BOSCONIAN INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.

DOING BUSINESS WITH A HEART

Where else can one find a special gathering of alumni every Friday morning – a regular kapihan of old schoolmates – where the main agenda is doing business in a noble manner. These alumni who are now movers and shakers in their own fields of endeavor have committed themselves to help each other in their businesses and establish a bond founded on the same values that were instilled in them as youngsters in their alma mater.

These alumni of Don Bosco have a common venue in the Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (BICC). It is the umbrella organization of Salesian past pupils who are engaged in business and/or who are in the active practice of their professions and who are willing to promote good business values among themselves.

With its Chairman, Alberto G. Soliman and President, Atty. Antonio M. Bernardo, BICC is more than a business organization. Its primary objective is to do business with a heart.

Soliman, who was one of the first graduates of Don Bosco Tarlac in 1957 and former vice-mayor of Tarlac City said that “The essence of BICC enables every Bosconian to give assistance to each other as well as to the school. The success of every Salesian past pupil can also be attributed to his value formation and education in Don Bosco.”

BICC appears to be the only school-based chamber of commerce -- put up, operated and manned by Bosconian alumni. Bernardo explains, “The organization encompasses all fields of endeavor. The members of BICC are grouped into 9 sectors. Each sector represents the industry and professional preferences of members. Basically, every Bosconian alumnus or graduate can be categorized under one of those sectors. And the idea here is for Bosconians to network among each other and do business with each other. If I need a product or service and there is a Bosconian who offers this product or service and all things being equal, I would rather give business to the Bosconian and help him out.”

Bosconian businessmen and professionals can discuss and pursue matters of mutual interest and benefit. Bernardo added, “We want to be able to develop a certain sense of business ethics among the Bosconians dealing with each other or dealing with the general public at large.”

Bernardo was class valedictorian in both elementary and high school of Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City. He is a former commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, former undersecretary and chief of staff of the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy and former special assistant to the chairman of the National Power Corporation. He is currently in the insurance brokerage through The Bernardo-Francisco & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc.. He is also the Chairman, Executive Committee of the Bernardo & Placido Law Offices.

Soliman and Bernardo said that one of the most important things they value in Don Bosco education “are the values instilled in us ever since we were small boys and growing young men.” Bernardo added “Don Bosco teachers and priests would always tell us to be good Christians and honest citizens. These are the values that we want to bring out -- the Bosconian way of doing business -- that is, doing business with a heart. “Heart” meaning the values we have learned from our Don Bosco education.”

BICC also serves as a venue where Bosconians can exercise skills in social and community leadership and participate in national development, thus making their presence felt in the community were they operate.

Bernardo emphasized, “We have also added a social responsibility component to the organization. The Don Bosco school system really looks after the less privileged in society. That’s how St. John Bosco started in Italy where he took care of the street children and out-of-school youth and provided them a good system of education. Following that tradition and philosophy of Don Bosco, we also have the Tuloy Foundation, Inc. and Pugad as our major beneficiaries in most of our undertakings.”

Tuloy Foundation, Inc. is an institution in Alabang that takes in street children and gives them shelter, a good system of education and the skills to be able to find jobs later. On the other hand, Don Bosco "Pugad" Home for Street Children and Migrant Youth in St. John Bosco Parish in Makati is a non-governmental organization.

BICC goes international

BICC has gone global because of persistent clamor from Bosconians in different parts of the world who want to do business with people coming from the same Salesian family. Bernardo said “The present BICC is already a resurrection. It actually started in the early 90s and then for two and a half years, sometime in 1994-95, it hibernated because people got busy. And so in 2004, we decided to revive BICC and make it international.”

He added “In fact, we already have members and connections in the west and east coasts of the United States. Likewise, in Asia like Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, India, and Vietnam and even as far as Germany. During the first week of February, 2005, BICC was presented to the Asia-Australia Congress of Salesian past pupils. Thus, our Bosconian alumni in these regions already know about BICC and we were told that some European observers in that Congress also wanted us to present in the World Congress. Incidentally, the next Asia-Australia Congress will be held here in Manila in December 2008 and BICC will take an active role on the business side of it.”

BICC projects

In 2005, BICC has launched its own official web domain, www.bicc.org.ph, to the public, “where our members can look up the present and past activities and can also advertise their products and services and link up their own website to our general website,” Bernardo said. “In fact, the website has been revised in June 2007 to better serve the needs of our members. It now has news related to business and events, announcements of members and other current pertinent information exclusive to BICC members.”

There is also the mentioned Kapihan ng mga Bosconians which provides a venue for budding entrepreneurs to introduce their new products and services. It is held every Friday starting at 7:30 a.m. to about 10:30 a.m.

Originally conceived as support service to members needing cash as capital investment or simply paying for obligations, BICC created the Bosconian Savings and Credit Cooperative in December, 2006. As a business venture, it now extends different loan packages to the close and limited members of the Salesian Family such as the alumni, SDBs, cooperatives, parents of students, and even employees of companies owned or controlled by Bosconians. It is also open to savings and time deposits.

BICC also produced in December 2005 a radio program called “Para Sa ‘Yo Pinoy” or PSYP to give vent to Bosconians as responsible citizens but cautious to new technologies and trends. Hosted by Atty. Bernardo, it is aired over station DZXL, 558 KHz on the AM band every Saturday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Not only is BICC concerned about business. It is also into sports. In December last year, it opened the First BICC Golf Cup in Laguna. The grand trophy was even designed and donated by national artist Ed Castrillo who is also a Bosconian.   Again, in July, six teams of sponsor companies played a friendly competition in the First BICC Basketball Tournament. These two sports will have return engagements in 2008.

Bernardo stressed: “Through the BICC, we also aim to showcase not only to the Bosconian students but also to the public in general the Bosconian talents and products -- those who made good in the public and private sectors so the young Bosconians can emulate their good examples. Thus, we gave testimonial recognitions to BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. and Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Alipio F. Fernandez. In the past, prominent personalities have graced our General Membership Assemblies as guests of honor and speakers, such as SBGFC Chair and CEO Zorayda Amelia C. Alonzo, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., President of Clark Development Corporation Levy P. Laus, and SBGFC President and COO Benel P. Lagua. Achievement Awards have also been conferred to Quezon City Treasurer Dr. Victor B. Endriga, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. General Christie B. Datu, Century Properties Group Chairman Amb. Jose E.B. Antonio, Pampanga Governor Ed T. Panlilio, and Architect Nestor S. Mangio.   In subsequent assemblies, we will be honoring successful businessmen and servant-leaders in government and private sectors who graduated from Don Bosco institutions.”

While BICC is fast evolving, the challenge for Soliman and Bernardo remains -- to get a critical mass. Soliman said “that BICC wants to reach out to all Bosconians all over the country. It started in December 2004 and has already close to 500 registered members as of todate.” Bernardo added, “We hope to achieve a critical mass of 500 by end of 2007 and hopefully, generate enthusiasm, enough for them to do business with each other. And there’s going to evolve a certain set of core values which will eventually develop into a business ethics among Bosconians.”

And what makes a Bosconian? While Don Bosco is popularly known for its good system of education, it also practices the Preventive System of Education, in accord with Don Bosco’s system of Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness as well as for its dual education, where students are trained not only academically but also vocationally. A Bosconian has that distinct advantage in being trained not only to develop his mind but also his hands for work. More importantly, a Bosconian has this different core value of loving his work while making a difference in the lives of his fellow Bosconians and other people. (October 2007)

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