Your network is your assets

There is a popular saying: “Your network is your net assets.” It is a simple truth that reminds us of how relationships often influence our success as much as skills and registration information. And this goes beyond professional progress and financial profit.

Strong, trustworthy relationships of the personal and professional-open doors to new possibilities, contribute to financial security, offer us a greater perspective that stimulates better decision-making and provides support during life transitions.

After we have completed the college, we start our journey in the “real world” and concentrate on our personal goals – build a career, raise families, manage finance, etc. All of these inquiries, energy and resources, and often gave little time for communities where we were once. This was the most common reason why I received from those who rejected my invitation to participate in the alumni association, which we founded in 2023. “Employed Ako E!” Fortunately, I only received some of this answer.

At some point in August 2023 I was invited, the graduates of the Alumni Association of Economics by Dr. To support Nandy Aldaba, the former Dean and Professor of Economics at the School of Social Sciences from Atteneo de Manila University (ADMU). He wrote the foreword of “FQ Book 2: Why financial education does not work with the psychology of money alone”. When we dealt with the graduates of economics, I was thrilled to find out that I was in good company. Among them are:

• Two president of the country: Noynoy Aquino (1981), Gloria Macapagal -orroyo (MA 1978)
• A President of ADMU: Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ (1980)
• Two governors of the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas: Say Tetangco Jr. (1973), Eli Remolona (1972)
• A top judge of the Supreme Court: Maria Lourdes Serreno (1980)
• Three associated judges: Antonio Carpio (1970), Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa (1980), Midas Marquez (1987)
• Cabinet secretaries: Sonny Domingo (1965), Roberto de Ocampo (1967), Bertie Lim (1970), Art Yap (1987)
• Iconic musician: Ramon “RJ” Jacinto (1965), Jose Mari Chan (1967), Boboy Garovillo (1973)
• CEOS/CFOS/Captains of Industries: Manny Pangilinan (1966), Tony Boy Cojuangco (1972), Tony Meloto (1971), Francis Sebastian (1975), Bern Siy (1980) and many more that they do not fit into one article!

We have come up with a name for the union that is easier to say than the acronym of the Ateneo Economics Association (too many vowels without consonants ensure a tongue). I am proud to say that my Batch developed the name in 1985, which can easily remember and pronounce with a good underlying meaning: Sage – Samahan Ng Mga Atenistang Graduate NG Economics. In the official name we added “at Management Economics”, the program that was introduced in the mid -1980s. In addition to the aromatic herb, Sage also means a mature or venerable person with solid judgment, which everyone would like to be.

Last Saturday, together with the new Board of Directors, I had our Eiders from Father Dr. led. Bobby Yap, SJ

Founding President Goody Hernandez (left) hands over the leadership to the author (right) as President of the Sage President in 2025 with P. Bobby Yap, SJ (center) as a witness.

I would like to share my short approach during our ceremony:

Good morning.

Thank you for the warm welcome and for the representation of this role. No white smoke was released, but just like in the conclusion, I am here – chosen in a meeting of wise elder. Fortunately, in the Vatican we did not have to be locked up in a chapel without WLAN until a decision was made. All that was necessary was the nudge and promise to support Nandy & Goody.

It is really an honor, as the new president of Sage, an alumni association who probably act with the highest number of graduates who became the captains of industries and government in our country: 2 presidents of the Philippines, 1 President of ADMU, 2 governors of BSP, 1 Supreme Court, 3 associated justice, some of the number of, some of president, a large number of Presiden, and a large number of us.

Really something you can be proud of. And it could be a good wise project to commemorate the Ateneo community of the fame of the Ateneo School of Economics, a common dream with Nandy, which is actually a Me -graduate.

As graduates of Ateneo, we have a common language – one that includes supply and demand, incentives and the occasional debate about economic policy such as the Trump tariffs, a memory that even global markets like a toddler can behave – unpredictable drama. This makes communities like Sage even more important. Perhaps we can help to understand all of this – whether through political dialogues, mentoring or just a good laugh about broken economic models.

As your president, I hope to say about a relevant and entertaining organization. I count on the help of each one of them, to bring our alumni together – not only to remember College days, but also to connect and return themselves to generations.

Thank you again for your trust. Let us make this term fruitful, impressive and just the right amount of nerdy.

Maraming Salamat Po.

This was followed by a board meeting, in which we excitingly and discouraging for me about our short-term and long-term plans, but I remain hopeful.

If you are invited to participate by your own alumni organizations, it can serve you to accept it even though you are busy with life. If you are waiting for the time you are not busy, this can never come. In the meantime, you will miss the opportunity to help and help from your network. Remember, permanent success and fulfillment cannot be built up alone.

Announcements:

1. Call all graduates of the Economics and Management Economics of the Atteneo de Manila University: We will have our annual return on November 29, 2025, Saturday, 11 a.m. in the Septon Hall. Please mark your calendar. For inquiries, you can send your stacking representative a message or give me an e -mail to an e -mail to an e -mail [email protected] With subject “sage”.

2. Do you know where you are now on your FQ trip? Take the FQ test and click here.

3. Get your copy of the FQ books to start your FQ trip now. Click here.

This article is also published in FQMOM.com.