My father, the hero

business / Sunday Biz Sunday Biz My father, the hero Top gov’t officials, business leaders pay tribute to their early inspiration, mentor By: Emmanuel John Abris, Logan Kal-El Zapanta, Tina Arceo-Dumlao - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 02:10 AM June 21, 2026 Share: (First of two parts) It took a while before fathers got their own special day on the calendar and proper recognition for their valuable contribution to the family, community and society. But for these top government officials and leaders of some of the country’s largest corporations, the celebration of their father’s role in their formation does not only happen in June. Rather, it is an everyday affair.

Article continues after this advertisement Here, they talk about just how much of an impact their fathers made in their lives and the valuable lessons that helped shape them into the leaders they are today.FEATURED STORIES BUSINESS Fuel prices poised for another rollback BUSINESS Anchor Land sets new benchmark with topping off of Manila Chinatown’s first and only Grade-A office tower BUSINESS Guimaras mangoes make first export journey to Europe 1. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque Trade and Industry secretary Growing up, my father was a major influence in my life and career.

He pushed me to pursue my dreams and goals early on in my life. He told me to make the most and the best out of my life, so I live a life of no regrets, but to make sure to set boundaries. Being the eldest in the family, my father was very strict as he reminded me that I needed to set the example for all my siblings to follow.

Article continues after this advertisement He often told me that I had to get good grades, as this was all he could give me, and that I would benefit from this in the end. He also taught me to be focused and disciplined as this was the only way I could succeed in this life. Article continues after this advertisement He told me that I have to trust and to obey, as he was only concerned about my best interest.

He would constantly remind me that I needed to be compassionate and caring in my ways. He also told me to be brave enough to take a chance—if I win, then it is good, but if I lose, I’m still a winner because of all the lessons that I will learn along the way. He was very patient with me and would explain to me when I had a lot of questions and when I needed to know more about life.

Oftentimes, he would tell me that I would only be able to understand things when I get older or when the time comes. Looking back, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I am grateful for the love, the lessons and the sacrifice that he has given me all these years and I am blessed and honored to have a father like him.

He is the wind beneath my wings. 2. Frederic DyBuncio SM Investments Corp.

president and CEO My family has a long history in business and banking and growing up, I saw firsthand the values that helped build institutions that stood the test of time. My father taught me that success is earned through hard work, perseverance, integrity and a long-term perspective. More importantly, he taught me that trust is your most valuable asset.

Relationships, reputation and credibility take years to build and must be protected all the time. These lessons guided me throughout my career in banking and continue to shape my leadership today. They also resonate strongly with SM’s culture.

Like my father, SM believes in creating opportunities, honoring commitments and building for the long term. At the heart of both is a simple principle: sustainable success is achieved when the people and communities around you grow with you. What makes my father special is the example he set.

Despite coming from a family with a long business heritage, he remained humble, grounded and deeply respectful of others. He taught me to stay curious, recognize opportunities and never lose sight of the people behind every business decision. He also believed that success comes with responsibility and that businesses should create value not only for shareholders, but also for employees, customers, partners and communities.

Looking back, many of the values he lived by are reflected in SM today: integrity, stewardship, service and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. His example taught me that leadership is not about personal achievement, but about earning trust, helping others succeed and leaving things better than you found them. 3.

Kevin Tan Alliance Global Group president, CEO and vice chair One of the most important lessons my father, Andrew, taught me is that success is not entirely self-made. We all work hard, make sacrifices and persevere, but along the way, we are helped by people, given opportunities and blessed in ways we often take for granted. That is why gratitude is so important.

Never forget the people who helped you; never take your blessings for granted and never lose your humility. The more successful we become, the more grateful we should be—because success is not jus