I am delighted to have been invited to participate in this year's conference, the theme of which is “Continentalism: What's in It for Us?” True to form, here again is a topic that is thought-provoking and, some might say, provocative!
Let us acknowledge them with a well-deserved round of applause. In particular, we commend ABROI under the leadership of its president Carmelita Araneta and its 11 member banks, in alphabetical order: Allied Bank, Asia United Bank, Banco de Oro, Bank of Philippine Islands, China Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Metrobank, Philippine National Bank, RCBC and Union Bank.