Voices

What hot topics of today will become the burning issues of tomorrow? We asked nine personages to address a future-facing subject that makes them most passionate

- Monique Madsen

CREATING A LEGACY OF FAITH

DONNIE TANTOCO

President, Rustan Commercial Corporation

“My parents drilled in me that a business cannot exist purely for the purpose of profit. My lolo [grandfather], parents, and elders taught me that a business’ first and foremost role is to be a force of good; and secondly, an engine of profit, which is a resource that sustains and enables a business to do well while doing good.

“Rustans Group and Sta. Elena have cultures and track records that truly, purposefully, and systematically put our employees first as the main stakeholders and the reason for all that we do.

“Our social mission is to create and preserve jobs. During bad times we share the pain, we protect jobs. We never cut back on training and development. And during good times, we save up so that we can provide job security.

“I am lucky to be part of an organisation whose first core value is FAITH. It has been that way for 67 years. As one of the leaders of our business, I have this voice and belief that now more than ever; I must help bring God in the most powerful way ever into our workplace and life. This is in order to be a profitable and sustainable force of good in this most tumultuous environment we have ever seen.

“We have to accept different faiths, but we must deliberately strengthen the spiritual health of our teams. We must be driven by a purpose higher than greed, power, admiration, and stature. Our faith should shape our character and motivations, and how we interact and sincerely uplift one another.”

JAMES DEAKIN