PLATINUM CUP

Champion (Gold) – Union Bank of the Philippines

Silver – BDO Unibank, Inc.

Bronze – Citibank, N.A.

SILVER CUP

Champion (Gold) – Bank of the Philippine Islands

Silver – Deutsche Bank

Bronze – China Banking Corporation

As the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (BAIPHIL) celebrates the induction of its new set of officers, led by incoming BAIPHIL president Agnes Brillante-Santos, the Institute remains steadfast in its mission to support the banking industry in enhancing productivity and keeping abreast with relevant developments through continuing education. Together with incoming BAIPHIL first vice president, Salvador Serrano, Brillante-Santos is excited to share what’s ahead for BAIPHIL, Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which she believes is best summarized in the current theme, BAIPHIL beyond 70: Taking Stock, Harnessing Strengths, Forging Ahead.

“We have lined up a number of excellent projects that will surely boost the value proposition of BAIPHIL as a premier training partner of the banking industry. I expect BAIPHIL to grow in two ways, in terms of the number of members and in its ability to serve the training needs of the banking industry in an innovative and professional manner, with each way fuelling the growth of the other.” says Brillante-Santos with regard to how does she see BAIPHIL growing under her leadership this year.

Challenge Accepted
With a full year ahead of her and her team, Brillante-Santos admits that the challenge to take BAIPHIL to the next level actually excites her, “Challenges make me feel alive! I actually couldn’t think of a time when I backed out of a worthwhile one. Whenever I accept a responsibility, I always give my best. I feel great stress up to the moment when I have thought of and formulated a good plan. From then on, as in all my other undertakings, I focus my thoughts and energy on things that need to be done to keep my mind off worries and stress. Pressure is then borne by the people who are tasked to do the legwork.” Her obvious enthusiasm for her new role (Brillante-Santos was the former BAIPHIL first vice president) is evident as she shared the rundown of the projects and activities that she and her team have lined up for this year.

BAIPHIL beyond 70
“For this year we have three main objectives. Firstly, we want to further entrench BAIPHIL as the premier training provider of the banking industry. We intend to accomplish this by: enhancing our course offerings, introducing e-Learning as an alternative to our classroom training, embarking on a “Training the Trainers” workshop to expand the resource speaker base for our Corporate Governance Courses, transforming the Treasury Operations Course into a certificate course, and getting accreditation from CHED and PICPA for conversion of BAIPHIL courses to equivalent college or masteral units and CPE credits. Secondly, we will provide the members with an opportunity for a holistic development mainly through the BAIPHIL Market Watch (BMW), our Legal, Regulatory and Tax Updates (LegReg/Tax), monthly general membership meetings (GMMs) and the BAIPHIL Week celebration where we invite guests speakers who will share their expertise in topics ranging from corporate governance, fiscal and regulatory reforms, trade and industry concerns, entrepreneurship, better business presentations, green environment, renewable green energy, media concerns; to CSR activities, the arts and humanities. Lastly, we dream of relocating to a new Training Center venue that will address our need for more classrooms for the simultaneous holding of training, seminars and workshops in a central location. These plans stemmed from and are aimed at furthering the vision, mission, and core values of the Institutes.” she shares.

Harnessing strengths
With so much planned, it is fortunate that Brillante-Santos has a good working partner in Serrano, “Our strength is that we complement each other, I’m more on the concept and ideas, while he’s the implementer- the executor.” Having worked together for five years now at the BAIPHIL board, Brillante-Santos and Serrano have developed a working relationship that works, with proof being the impressive lineup of activities and projects that they were able to come up with the rest of the team. She adds, “We have all the basic ingredients for success – teamwork, passion and preparation. My team is made up of highly intelligent and talented individuals committed to the Institute’s goals. All of this year’s officers have long years of banking experience and are experts in various areas of banking (e.g. accounting, auditing, finance, operations, risk management, compliance, technology, etc.), possess leadership skills, and are practicing varied yet complementary management styles.”

