Business as integral mission

In the book Business as Integral Mission, CCT Walks its Talk, 15 businessmen express their belief that there is more to the challenge to practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Citizenship (CC) as business’ responsibility to society. They agree that business should demonstrate ethics and concern for society and the environment as well as actively engaging in alleviating the plight of the poor. But they thought there was a missing factor in those involvements — and that is, a “faith-based” CSR.

The businessmen are members of the board of trustees, corporate members, and business mentors of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT), a Christian-led micro finance institution that staunchly advocates putting Christ at the center of all development. One of them, Andrew Liuson, says that “the social component cannot stand alone without the spiritual one, because only God can change the course of human lives and not any organized social action alone.”

These men are leaders in business and industry. Bertran B. Lim, CCT chair, is chair of United Neon. Stephen Roxas chairs Cityland Development Corporation. Eliezer G. del Mundo Jr. is vice-president for operations, Drugmakers Biotech Laboratories, Inc.; Lawrence H. Delos Santos is CEO, Hamlin Industries Corp. and CEO, Hoffen Industries Corp., James Y. Tioco is vice-president of Philcox (Phils.) Inc.; Dr Maximino S. Uy, president, EO-Executive Optical; Benjamin I. Liuson president, Pacific Insular Co. Inc.

Nicodemus A. Ang is president of Midas Project Realty Inc.; Dr. Andrew I. Liuson, vice-chairman, Cityland Development Corporation; Wyden King, chief executive officer, Armadillo Holdings, Inc.; Francis J. Kong, president, Inspire and managing director, Funworks, Inc.; Richard G. Tan, general manager, Eurofragrance; Lamberto U. Sy Jr., operations manager, Construction Equipment Corporation; Edmon F. Ngo, president, Cosmetics Revelation Manufacturing Corporation; and Luis Keh Velasco, president, McBride PET Corporation.

Interviews with these trustees led to the publication of the book, with CCT president Ruth S. Callanta as project director and Eugene M. Caccam as editor in chief. The trustees, Ruth says, were reluctant to talk about their “walk,” preferring not to let one hand know what the other hand is doing. They did not even think that their testimonies would be printed in a finely-made coffee table book. But, says Ruth, “We would like to heed the Lord’s admonition in Matthew 5:16, ‘Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.’”

Ruth continues: “In coming up with this book we hoped to showcase the people behind CCT. We thought it but proper for their peers, colleagues and fellow Christians to know who they are, the kind of life they live, their motivation for joining and deeply involved in CCT. For a long time, they have served the Lord among the poor through the Center; we believed it was high time people meet them, learn and draw inspiration from them, and maybe help or work with them in bringing the love of God to the less fortunate. In their lives and deeds lie glimpses of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

“From them one clearly sees the virtues of a committed Christian: patience, dedication, quietude, punctuality (‘the gift of Kings’), sharing joy and youthfulness, openness and eagerness to learn, foresight, concern for and thus, investment in people, righteousness and its pursuit at all costs, humility, and so much more. All these virtues glisten as they perform their ministry in the most quiet and least ubiquitous of ways.”

Caccam writes in the book’s prologue, that without using CSR nomenclature, one sees that the 15 businessmen are using CSR. The Christian businessman “believes in the lordship and saviorship of Jesus and shows this in his business dealings.” He treats his workers justly and compassionately, pays his taxes properly, and participates in programs that help the poor. He cares for the environment. As Stephen Roxas puts it, “Social responsibility is a crucial dimension of our unique calling as Christian business persons.”

Lamberto Sy, James Tioco, Dr. Maximino Uy and the Liusons take personal responsibility for the material and spiritual welfare of their staff, counseling and encouraging them to be active in their respective churches. Some really provide time for worship and reading during officials hours, and not see this a loss in production time.

Others have strategically set their core business as their ministry, writes Caccam. Benjamin Liuson makes his generic drugs retail to make these affordable, a accessible to the poor. Others add their special gifts in teaching and counseling as exemplified by Lawrence de los Santos; James Tioco and Nicodemus Ang; Eliezer del Mundo supports a feeding program.

Wyden King speaks of committing his business to Christ with the complete turnaround of his business line from motels to the legitimate hospitality industry. “God’s kingdom must first be established in the heart of the business itself where God should reign as the Supreme Intelligence who guides all corporate directions,” he says.

Bertram Lim likes to emphasize that the Christian businessmen give their time and resources to CCT because it gives them the opportunity to work with the poor through wholistic, well-planned programs and systems.

Dr. Melba Maggay, executive director of the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISSAC), writes in the book’s epilogue the work of Christian businessmen to help the poor. “I see the dawn of spiritual awakening in the Philippines and the stirings of a kind of development that is sensitive to our unique dimension of poverty. By the grace of God, I believe we can bring about the power surge that will free our people from social and economic bondage, and lead them toward the open pastures of peace, opportunity and prosperity.”

* * *

My e-mail: [email protected]