Developing the country’s future finance leaders takes more than classroom instruction, it requires exposure to real-world challenges, mentorship, and opportunities to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. This vision drives the Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition (ICFC) and the Junior Finance Executive Summit (JFINEX Summit), two flagship initiatives of the FINEX Research and Development Foundation, Inc., through its Junior FINEX Committee in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co., that aim to prepare Filipino students for leadership roles in the finance profession.
Together, these programs demonstrate the FINEX Foundation’s continuing commitment to nurturing the next generation of finance professionals and industry leaders. For more than a decade, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has remained a valued partner and strong advocate in advancing finance education in the Philippines. At the heart of these programs is the goal of bridging the gap between academic learning and the realities of the finance industry—equipping students not only with technical knowledge but also with leadership skills, confidence, and ethical grounding.
A Platform for Future Finance Leaders
Now in its 25th year, the ICFC remains the longest-running finance competition in the Philippines and continues to play an important role in promoting financial literacy and professional excellence among college students. This year’s competition gathered participants from more than 100 universities and colleges nationwide, using a web-based platform developed by NOAH Business Applications. A notable feature of the ICFC was its digitization, achieved in collaboration with NOAH Business Applications, the technology partner for more than a decade, enabling ICFC to conduct the competition faster and simultaneously across the nation.
Students competed in a rigorous quiz bee using a question bank comprising topics covered by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 Curriculum and the Certified Management Accountant Curriculum. The competition covered areas such as corporate finance, investments, financial accounting and reporting, and portfolio management.
Beyond technical mastery, the competition also integrates an ethics component, reflecting FINEX Foundation’s advocacy of developing finance professionals who combine analytical expertise with integrity.
“This shows the level of finance talent nationwide, but more importantly, it highlights the value of preparation—what students learn through the process and the confidence they develop,” said Edmund Alan Qua Hiansen, FINEX Foundation Chairman.
Among this year’s top ICFC winners were De La Salle University, which emerged as champion, followed by University of the Philippines–Diliman as first runner-up and University of the Philippines Visayas–Iloilo as second runner-up.
Learning Beyond the Competition
To further enhance the learning experience, the Top 13 finalist schools of the Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition (ICFC), such as De La Salle University, University of the Philippines-Diliman, University of the Philippines Visayas-Iloilo, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, General de Jesus College, Guagua National Colleges, CSTC – College of Sciences, Technology and Communications, Inc., MAPUA University-Makati, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Batangas State University-ARASOF and Kingfisher School of Business and Finance, were invited to take part in the JFINEX Summit, an initiative that brings together outstanding finance students and foster industry leaders to foster learning, mentorship, and professional development.
This summit creates opportunities for mentorship, networking, and even potential recruitment. Provides participants with valuable insights into the realities of the finance profession while emphasizing skills that are increasingly important in today’s workplace, such as leadership, communication, and strategic thinking.
Participants had a Museum Tour and a Stock Market 101 session with Andoy Beltran, Stockbroker of First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation during the PSE Exchange Visit, as part of the 2nd JFINEX Summit at the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Insights from Industry Leaders
FINEX President Carlo Enrico Lazatin, President and CEO of DES Financing Corp., underscored the organization’s broader mission of developing finance professionals who will help drive the country’s growth.
“Our theme, Catalyzing Confidence, Leading Capital, Integrity and Innovation for the Nation, is a call for finance professionals to move forward, drive innovation, and contribute to the progress the country needs today,” Lazatin said.
Keynote speaker Eugene Dela Cruz, Junior Analyst at Kearney, shared key industry insights to help finance students prepare for their future careers. In his message, he encouraged participants to pursue excellence with purpose and integrity as they step into the profession.
He says, “You stand at the edge of your future. Be ambitious, be excellent—but above all, be deliberate about the world your excellence builds. Capital may move markets, but character moves generations. The future of finance will not only be written in spreadsheets; it will be written in the lives that are different because you are here.”
Joweehlyn Liao, Overall Chair of the Junior FINEX Committee and Finance Director of Watsons Philippines, gave some of her insights on navigating a career in finance as well as moderating a panel discussion with Eugene.
Highlighting the summit’s theme of growth, the panel discussion explored the most significant moments in Eugene’s career. Through an engaging dialogue with JFINEX Chair Joweehlyn Liao, attendees gained a closer look at the “small wins” and daily discipline that ultimately led Eugene to his dream role at Kearney.
JFINEX Chair Joweehlyn Liao says, “Failure is not the end of the world; it can be a catalyst for something new and an opportunity to discover different paths.” To which led her to ask Eugene on how he was able to deal with pressure.
Eugene replies, “I can only imagine that you feel like there’s just so much failure ahead. And winning, no matter how small it is, you take it any day. One of the biggest lessons turning into a bigger opportunity. I think my life story is in itself. I treated it as a failure, but now, looking at it, and now that I am in a position where I can retrospectively reflect on my experiences, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, although it might be cliche, without my past experiences.”
A panel discussion followed with senior executives and industry leaders, including Paolo Antonio Azurin, President & CEO of CLSA Exchange Capital, Inc.; John Balce, Senior Managing Director of FTI Consulting Philippines, Inc., and Chairman & President of CFA Society Philippines; Mharicar C. Castillo-Reyes, President & CEO of Asticom Technology, Inc.; and Atty. Roel A. Refran, EVP & COO of the Philippine Stock Exchange.\
Each panelist shared valuable lessons from their professional journeys, inspiring the participants with their unique perspectives on success, career progression, leadership, and encouraging the students to pursue their goals with purpose, resilience, and integrity.
Investing in the Future of the Profession
For the FINEX Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co., initiatives such as the ICFC and the JFINEX Summit represent more than academic activities—they are part of a broader effort to cultivate the next generation of ethical, capable, and forward-thinking finance leaders.
By connecting students with industry practitioners, exposing them to real-world financial environments, and encouraging excellence in both competence and character, FINEX and JPMorgan Chase & Co. continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of the Philippine finance profession.
The 25th ICFC was supported by its partners: NOAH Business Applications as Technology Partner, CFA Society Philippines, IMA Philippines and PwC Philippines/Isla Lipana & Co. as Knowledge Partners, and FTI Consulting Philippines, Inc., and K-Cat, Inc., as minor sponsors.
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