Month: September 2014

IDEA’YALA, an inspiring new competition created by Ayala Malls and co-founded by Paloma U. Zobel, is inviting young individuals in the Philippines to develop design concepts that will define the “mall of the future”—one that is sustainable, market inclusive, and with the potential to address social and environmental concerns.

The competition, launched September 9 at the Glorietta Activity Center, invites the youth to imagine innovative mall experiences that challenge established business or market assumptions, and turn them into viable entrepreneurial and design solutions. These could be in the form of mall enhancements such as new concepts for retail, dining, and entertainment, or ideas for sustainable mall development that Ayala Malls can then implement.

Paloma U. Zobel, who graduated from Parsons School of Design and worked in product development at Estee Lauder and Tom Ford, is one of the ideators and mentors, as are Ayala Corporation corporate strategy associates Mariana Zobel and Jaime Urquijo Zobel, TBWA|SantiagoMangada Puno’s Chief Creative Officer Melvin Mangada, and Manila Music Festival co-founder Katrina Razon.

Youth innovators who will share their experiences at IDEA’YALA workshops are Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Dan Matutina, Tal de Guzman, Ann Enriquez, and Louie Poco.

The panel of judges will be led by Ayala Corporation chairman emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala as well as Ayala Land executives Junie Jalandoni and Rowena Tomeldan.

For more information, visit http://ideayala.ayalamalls.com.ph.

Ayala Corporation and the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) held the second of a series of quarterly economic forums on August 29 with Citigroup Managing Director Dr. Johanna Dee Chua delivering a lecture on challenges to the Philippine financial sector.

Entitled “The Philippines: Will Financial Stability Be At Risk?,” Dee Chua’s keynote address focused on the evolving role of central banks and the prospects of local and regional banking sectors. The Hong Kong-based economist also expressed confidence that the Philippine economy would continue growing over the medium term.

Monetary Board Member Dr. Felipe M. Medalla and Antonio C. Moncupa, Jr., President and CEO of EastWest Bank, served as discussants.

For his part, Medalla said he expects the Philippine economy to expand from between five to six percent annually unless more reforms are introduced and institutionalized, which would result in even higher growth.

UPSE Dean Ramon L. Clarete and Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala were in attendance together with ranking executives from Ayala group companies and university students. Also present were former Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves and National Scientist Dr. Raul V. Fabella.

The Ayala-UPSE Economic Forum seeks to educate the public and inform policy makers of research findings on the Philippine economy. In November last year, Ayala and UPSE – through their respective non-profit organizations, Ayala Foundation and UPecon Foundation – renewed their commitment to conduct the quarterly economic forums until 2016. This builds on an earlier partnership from 2008 to 2011 that resulted in 12 public lectures conducted by UPSE professors on poverty, growth and development, food security, labor, education, international monetary system, housing, and politics and institutions.

On its 180th year, Ayala continues to partner with academic institutions to further issue-based discourse and share with the public relevant information on the potentials of the Philippine economy.

Ayala Corporation was named among the top Philippine firms by Alpha Southeast Asia in its 4th Annual Institutional Investor Corporate Awards ceremony held on August 30 at Shangri-la Makati.

The Hong Kong-based publication catering to global investors cited Ayala as having the strongest adherence to Corporate Governance, best Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility, and best Annual Report. The awards are based on tallied votes among 477 investors, pension funds, hedge funds, equity and fixed income brokers and analysts with investment interests in the Southeast Asian region. In 2012, Ayala was also recognized by the magazine for the same accomplishments.

Ayala General Counsel Solomon M. Hermosura accepted the award from Siddiq Bazarwala, Alpha’s publisher.

Other Ayala group companies cited were Globe for its consistent dividend policy, BPI Family Savings Bank, and BPI Capital Corporation.