Forging ahead
Out of all their planned projects for this year, one of the highlights is the implementation of the e-Learning training approach, which is aimed at providing a wider reach and an innovative way to deliver the Institute’s training programs. This is also to keep in step with other training institutions that also offer distance learning. Another exciting project that BAIPHIL has in the works is the development of a BAIPHIL book, which will come out in two volumes and will contain the history of BAIPHIL and the history of banks. It’s definitely a tall order but Brillante-Santos, like with all the other projects that they have lined up, is optimistic that they will be able to accomplish this as well.

She adds, “Members should expect another golden year for BAIPHIL as the various committees embark on their respective plans. The BAIPHIL Education & Training Committee (BETI) and the Technology Management Committee (TMC) will roll-out the BAIPHIL e-Learn, which is an alternative to classroom training. Members may soon earn college or masteral units and CPE credits for attending BAIPHIL courses. An interesting lineup of speakers from the public and private sectors will tackle popular and relevant topics for the monthly General Membership Meetings (GMMs). The BAIPHIL Week will be filled with many activities, such as the holding of free seminars and training workshops, exhibits and the book launch on the Institute’s seven decades of existence side by side with the history and evolution of Philippine banks.”

Her term being not a convention year, Brillante-Santos admits that without the extra funds that they usually get from sponsors, they might be up for a bit of a challenge. “Revenues generated from the usual sources (institutional and associate dues) may not be sufficient to finance our high cost but invaluable return, projects that we want to rollout/set out to do this year, such as the e-Learn and the Training Center relocation,” she shares. But like true leader, Brillante-Santos prefers to focus on the positive-her wonderful team and the great potential of their planned projects of helping BAIPHIL forge ahead as it goes beyond the 70-year mark.

Michael del Rosario obtained a degree of B.S in Business Administration and Accountancy from the University of the Philippines. He graduated Cum Laude and garnered 6th place in the CPA board exams.

Despite his excellent academic background, he did not aspire to carve a niche for himself in Manila or to put an MBA or a Ph.D. after his name. Instead, he enrolled in baking class! This was to equip himself in improving the family bakery put up by his parents, Rodolfo Leung del Rosario and Betty Cheong del Rosario.

He chose to head back and shape his destiny in the place he calls home – BAGUIO CITY.

He put in 12-16 hours of work every day for many years doing actual baking and product developing!

He has been the Assistant General Manager of Sunshine Supermart for many years now. The bakery and grocery he aspired to improve has grown into a supermarket. His years of “no-rest” days have paid off!

On the side, he went into numerous direct marketing ventures; from cosmetics, to home care products, to herbal products and many others. To this day, he still is a distributor of “Imarflex” wares and appliances.

In 1991, he acquired his McDonald’s franchise. Today, there are 6 stores that showcase the company that exemplifies “great service and great value!”

In 2002, he ventured into an unfamiliar business. Equipped only with his passion to “delight the customer” and to give exemplary service, he opened a 72 room hotel. And with the hotel venture came a few restaurant outlets! Today, HOTEL VENIZ is a 104 room hotel catering to the ever-growing number of tourists who trek to the “Summer Capital of the Philippines!” He is a member of the Sacred Heart Charismatic Community. He has been the President of the Baguio Association or Restaurants (BAR) since 1991.

In 2004, he was awarded by the City of Baguio as one of its “Outstanding Citizens” in the field of business.

In 2005, the University of the Philippines awarded him as one of the “Distinguished Alumni” for the College of Business Administration. In 2005, he also achieved a life-long dream! He wrote and published a book, entitled “My Dearest Children”. The book is an intangible inheritance for his 4 children, his loved ones, and his friends!

In 2006, he established My Dearest Children Life Seminars. He leads a team of competent speakers and facilitators, who, like him, are passionate about sharing and improving the lives of others. MDC Life Seminars offers talks and workshops on Parenting, Leadership, Effective Communication, Corporate Values, Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, Motivation, Values and Character Formation, Team Building, Living Purposefully, to name a few.

