“We remain optimistic about continued development in the Philippines supported by government investment plans and we will continue to prioritize expansion in underserved regions across the country,” said Henry Sy, Sr., now SM Investments Corp. chairman em

“Look at the leadership of a company, then you can predict where that company will be,” he said. Along with sustainable growth and profitability, SMIC is committed to maintain its transparent and trustworthy corporate governance practices that reveal itself in the way the company treats its stakeholders.

Mr. Sio said that when it comes to their investors, SM should be transparent and be able to provide them with adequate returns. The suppliers, meanwhile, must be paid on time with fair prices, but, Mr. Sio said, they ought to deliver quality merchandise in return.

“To our tenants, we should avoid direct competition with them,” he added. This is the reason why SM, Mr. Sio said, has not gone into manufacturing. “To our people, we should be fair,” Mr. Sio said, adding that they ought to be given opportunities.

The government, meanwhile, deserves to be paid the right taxes. And, finally, Mr. Sio noted that SM has social environmental sustainability responsibilities to fulfill.

Since becoming a premier conglomerate, SMIC has never encountered a serious problem, especially as regards to financing and management, Mr. Sio pointed out. “There must be something that we’re doing right,” he said.

On top of continuing the existing management, Mr. Sio said they will remain “conservative but open to opportunities,” the hallmark of the business philosophy of Mr. Sy, Sr. That openness, at least in terms of opening top management positions to the professionals who don’t have blood ties to the Sy clan, is made evident by Mr. Sio’s appointment as chairman.

Mr. Sio also pointed out that they would continue nurturing the group’s core businesses and increasing activities in its portfolio investments. They are also preparing for technological revolutions and global developments like e- commerce and the ASEAN integration.

And though these developments are redefining the ways in which modern enterprises can attain and maintain success, hard work and trustworthiness will remain any company’s best bets. Mr. Sio believes that these qualities, which Mr. Sy, Sr. demanded from him when he first joined SM, are the basic ingredients for success.