FEBRUARY 2016 www.lopezlink.ph EL Center: Spend Valentine’s Day http://www.facebook.com/lopezlinkonline www.twitter.com/lopezlinkph under the stars! See story on page 11. By Carla Paras-Sison NOBODY enters a small start- up company at age 24 and imag- ines himself becoming President ABS-CBN and its Turn to page 6 values-driven future PHOTOS BY JOHNNY DELOS SANTOS AMML Sweet comeback A Valentine’s conferred Order for ‘LizQuen’ Day guide of Sikatuna …page 3 …page 4 …page 12 Lopezlink February 2016 Biz News Biz News Lopezlink February 2016 First Gen hurdles anew Vidanes appointed ABS-CBN ISO recertification audit COO of broadcast By Kane Choa By Joel Gaborni ABS-CBN Corporation an- marked by her commitment to nounced the appointment of public service. She spearheaded FIRST Gen Corporation earned Cory Vidanes as its chief oper- the preparation and execution once again a recertification from ating officer of broadcast effec- of the network’s relief opera- the International Organization tive February 1, 2016. tions and donation drives for for Standardization (ISO), the AMML is joined by his family as he receives the award from Pres. Aquino Vidanes will continue to lead victims of natural disasters, world’s largest developer and pub- and oversee the total channel including the “Tulong Na, Ta- lisher of international standards programming, artist develop- bang Na, Tayo Na” campaign’s ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez and president Carlo Katigbak (3rd and 4th from left) with (from left) Fr. Tito based in Geneva, Switzerland. ment, on-air operations, events T-shirt fundraising and benefit Caluag, ANC COO Cilette Liboro-Co and ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes at the studio blessing The ISO, through its accred- management and overall rev- concerts for the survivors of ty- ited certifying body Anglo Jap- AMML receives enue and profit delivery of phoon Yolanda in 2013. anese American Registrars Inc. Channel 2. Together with the She is a recipient of the CEO (AJA Registrars), renewed First Francis Giles Puno (2nd from left), First Gen president, receives the Content Development Council Excel Award from the Interna- ANC unveils new Gen’s certificate of registra- certificate from AJA Registrars’ Paul Bagatsing (center). Witnessing the headed by chief content officer tional Association of Business tion for compliance with ISO’s event are (l-r) Renato Castillo, SVP and concurrent chief risk officer; Luis Order of Sikatuna Charo Santos-Concio, Vidanes Communicators Philippines Quality Management System Aningat, quality, environment, safety and health (QESH) senior manager; PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino dinating with utmost dedication The Order of Sikatuna is the will manage the development in 2014 and was named one of (QMS) (ISO 9001:2008). and Margarita Pambid, QESH Management System senior specialist III recently conferred the Or- and efficiency high-level visits national order of diplomatic of new concepts for Channel People Asia magazine’s People Before earning the recerti- 2 and the ABS-CBN TVplus of the Year in 2013. studioBy Kane Choa in Rockwell der of Sikatuna with the rank between the Philippine and Ja- merit of the Philippines and fication, First Gen underwent issues in First Gen’s QMS—a Since it received its initial of Grand Cross on Ambassador pan, including the state visit of is conferred upon individuals channels Yey, CineMo and Vidanes, who began her ca- Cory Vidanes Knowledge Channel. reer in television with BBC-2 THE ABS-CBN News Chan- use the studio soon. first 24-hour global news chan- a rigorous recertification audit feat that reflects First Gen’s ISO certification in 2003, First Manuel M. Lopez (AMML) in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in who have rendered exceptional Vidanes has been instru- in 1982, joined ABS-CBN in duction manager, production nel (ANC) is now formally in Katigbak said that the studio nel’s efforts to remain the gold conducted by AJA Registrars. commitment to business ex- Gen has consistently passed all ceremonies held in Malacañang. the Philippines and vice versa. and meritorious services to the mental in making Channel 2 1986 as associate producer and manager, production director, the heart of the country’s cen- enhances the gathering and de- standard among news channels During the audit, AJA Regis- cellence in operating its power subsequent ISO recertification AMML received the award The ambassador was also country; upon diplomats, of- the most watched TV network was later appointed to various head of TV production, Chan- tral business district with the livery of news by being near the in the country. trars found no nonconformance plant assets. audits. with the following citations: for cited for his indefatigable ef- ficials and nationals of foreign in the country in 2015. positions in the company—ex- nel 2 head, head of broadcast blessing of its new studio in central business district. “This studio is an essential his exemplary