C-LEVEL | PLDT, Smart executives say values learned from fathers continue to shape leadership
In a Father’s Day feature, executives from the telecommunications giant reflected on how values such as integrity, accountability, resilience and empathy continue to influence the way they lead teams and make decisions as the industry undergoes rapid digital transformation.
Senior executives of PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications said the leadership principles they apply in one of the country’s fastest-moving industries were shaped long before they entered the corporate world, pointing instead to lessons learned from their fathers.
In a Father’s Day feature, executives from the telecommunications giant reflected on how values such as integrity, accountability, resilience and empathy continue to influence the way they lead teams and make decisions as the industry undergoes rapid digital transformation.
PLDT Chief Operating Officer Butch Jimenez said leadership begins with consistently living out one’s values rather than simply talking about them.
“I make it a point that people see the values I believe in. While it is a cliché, I try my best to ‘walk the walk and not just talk the talk,'” Jimenez said, adding that his family’s Christian faith has remained a guiding principle across generations.
PLDT Senior Vice President and Home Business Head John Y. Palanca said integrity remains the foundation of effective leadership, especially in an environment where technology and business models continue to evolve.
“My father taught me that success means little if you lose your integrity along the way,” Palanca said.
He added that fairness, honesty and empathy remain essential leadership qualities despite rapid technological change, noting that resilience, curiosity and adaptability are values he hopes to pass on to future generations.
Smart co-Officer-in-Charge and First Vice President Lloyd R. Manaloto credited his father’s work ethic and willingness to embrace new technologies for shaping his own management philosophy.
“My father was my role model. He’s a self-made man who got to where he is in life through hard work,” Manaloto said.
He said authenticity has become increasingly important in modern leadership, arguing that employees respond more to leaders who work alongside their teams and continue learning than to traditional top-down management styles.
Manaloto also drew parallels between leadership and brand management, saying the long-running success of Smart’s TNT mobile brand stems from remaining consistent with its core values despite changing technologies and consumer behavior.
Meanwhile, PLDT Senior Vice President and Enterprise Business Head Blums S. Pineda said reputation and integrity remain among the most valuable assets a leader can possess.
“My father and my grandfather both taught me about the importance of a man’s name, his reputation, his integrity, what he stood for, and that you need to protect it,” Pineda said.
He said difficult leadership decisions should always consider their long-term impact rather than focusing solely on short-term gains. Pineda also cited his family’s connection to Filipino hero Marcelo H. Del Pilar as a reminder that leadership requires sacrifice and dedication.
Despite their demanding roles in the telecommunications sector, the executives said maintaining strong family relationships remains an important part of leadership.
Pineda said building meaningful personal connections helps him become a better leader, while Manaloto stressed the importance of being fully present with family despite work responsibilities.
Palanca said fatherhood requires intentional effort, noting that consistent moments such as family dinners and meaningful conversations often have the greatest impact on children.
Jimenez echoed the importance of balancing work and family life, saying there are times when professional responsibilities take priority, but when uncertain, his guiding principle remains “family first.”
The reflections come as Philippine telecommunications companies continue expanding digital infrastructure, enterprise services and artificial intelligence-driven initiatives, placing increasing demands on executives tasked with leading large organizations through technological change.
For the executives, however, the values that guide leadership remain largely unchanged despite the industry’s rapid pace of innovation, underscoring that trust, character and human connection continue to be as important as technology itself.
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