ARIEL FERMIN

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, PLDT & HEAD OF HOME BUSINESS,

Ariel Fermin shares a clear vision on what a global Filipino should be—someone who uses internationally-acquired skill sets to help a Philippine brand bring its game up to first-world standards, or someone who guides Filipinos towards a global stage. PLDT’s EVP and Head of Home Business embodies both, as he steers the Philippines towards the digital playoffs.

Mr. Fermin has worn several hats over the years—P&G chemical engineer, Unilever sales guy, Coke marketing man, executive for Chowking and Greenwich, and even Nike’s Country Director, but while he employs multiple experiences from these fields, he insists one trait for success stands out.

“Passion, no doubt about it,” espouses Ariel on a key virtue he, as well as all Filipinos embody. “We may not be the smartest, definitely not the tallest, nor ones with the best bearing. That’s okay. Our shortfalls make us work harder than anyone else. We have the biggest heart!”

A firm believer of education, Ariel believes his role in PLDT Home Business is to continuously create products that make broadband accessible everywhere.

“Broadband is the great equalizer in a tiered society. We want to build a nation of young learners—who with the right attitude, faith and luck, will someday be world class bearers of our flag.”

While his information initiative focuses on building infrastructure, he credits his own team for guiding his education in the industry. “They helped transition my definition of mbps from mind-blowing-pizza-slices to the more common, megabitsper-second.

His entry into the field of telecommunications heralds an era of customer-centered and innovation-driven change, but remains constant in one thing PLDT’s HomeBusiness core message—“The strongest connections are at home”—a call that resonates with FIlipinos around the world.—RT