Never gonna give you up: Del Rosario keeps up the fight for Phinma stocks

Ramon del Rosario Jr., the tycoon and chairman and CEO of Phinma Corp., is determined to keep fighting for his company and the country. Despite the challenges faced by Phinma, including a weak stock price and economic headwinds, Del Rosario remains optimistic. He acknowledges that the idea of delisting the company's stocks from the Philippine Stock Exchange has been discussed, but the weak trading and low valuation of the stock have so far prevented any decision from being made.

Del Rosario emphasizes that the company's strong presence in construction materials, property development, and education, among other sectors, has given them the opportunity to contribute to economic growth and create jobs. As the 82-year-old leader of the 70-year-old conglomerate, Del Rosario believes it is their responsibility to strive for a brighter future.

He acknowledges the various challenges facing the country, such as a weak peso, soaring inflation, and high interest rates, as well as political uncertainty. Despite these obstacles, Del Rosario stresses the importance of staying hopeful and optimistic, as giving up is not an option. He emphasizes his commitment to education, noting that it has been a defining moment for Phinma and has grown into the largest educational institution in Southeast Asia, serving around 193,000 students across 14 schools in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Del Rosario also credits the entry of KKR, a global private equity firm, into Phinma Education as a further affirmation of their business model. He believes that the business community, particularly through its resources and talent, has a crucial role to play in addressing the country's key issues.