The commencement speech that follows was delivered by Mr. Hans T. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., on August 26, 2024, at the Plenary Hall of the PICC during the 29th Graduation Rites of the University of Asia and the Pacific.
Dr. Winston Padojinog, Dr. Antonio Torralba, Dr. Robert Duque, the members of the Management Committee and the Board of Trustees, esteemed UA&P faculty and staff, and most importantly the proud & happy parents, and the graduates of the University of Asia and the Pacific, good afternoon. I am honored to be a part of this significant day in your lives, and I thank UA&P for this invitation. Hopefully you will remember some of these words I will share with you today on what has helped me on my life’s journey, which I hope will be of value to you.
I am Hans Sy, one of the sons of the late Henry Sy Sr., the founder of SM. My father’s journey began with a dream, to sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino – but what set him apart from other dreamers is that he had the grit and perseverance to work hard to achieve it. He started small, with one shoe store and a dream. Today, SM is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest companies. So yes, start with a dream. Yes, you can and don’t be afraid to start small.
I started my own career at SM with what many would consider menial jobs – a runner, then a salesclerk, a warehouseman. These jobs taught me valuable lessons about hard work and humility.
As a runner at our department store, my task was to fetch items for customers and assist them with their payment. This taught me the essence of service – that I could make my customer a little happier if I did my job well. It wasn’t glamorous, running back and forth, but I knew that I was part of a bigger team, all dedicated towards putting a smile on our customer’s faces. This perspective of teamwork and doing my best in my own little way, has shaped my approach to leadership, as early on I learned that no task is too small and that everyone has a role in the company’s success.
From this and experiences such as being a warehouseman, I learned to always be willing to roll up my sleeves and do the work, no matter the task. In fact, true leadership is about serving others. And it is important to stay humble, to listen and learn from others so you can grow continuously.
These principles were instilled in me by my father and my mother, Ms. Felicidad Sy. But of all their valuable lessons, what has made a lasting impact on my life is to always base my actions on one universal principle – to always do what is right.
In challenging situations, it may be easier to do what is most profitable or expedient. But my guiding compass – to be ethical and do what is right – has never failed me.
You are young, and at times it will be hard, but you must not waver. In a world where shortcuts and easy gains are tempting, hold on to your integrity. This will set you apart and this is how you can build a solid foundation for long-term success.
Sometimes you will need to make unpopular decisions but again – you must ask yourself: What is the right thing to do?
I encountered this challenge during the time when we had to stop the erosion in our Baguio property from landslides that would affect the University of Cordilleras across the street. The solution of foreign consultants was to fortify the hill and build a solid structure, which meant we had to ball about 80 trees in that area.
Many netizens were against us, and it was hard at first to convince the Baguio community that we were doing this for their safety and a better future. Today, the area is stable, there is a Skypark with a beautiful 180-degree view of the city, and SM has planted over 600,000 trees in Baguio and Benguet. I believe the community now sees the benefit of that unpopular decision I had to make at that time.
Why did I stand by what was unpopular? So that future generations can have a healthy and thriving world to live in.
I have always believed in balancing business success with social and environmental responsibilities. Our initiatives to reduce our environmental impact through SM Prime’s sustainability and resiliency programs are crafted because we want to build a better, safer future for you. My own motivation to prioritize environmental responsibility came from a simple realization – our success should not come at the expense of our environment. And as future leaders, it is crucial for you to also strive to create business models that supports both economic growth and environmental stewardship.
I have three wishes for you. First, to continue learning, and to value education. He persevered because of his dream – to make education so affordable and a college degree a goal for at least one member of every Filipino family. He often said that if one person in every family finishes college and finds work, he will lift the whole family up.
Today, SM Foundation has more than 5,500 college scholars, and we continue to build schools to fulfill my father’s dream. When we took over National University in 2008, there were only 1,200 students. Now we’re close to 70,000 enrollees and 12 campuses. My own dream is to have 20 campuses around the country and 100,000 students by 2028.
My second wish is for you to have a personal advocacy – a cause close to your heart – because it will enrich your lives in ways you cannot imagine. One of the things that enrich my life is Child Haus, a shelter for indigent children with cancer, where I have seen time and time again the resilience of the human spirit, and how collective care has the power to transform in positive ways even the hardest of challenges. Through the work of Ricky Reyes and Child Haus’ many patrons, we have witnessed the miracle of over 20,000 children who were once sick and battling cancer and who are now healthy, happy and productive adults.
Yes, it is not easy to balance work and helping the less fortunate, but it can be done. Do what is right and even if you are tired from your day, I assure you a good night’s rest when your head hits your pillow.
And while we tend to rely heavily on gadgets and virtual experiences in today’s digital age, let me tell you that there is nothing like real-life experiences for lessons that you cannot find online. One such experience for me was building SM Marikina – computer simulations and online studies told us that we could build nearer the Marikina River, but I went there myself, saw the situation and gave instructions to build the mall 20 meters farther from the riverbank. We designed and built it on concrete stilts, so in case the river floods, the water would go through the open space to flow out easily – and this seemingly little attention to detail which came from my first-hand observation has served the Marikina community well. The mall has never been under water and during typhoons, it is a safe haven for those who seek shelter from the floods and low-lying areas in the city.
There is nothing like real-life experiences to challenge and inspire you. Whether through volunteer work, internships, or travel, if you step out of your comfort zone and engage with the world, you be blessed with insights and skills that no device can offer.
While technology is a powerful tool in building and nurturing connections, it’s essential to balance its use with meaningful, real-world interactions that will help you better understand people and your positive impact on their lives.
What does UA&P hope for you when you leave these halls? That you become professionally competent, creative and enterprising, zealous for the common good, and capable of making free, morally upright choices so that you can be positive agents of change and service to society.
This sounds so challenging! I would be overwhelmed too at your age but like those games you play online, you have many weapons and treasures to help you reach these goals – and what are these? Your family, your faith and your values, taught by this respected University and its roster of distinguished faculty. With love and support of those you hold near and dear, a benevolent and generous God to call on and the 4 years you spent here – you have much more than many of our countrymen.
And so – I would like to end by stressing what I believe in – the importance of a good education (and you already have a head start with your UA&P degree), hard work, grit, humility, ethical living, a passion for sustainability, and real-life learning. Do not let others define what success is, follow your own dream but allow these principles to guide you. Always strive to do the right thing, embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, and contribute positively to the world around you.
I am sure you are wondering what my third wish is. Well, my final wish for you is simple, yet I hope you remember this. I wish that you become the kind of persons who inspire others, not just through your achievements, but through your character and values.
Again, congratulations to the Class of 2024. May your life journey be filled with purpose, passion, and profound impact. The future is bright, and it is yours to shape. Go forth with confidence, and with God’s grace, may you achieve all the great things you aspire for.
Thank you!
Banner photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash.
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