efforts which con- forts in evacuating and ensur- states who have rendered con- Vidanes’ leadership is also ecutive producer, assistant pro- and head of free TV. Rockwell Center in Makati. “This is part of our commit- component in ANC’s commit- tributed significantly to the his- ing the safety of Filipinos in the spicuous services in fostering, ABS-CBN chairman Eu- ment to stay close to decision ment to strengthen our business toric elevation of Philippines-Ja- aftermath of the 2011 Great developing and strengthening genio Lopez III, president and makers, the business leaders, news equity apart from our po- Dando Drilling delivers pan relations to that of a strategic East Japan earthquake and for relations between their country EDC’s retail bonds maintain triple-A rating CEO Carlo Katigbak, Integrat- the policymakers and opinion litical coverage. Eventually, the partnership; for his commitment his exemplary accomplishment and the Philippines; or upon commitment on the obligation revenue generation and sus- ed News and Current Affairs shakers of the community. We site will be a satellite newsroom to working closely with Japan in in working for the further ad- personnel of the Philippine PHILIPPINE Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings) is extremely strong. tained profitability; financial head Ging Reyes and ANC want ANC to be the go-to and feed point to supplement advocating maritime security in vancement and strengthening of Department of Foreign Affairs, maintained the issue credit The rating reflects the fol- flexibility and manageable debt chief operating officer Cilette channel for people who want the main ABS-CBN headquar- first units in the PH accordance with international the country’s national interests both in the home office and in By Raymond Siao rating of PRS Aaa for Energy lowing key considerations: profile; and its proactive stance Liboro-Co led the launch of to know what big decisions are ters in Quezon City,” she said. law; and for overseeing and coor- in its relations with Japan. the foreign service. EDC’s ample cash flows; its in addressing emerging trends the new state-of-the-art fa- going to be made in business The new studio is just one of Development Corporation’s Manufactured by British position as the leading verti- in the local power industry. cility, which is currently the or policies in the country,” he many developments and inno- (EDC) retail bonds worth a to- company Dando Drilling Inter- cally-integrated geothermal PhilRatings also assigned a base of “Mornings@ANC” and said. vations ANC will be introduc- tal of P10.5 billion. national, the Dando Dual Mast power producer in the country, stable outlook to EDC’s credit “Headstart with Karen Davila,” Reyes added that the new ing to mark its 20th anniversary What PH will gain from The outstanding retail bonds Terrier is the first of its kind to with its enhanced standing as rating. The company’s solid oper- with more shows expected to studio is part of the country’s this year. consist of P3.5B retail bonds be shipped and operated in the due on December 4, 2016, the world leader in terms of ating and financial performance Philippines. It can perform soil Japan imperial couple’s visit P3.0B retail bonds due on May geothermal power plant ca- in 2014, proven resilience in the penetration tests to a depth of AMBASSADOR Manuel M. But he said the strong bilateral little we can see a bigger presence 3, 2020 and P4.0B retail bonds pacity; its growing portfolio of face of calamities and disasters approximately 20 meters or take Lopez (AMML) said the Japa- relations do not only benefit Japa- of Filipino companies in Japan,” due on May 3, 2023. renewable energy projects as as well as the upside provided by Balanced boards a must cores of bedrock at depths up to By Carla Paras-Sison nese imperial couple’s recent nese companies as Filipino compa- he said. “With a little improve- PRS Aaa is the highest credit well as its international expan- its ongoing and planned projects 50 meters. Instead of the conven- visit to the Philippines will nies now have gained more oppor- ment on our side plus the reduc- rating assigned by PhilRatings. sion efforts that are expected to all contribute to the assignment tional drilling technique which FINANCE Sec. Cesar Puri- The Finance Secretary also of SGV & Co.) asked me on strengthen Philippines’ diplo- tunities for investments in Japan. tion of tariffs I think you can Obligations rated PRS Aaa are spark revenue growth; strong of a stable outlook. employs a skid-type drilling ma- sima underscored the impor- zeroed in on execution and my very first day as managing matic ties with Japan and lead “We’re seeing now more and see in the future more and more of the highest quality with min- By Dino Quizon chine that takes time and requires tance of balanced boards in succession planning as key con- director (of SGV & Co.), ‘Who to economic opportunities for more Filipino companies open- two-way investments.”(Excerpted imal credit risk.