FPH-First Gen president and COO Giles Puno (standing, center), HR head Bunny Gerochi (standing, extreme right) and roundtable moderator Ayesha Volpane (standing, extreme left) engaged this newbies batch for several hours of fun and learningFor two years now, unbeknownst to many, First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH)-First Gen Corporation president and COO Giles Puno has been hosting a virtual welcome for FPH and First Gen new hires. The two-hour-long quarterly “Roundtable with Giles” sessions were favorably rated by newbies fortheir spontaneity, authenticity and fun.

In March, the roundtable shifted from virtual to in-person at Boardroom 1 of Rockwell Business Center—much to the surprise of the newbies! While they got a taste of what it’s like to be “on deck” in the company’s most formal physical setup, jitters and all, this was easily allayed by the warmth and welcome they received from their host.
The roundtable session started with Puno’s chosen topic for sharing. He then led a Q&A where he got to ask the questions first. Topics ranged from “Why First Gen?” to unique hobbies, skills and passions. The session peaked towards the end as newbies got to ask the president anything!
A group photo caps every roundtable to make sure that this moment is captured for the newbies and for Puno. After all, in FPH-First Gen, getting to know, learning from and being inspired by the people who are with us on the journey to our vision is something we relish and treasure.
Some feedback from the newbies about the roundtable: “It’s free-flowing and very engaging. The moderator did an excellent job facilitating the session,” said Biana Livy Hui, strategy and planning analyst.
Maria Angelica Legaspi, power marketing analyst, shared: “I feel like I knew the company better after hearing not only Giles’ inputs but also the other newbies’ experiences in the company.”
We look forward to more roundtable sessions in person!
(Story/Photos by: Christine Matriano)