Few in business and government can equal the achievements of former Secretary Jose T. Pardo who has been an outstanding leader in both sectors. He has had the best of both worlds in an illustrious career spanning a lifetime. He had held two cabinet portfolios as the Secretary of Finance and Secretary of Trade and Industry, two of the most sensitive positions in our government where only the best and the brightest are appointed.
He has served as chairman and member of the boards of top corporations across a wide range of industries such as the Philippine Stock Exchange, Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines, Philippine Savings Bank, Bank of Commerce, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Radio Veritas, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and many other leading institutions. Up to now, even in his senior years when many of his contemporaries are already enjoying the sunset, Secretary Titoy, as his friends fondly call him, remains an active leader in business. His deep knowledge of the corporate world and statecraft is a reservoir of valuable information that any enterprise will profit from. He possesses a wealth of experience, which only a handful living Filipinos can boast of. No wonder that his counsel is much sought after by private business and government bureaucrats who are comforted and secured by his prudent advice. He’s a certified consigliere whose words are trusted by prominent leaders in business and government.
On April 24 (this coming Sunday), Secretary Titoy will turn 83. But it seems that his advanced age has not slowed him down. He’s still on top of his game and chairs the boards of many progressive companies where his ample talents and skills are put to good use and highly valued.
In 1982, after leaving Bancom, he decided to start his own business. He co-founded the Philippine Seven Corporation, together with his brother-in-law, Senator Vicente T. Paterno, and became the licensee of 7-Eleven, USA in the Philippines. His elder sister, Paz, was married to Ting Paterno. Secretary Pardo was 7-Eleven’s first president when Senator Paterno, who was its Chairman and Managing Director, left the company to rejoin the government. About the same time, Secretary Pardo was negotiating for the master franchise of Wendy’s, a top hamburger chain in the US, which he also succeeded in getting. To this day, Secretary Titoy serves as the Chairman of the Philippine 7-Eleven.
Without doubt, he’s a successful entrepreneur in his own right. He’s an optimist whose leadership style has always been anchored on positive thinking. He believes that “the difficult things take a while to solve; the impossible, just a while longer.” Failure is anathema to him. According to his longtime Chief of Staff, Cel Amores, “when things seem to be going the wrong way, Secretary Titoy thinks of an innovative way to achieve a win-win solution for all.” He added that Secretary Titoy “looks at the forest, not the trees.” When confronted with difficult decisions, Cel Amores said that Secretary Titoy removes himself from the problem and takes that ride aboard his mental helicopter and flies high, examines the terrain below before descending to the nitty gritty to tackle the issue.
My colleague at the Social Security Commission, Commissioner Dianne Pardo-Aguilar, his daughter, narrated to me that Secretary Titoy’s father died when he was 7 years old. This could be the reason, she explained, why his father became independent-minded and caring to others, especially those who have less in life. His mother taught him, by example, that a man should not live for oneself alone but for others who can live better lives if given a hand. And this has been his article of faith: “Give people the right opportunity to make something out for themselves.”
Two of his endearing qualities are genuine friendship and loyalty. He never abandoned President Erap in the waning days of Erap’s presidency. Despite the political turbulence raging at that time, Finance Secretary Titoy held fast to his pledge to keep the economic ship afloat and protect the integrity of the institutions. Cel Amores claims that President Erap is like the Secretary’s brother. They may have differences in opinions but keep each other in high regard and mutual respect. Secretary Titoy’s nurturing nature and steadfast support to a friend have enabled them to sustain their brotherhood even as they have gone on separate ways in and out of government over the years.
Secretary Titoy is blessed with a family that is fully supportive of his endeavors. According to Diane, “Marilyn, his wife, is his biggest fan and the wind beneath his wings.” If all his children are accomplished and successful, they owe it to his challenging question that he posed to them as they woke up each morning: “Are you all going to be consumers or producers in society today?” What a tough question but no doubt it had tested their resolve to become relevant and contributing members of our society.
Among his many advocacies, education is closest to his heart. Secretary Titoy believes that “education has a great multiplier effect on society.” He finds time to further this cause and has worked closely with the Assumption sisters and the La Salle brothers for decades.
The store logo of Philippine 7-Eleven is “the neighbor you can trust.” As its founders have explained, their convenience stores “have clean hearts, transparency in transactions, cheerful employees and satisfied customers.” Their cardinal rule is that the employees must be paid on time no matter what the financial position of the company. Their employees are their first priority. Recently, the top executives of 7-Eleven, including its president and chief executive officer, Jose Victor Pardo Paterno (Secretary Titoy’s nephew), have slashed their bonuses for 2021 by 91 percent due to the company’s poor performance last year, a result of low customer traffic caused by the pandemic. 7-Eleven’ business practices and dealings with their workers mirror Secretary Titoy’s personal commitment to good corporate governance and benevolent treatment of employees. He is a neighbor and a friend you can trust. Under his leadership, 7-Eleven will be back in business in no time at all with the lifting of the lockdown and restrictions to arrest the pandemic.
Last year, on his 82nd birthday anniversary, his alma mater, De La Salle University unveiled the Jose T. Pardo AFSC Hall to honor one its most outstanding alumni. He’s a Green Archer through and through having completed his grade school, high school, BSC Accounting degree and MBA degree at De La Salle. He continues to exemplify De La Salle’s core values and principles that define his identity: the spirit of faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission. His personal mantra is: “Find a need and fill it.” Thus, as his chief of staff has observed, Secretary Titoy enjoys dealing with every trying situation that allows understanding to flourish, as he is a visionary who is one step ahead of his game.”
Happy birthday, Secretary Titoy!