Anvil Business Club gathers for 28th anniv, induction & 1st ALAB Award
Fostering unity in steering the business community towards the right direction, young Filipino-Chinese businessmen and professionals of the Anvil Business Club gather today for the 28th founding anniversary and 2019 Board of Directors’ formal induction an
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEADS THE WAY
Anvil’s new set of officers, the 2019 Board of Directors, represents Filipino-Chinese youth leaders among the business community who promote traditional Confucian and Filipino values, civic consciousness, entrepreneurial courage, professional excellence, dynamic leadership, advocacy of progressive socioeconomic reforms and global competitiveness.
“The phrase ‘Filipino-Chinese’ refers not to legal citizenship or is limited only to Filipino citizens, but is also a geographic or even cultural term referring to the Philippines’ ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs regardless of citizenship, as long as they’re doing business here in the Philippines and contributing to socio-economic progress. Majority of Anvil officers and members belong to the young generation of Philippine-born, Filipino citizens. There are also some Anvil members who are young ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs from Singapore, New York, Vancouver, Shanghai and Taipei. One of Anvil’s past presidents is a Malaysian citizen who heads a major Singaporeowned multinational firm with important investments that help propel the Philippine economy,” shares Anvil president Patrick Cua.
This organization has consciously championed the ethnic Chinese minority’s centuries-old tradition of supporting diverse socio-civic and educational causes because sharing and assisting the disadvantaged are part of positive Confucian values taught by elders. The Anvil Business Club is also at the forefront of spearheading efforts to remind and encourage the young generation of business people in upholding the elders’ traditional Confucian values of pioneering dynamism, discipline, rugged strength of character, entrepreneurial courage and philanthropic spirit.
28 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Founded in 1991 by a group composed of 17 young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs, the Anvil Business Club — formerly known as Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs — was formally established during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace hosted by then President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. All Philippine presidents since have spoken at the Club events, from President Corazon Aquino to President Rodrigo Duterte. Many of the country’s top business leaders and
various top Asian achievers have also spoken to and even served as advisers of the organization.
Since its founding, Anvil has taken the lead in meaningful sociocivic causes and diverse economic, investment, educational, civic and cultural undertakings. These activities range from the promotion of international investors to come to the Philippines for dialogues and exploring cooperation, business activities in provincial areas near Metro Manila, sending foreign and domestic trade delegations to official trips, and pushing for other sociocivic and cultural projects.
In 2009, the organization donated a larger-than-life Confucius’ monument at Rizal Park’s Chinese Garden in honor of public and private school teachers. This is in line with Anvil’s lead role in the annual Teacher’s Day tributes for educators every September 28 — the birthday of Confucius. There are also different forums and workshops with renowned business leaders, as well as the distribution of scholarship grants to underprivileged but deserving college
students. Anvil also joined other NGOs in the calls for a clean and orderly elections by signing a multi-sectoral covenant led by TV network ABS-CBN and ABSCBN News Channel (ANC) for #Halalan2019.
Anvil is also a leading figure in mobilizing and donating relief supplies for disaster victims and poor communities. Just before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Club recently gave away 10,000 boxes of
tikoy (glutinous rice cake) to urban poor families of Camarin and Barracks communities in north Caloocan City. Former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go was invited as special guest of honor along with local officials and councilors led by Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan.
“Anvil officers and members seek not just success for themselves, their families or community, but also hopes to contribute to a vibrant, globally-competitive, efficient and more inclusive and vibrant economy and social development for the entire country,” stresses Anvil chairman emeritus George Siy.
DR. LUCIO TAN: THE FIRST ALAB AWARDEE
Anvil has become a training ground not only for business and civic activities, but also for future leaders. Most officers and members of the Club are children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of inspiring immigrant selfmade entrepreneurs, thus this organization hopes to be like the ancient metal block called the anvil with which metals are forged to become useful and strong.
Signifying this role, the newly-elected 2019 officers of the Anvil Business Club present the inaugural Anvil Leadership Award for Business Excellence Award (ALAB Award) to its long-time special adviser — the highly-respected industrialist, philanthropist and community leader Dr. Lucio C. Tan of LT Group, Inc., Philippine Airlines (PAL), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Asia Brewery, Inc., Tanduay Distillers, and the Tan Yan Kee Foundation. Dr. Tan is also chairman emeritus of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
“It is therefore fitting that the inaugural Anvil Leadership Award for Business Excellence will be conferred to Dr. Lucio Tan.
Alab, the vernacular for flame, is needed to forge and shape metals on the anvil. Anvil Business Club looks up to the self-made entrepreneur and magnanimous philanthropist, Dr. Lucio C. Tan, as a positive role model and inspiration. His life and career exemplify traditional Confucian values, humility, civic spirit and entrepreneurial courage,” explains Anvil chairman Wilson Lee Flores.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
In a world where the use of smartphones and new technology is disrupting traditional business models, the Club remains optimistic about the continued progress of the resilient Philippine economy.
“The focus shall continue to be promoting more job-generating business activities, technological upgrades, innovations and also championing meaningful sociocivic projects, plus perhaps additional push into the country’s sunrise industries of booming tourism, high-potential agriculture, etc. Anvil officers and members shall seek to keep on studying and embracing opportunities and also challenges in new technologies, new media and other business trends. Anvil entrepreneurs hope that the whole Philippines shall also benefit economically and not be left behind with these rapid technological advancements,” concludes Siy.
As the first quarter of the year concludes, the Club’s new generation of young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs prepares to take on the mantle of leadership and vows to take the organization to the next level. Maturing business upstarts and innovators in their own right, this new breed of leaders is now making a conscious upward leap—transforming from being mere anvils today to becoming the wielders of the hammer tomorrow— to make the Anvil Business Club truly relevant, today and in the decades to come.
‘‘ It is therefore fitting that the inaugural Anvil Leadership Award for Business Excellence will be conferred to Dr. Lucio Tan. Alab, the vernacular for flame, is needed to forge and shape metails on the anvil. Anvil Business Club looks up to the self-made entrepreneur and magnanimous philanthropist, Dr. Lucio Tan as a positive role model and inspiration. His life and career exemplify traditional Confucian values, humility, civic spirit and entrepreneurial courage.