In 2007, GO NEGOSYO awarded him as an “INSPIRATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR” for the BAGUIO – CAR Region”

In 2008, he was awarded the “UP Baguio Alumni Association Centennial Award” for his accomplishments in the field of business. Although a true blue-blooded entrepreneur at heart, he has been living out his passion for “public speaking”. He is a member of Pines City Toastmasters Club. In 2008 he won the national Toastmasters competition in the international speech category and represented the Philippines in Calgary, Canada. There he was awarded 2nd runner-up at the Inter-District Toastmasters International Competition.

In April 2011, he again won the national championship, and represented the Philippines in Las Vegas, U.S.A. He is a regularly-invited speaker by universities, professional groups, government and private companies, and religious organizations. Since May 2009, he has been sharing his thoughts and insights in his weekly “My Dearest…” column in the Sunstar Baguio daily newspaper.

Michael del Rosario is married to the former Ms. Angelica Soriano Novales of Subic, Zambales. Their 29 years of marriage has given him his greatest treasures, namely, his four children, Jennifer, James, John David and Jessica!

Training Objectives

The training objectives are:
- To enhance participants’ understanding of microfinance basic principles, technologies / methodologies, and best practices, prudential ratios adopted by MFIs;
- To enhance participants’ understanding of the role of SBV as a regulatory institutions for microfinance and microfinance
institutions;
- To improve participants’ skills in monitoring and supervising microfinance institutions;
- To learn the experiences of the Central Bank of the Philippines and other regulatory agencies in implementing the regulatory framework and monitoring of regulated MFIs in the Philippines; and,
- To come up with a plan of action from the learning from the trainings.

Training Agenda

The details of the Training Agenda include the following:
- Overview of the Microfinance Industry in Asia and the Philippines
- Best Practices in Microfinance – Principles, Methodologies and Practices
- Overview of the Microfinance Framework Strategy in the Philippines
- Orientation on the Microfinance Council of the Philippines and its role in the microfinance
- Overview of Microfinance and Financial Inclusion Initiatives of the BSP
- Microfinance in the banking Sector
- Microfinance Supervision and Examination Procedures.
- Field Visit to:
a) DBP Malolos Branch and Ligas Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad (LKBP) a microfinance client of DBP
b) CARD Bank / CARD MRI and attend Center meeting, visit CARD Bank Branch
c) CARD Bank Head Office / Vsiit Transaction Office
d) CARD Bank / CARD MRI Clients / Hapinoy Stores
- Panel Discussions with Experts in Microfinance practices and Regulations
- Recap of Learning and Plan of Action and Evaluation

Among those who participated actively in executing the training agenda and program were: Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip,
founder and Chairman of CARD MRI, Inc. and CARD BANK, Director Itoy Almario, Concurrent Executive Director of the National Credit Council Department of Finance, Evelyn Leviste, Consultant, ADB PMU, Chuchi G. Fonacier, Managing Director – Supervision & Examination Sub-Sector II, Dr. Ike Navarro, Senior Adviser, CMDI, Ma. Dolores Guevarra, Manager, DBP Malolos Branch, Lalaine Joyas, Executive Director of Microfinance Council of the Philippines and her group.
BAIPHIL coordinated the conduct of the visit and training program through its key officers, associate members and the Secretariat.

********

Report on :
41st ASEAN Banking Council Meeting November 17 – 18, 2011, Vientiane Lao PDR

(Editor’s Note: Following is a reprint of the presentation of BAIPHIL President Agnes C. Brillante-Santos to the Permanent Committee on Education during the 41st ASEAN Banking Council Meeting held on November 17-18, 2011 at Vientiane, Lao PDR).

Good morning to everyone.

I am here to share with you some of the activities and, training and education initiatives of my organization, the Bankers Institute of the Philippines or BAIPHIL.

But first let me quickly give you a brief introduction of my organization. BAIPHIL is the training arm of the banking industry. It was established over seven decades ago, in 1941, by seven domestic banks with the primary goal of increasing the efficiency and uniformity in bank accounting, auditing and operations, among banks.

From a small circle of mostly accountants and auditors BAIPHIL grew into a respectable association of 61 institutional members with around 300 key bank executives, with more comprehensive functions and varied fields of expertise.

Our mission is “to support the banking industry in enhancing productivity and keeping abreast with relevant developments through continuing education, research and informative exchange.”

