MAP toasts ‘Man of the Year’

The two presidents of the Management Association of the Philippines–outgoing Edward Fereira and incoming David Balangue–jointly hosted this year’s inaugural meeting, which traditionally also honors the "Management Man of the Year" of the previous year (if anyone was chosen).

In the 36 years that the MAP has been holding the annual search, only 26 men–from the first awardee, SGV & Co. founder Washington SyCip to the 2003 awardee, Planters Development Bank chairman and chief executive officer Jesus Tambunting–have been honored.

Of the 26, two awardees–SM founder Henry Sy, Sr. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. founder Alfonso Yuchengco–are certified taipans while 2002 awardee, Jollibee Foods Corp. president and chief executive officer Tony Tan Caktiong, is getting there.

Interestingly, two of the awardees now work for the Yuchengco Group. These are RCBC chairman Rizalino Navarro and corporate vice-chairman and chief executive officer Cesar Virata. Eight have, at one time or another, worked for government, including two–the late Jose Fernandez, Jr. and Gabriel Singson–who served as Central Bank governors. – MJGrey