed faith and hope in our country, encouraging them to strive for excellence in everything they do.

The event also gave delegates the chance to establish ties with Aboitiz Group CEOs, other senior executives, team leaders and team members.