BIZ BUZZ: Everyone, meet Jufree

Eastwest Banking Corp. president and CEO Antonio Moncupa Jr. made his friends online swoon when he posted on his social media account a cute photo of his new furbaby, Jufree, a teacup Pomeranian given to him by his daughter.

His name is a combination of justice and freedom. A “rather pretentious name,” Moncupa said, but then again Jufree “is making a statement.”

“Justice for the historical anomalies. Freedom from big lies and historical revisionism. I love this dog,” declared Moncupa, who has been rendered “speechless” by the run for the presidency of the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Moncupa, after all, was one of thousands of activists imprisoned during Martial law and the top bank executive has the scars to prove it.

It will be 50 years this year since Martial law was declared and Moncupa considers his experience during that dark period in the nation’s history one of the highlights of his life.

“Those were the best of times, for me personally … Finding the courage I didn’t know was there. Having the conviction I didn’t even imagine possible,” said Moncupa.

As a banker, he says he cannot be outwardly political. But his principles are intact and expressed in a little bundle of joy named Jufree, whose kerchief appropriately had the image of a pink clenched fist.

Indeed, he may be small, but Jufree is nevertheless making a big statement.

—Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Education in the metaverse

If real estate and banking could soon be in an interconnected 3D virtual reality world, could education evolve into the metaverse, too?

Why not? Reynaldo Vea, president and CEO of Mapúa University (one of the schools under the Yuchengco-Ayala education venture) said as the group recently launched Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), a “digital-first” college that aims to offer “affordable” IT (information technology) and business-focused education and produce “workplace-ready” graduates.

MMDC offers BS Information Technology (major in software development, network and cyberscurity or data analytics) and BS Business Administration (majors in marketing, human resource or operations management) degrees.

The digital college introduced a pioneer scholarship where the first 750 enrolled students will be granted a discount of up to P20,000. As such, enrollment fee for a full year can be as low as P58,000 compared with the estimated P100,000 annual fees in other upper-middle colleges.

MMDC will start accepting the first students for the 2022-2023 school year this March.

It expects to enroll a few hundred students close to its physical learning hubs located at Ayala Malls, but the first two hubs (Ayala Malls’ Cloverleaf mall in Quezon City and Capitol Central in Bacolod) are capable of handing over 1,000 students.

The college can provide students with their own laptop and pocket Wi-Fi. Required class meeting times clock in at around 7.5 hours a week, allowing students to balance academics, hobbies, family life and social life.

—Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

Changing of the guard

Ramontito Garcia, CEO of publicly listed Cebuano company Vivant Corp., is off to spend his sunset years away from the corporate bustle following the announcement of his retirement on Friday.

In an announcement, Vivant said Garcia will be leaving the top spot at the energy and infrastructure firm once he turns 65 next month but will continue to sit on the board as its chair.

Taking over is president Arlo A.G. Sarmiento while senior vice president for power Emil Garcia will assume the role of President.

“My retirement offers the next generation the opportunity to take the helm, to bring new ideas, and to implement new styles of leadership while maintaining the same core values that have brought Vivant to where it is now,” said Garcia.

“I’m proud of being part of the team that made this smallholding company of five employees to a conglomerate of several companies with interests in different industries,” he added.

It will be a challenge for Sarmiento who is now in charge of navigating the new business landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, on the back of the adverse impact of typhoon “Odette.”

One thing is certain: new things are in store for Vivant.

—Karl R. Ocampo INQ

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