For the fiscal year 2011-2012 we have adopted the theme,:“BAIPHIL beyond 70: Taking Stock, Harnessing Strengths, Forging Ahead.”

Our vision is “to be the leading organization in the pursuit of banking excellence, at par with the best in the Asia Pacific region.”

We provide professional training and education that are in line with the principles of good governance.

We are guided by the Roadmap which we have crafted together.

BAIPHIL Roadmap for FY 2011 – 2012
Our journey this year will take us to 3 major destinations –
- First, a stronger foothold on franchise as premier training partner of the banking industry.
- Second, provide a holistic professional and personal development program for members
- and Third a new BAIPHIL Training Center

Our means of getting there are -
To Strengthen foothold as a premier training partner of the banking industry -
• We invested in the BAIPHIL e-Learn facility which we will blend with our existing face to face and classroom training programs. With BAIPHIL e-learn, members and non-members get to view all BAIPHIL course offerings, enrol online, pay online and start sessions online with built in learning checks and training certification, anytime, anywhere, in a secure environment.
• We will expand our resource speaker base by designing and running a “Training the Trainers Workshop” to equip prospective resource speakers with necessary facilitation skills particularly, for the corporate governance courses. BAIPHIL is a Philippine Central Bank accredited training provider of the Corporate Governance Course in Banking.

* We are working on the accreditation of certain BAIPHIL education and training courses, to qualify them for equivalent units in a college &/ or in a masteral program, and to qualify them to earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits to satisfy the requirement of our Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

We believe such recognitions will further boost the usefulness of the courses that we offer and will promote more cost efficient training & education for the participants.

We will go beyond borders to invite resource speakers and share best practices in banking. Incidentally, BAIPHIL is urrently organizing an 8-day micro-finance seminar / workshop, to be held next month, for a small delegation from the Vietnam Central Bank,.

To provide opportunity for a holistic professional and personal development of members -
We conduct our monthly General Membership Meetings (GMM) function very much like a “lunch and learn” program providing members with knowledge & skills they can take straight to the workplace to be more productive, efficient and gain a greater sense of well-being. Our two most recent GMM’s tackled the topics “Fiscal Reforms” delivered by no less than the Philippine Internal Revenue Commissioner herself, and “Operational Risk Management” handled by an expert in the field.

To provide members with timely Market, Legal, Regulatory & Tax updates, we email the members the
• Daily, BAIPHIL Market Watch (BMW), a digest of important and relevant market news in the Philippines, Asia, U.S. and
Europe and the rest of the world.
• Semi-monthly, members receive the Legal, Regulatory & Tax Report, a summary of relevant new laws, Philippine Central
Bank (BSP) circulars and BIR rulings and issuances.

We continue to pursue far reaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs such as:
• the Financial Education Program (FEP) in support of the BSP (Philippine Central Bank) project. We hold lectures and
financial learning sessions in campuses and in community halls, in Manila and in the provinces. Beneficiaries are the
parents, teachers, students, working sector and marginalized sectors of the country. The aim is to improve the financial
knowledge, understanding and competence of the public for personal and national economic welfare.
• In collaboration with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), the Ateneo Center for Continuing Education (ACCE), and the Philippine Association of College Schools of Business (PACSB), we hold lecture fora on various bank/business related topics for the faculty of member schools with the purpose of bridging the gap
between business and the academe (between theory and practice).
• We hold an annual medical mission in marginalized areas in the province.
• We provide scholarship grants to secondary school students.

To secure an appropriate Training Center:
We would like to relocate our BAIPHIL Training Center, a venue more conducive to learning, with ample classroom spaces to allow holding of various training, seminars and other activities, simultaneously, in a central location.

Our Financial Resources:
A dynamic membership, with more members working and contributing will be our strongest tool to achieve our goals.

To augment our existing financial resources:
We will Launch a book (on the Seven Decades of BAIPHIL side by side with the History and evolution of Banks in the Philippines)
We sponsored a very successful blocked screening of a movie and planned for other fund raising activities.

I will end my presentation here lest I earn your ire getting in the way of a good lunch and a much awaited game of golf!

Thank you all and have a good day.