NEWS & ARTICLES

[Lifted from the speech delivered by the author as speaker at the recent Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) General Membership Meeting in Iloilo City]   Introduction   We feel much gloom and hopelessness, as many of us focus on the politics as played out...

The Crisis We Find Ourselves In   The Philippines is experiencing a systemic national crisis. The very leaders entrusted by the people to protect the common good stand accused of abusing that trust so blatantly that public outrage is now widespread. Confidence in national leadership—beginning...

On December 30, the nation again honors the martyrdom of Dr. José Rizal. Each year, we observe his sacrifice with ceremonies and speeches. However, the most meaningful tribute to Rizal is neither ritual nor oration. It is reflection—followed by resolve.   Rizal Beyond Ritual  ...

Our commitment to social inclusion began in 2004, when a 15-year-old boy on the autism spectrum got lost in one of our malls.   The noise, crowds and unfamiliar setting overwhelmed him, causing anxiety and an outburst.   One security personnel mistook this for unruly...

(Acceptance Speech of the author as the “MAP Management Person of the Year 2025” Awardee on November 24, 2025.)   SM was once condemned for cutting down trees in Baguio City. Today, I want to tell you why that was the right decision, and what...

Sustainability is often framed in terms of global accords and long-term targets. While these are critical, at SM we see it as something far more tangible. For us, sustainability is woven into the daily experience we offer millions of Filipinos. It is not an abstract...

The Trillion Peso March filled Manila’s streets with rage over billions stolen through flood control projects. Yet here’s the bitter irony: both the protesters demanding justice and the officials who orchestrated the theft speak the same language of Filipino values. The corrupt contractor justifies kickbacks...

The public outrage over this mega scandal on flood control is long on protests and demands, but has left us short of solutions.   But one thing is clear, we have a systemic problem. The Philippines still relies on a highly centralized, politically intermediated model...

Several TV series have dramatically portrayed succession. In “Game of Thrones”, it is often violent and bloody. In “Succession”, it is full of plot twists and drama. In “The Founder”, there is so much aggression and ambition. Instead, succession in a corporate setting is about...