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GIVING
special feature
INSIGHTS
COVER STORY
SPOTLIGHT
SHOWC ASE
CL ASS NOTES
FAIM
A History of AIM Alumni Solidarity by Sherbet Katigbak-Manalili, BMP 2005
involved—that was our battle-cry,” shares Mr. Fernandez. Mr. Fernandez was elected as the first FAIM chairman during the first meeting of FAIM at AIM in 1978, his last year as AAAIM chairman. Under his leadership, the AIM Alumni Achievement Award or the Triple A was established as the first regional activity of FAIM to mark the 10th anniversary of AIM. The Triple A Award is the highest recognition given by the Asian IN 1978, AN ACTIVE GROUP OF ALUMNI Institute of Management to its outstanding headed by then AIM Alumni Association alumni. To date, a total of 116 alumni have (AAAIM) Chairman Mr. Jose Maria J. been awarded the Triple A. The first alumni Fernandez, MBM 1973, instituted the newsletter was published during Fernandez’s Federation of Asian Institute of Management term. From 1988 onwards, FAIM co-published Alumni Associations, Incorporated or The Asian Manager, the predecessor of what FAIM. In the Asian Management Forum is now the AIM Leader Magazine. FAIM also in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March 1978, worked closely in organizing the annual alumni leaders from the region got together International Management Conference and organized what eventually became (IMC). The IMC, which was a public event, FAIM. The need for the Federation was was hosted by different alumni associations first perceived when a number of alumni in their respective countries every year. associations formed outside the Philippines began to increase significantly in the Vision mid-70’s. “It was obvious that as I traveled FAIM envisions a life-long partnership around the region that a federal form of between AIM and the alumni alumni association would be needed to in pursuing management excellence coordinate the different alumni chapters in their respective countries. being set up. Peng Khoon “PK” Yeap (MDP 1973), Johari bin Hassan (MBM 1973), Mission Teerachai Chemnasiri (MBM 1973), Pithi FAIM is engaged in managing systems Siti Amnui (MDP 1973), Derek Liew (MBM that are supportive of alumni 1973), Antonio “Butch” Valdes (MM 1977), chapter initiatives as they respond and a few others helped out in the formation to AIM and alumni needs. of FAIM. We convinced friends on the need for FAIM, an organization that could help coordinate the needs and aspirations of Pushing the alumni into the forefront of the alumni from the region, while allowing the school and deviating from the “facultyfor autonomy. Other schools like Harvard led formula to a more eclectic, multi-public depended on the alumni for both support and and multi-sectoral community with the direction. We wanted AIM alumni to be more alumni playing a key role”, according to
Mr. Fernandez, has been FAIM’s greatest achievement in its 20 years of existence. In October 2007, FAIM was given a seat in the AIM Board of Trustees. “We fought for greater representation in the Board of Trustees and Governors. We tried to make people aware that the alumni have much to contribute to the school—something that is very obvious today. It is only lately that we were allowed to vote,” Mr. Fernandez says. Fernandez