Jesli Lapus

Jesli A. Lapus
Secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
In office March 15, 2010 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Peter Favila
Succeeded by	Gregory Domingo
Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education
In office October 4, 2006 – March 15, 2010
President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Fe Hidalgo
Succeeded by	Mona Valisno
Representative of 3rd District of Tarlac
In office June 30, 1998 – October 4, 2006
Preceded by	Herminio Aquino
Succeeded by	Jeci Lapus
Undersecretary of Department of Agrarian Reform
In office June 30, 1987 – September 9, 1989
Personal details
Born	Jesus A. Lapus, Jr. (1949-09-12) September 12, 1949 Tarlac City, Philippines
Spouse	Teresita Crisostomo-Lapus
Relations	Jesus R. Lapus, Sr. (father) Estrella S. Aquino (mother)
Alma mater	Saint Louis University
Profession	Academic

Jesli Lapus is former Congressman of Tarlac, former Secretary of Education and nephew of President Benigno Aquino III.

Early life and education

Jesli Aquino Lapus was born on September 12, 1949 in Tarlac City. He attended the Little Flower Academy (Holy Spirit Academy) in Tarlac for his elementary and secondary education. In 1969, he earned a BS in accountancy from the St. Louis University in Baguio City, finishing college in three years and subsequently passing the accountancy board exams. He further honed his management skills by enrolling in the Masters in Business Management (MBM) program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and graduating in 1973. In 1998, Lapus was conferred a doctorate in public administration (honoris causa) by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Lapus also attended several post-graduate studies, excelling each time in the following fields:

• Investment Appraisals and Management – Harvard University, United States of America (USA)
• Management of Transfer of Technology – INSEAD, France
• Project Management – BITS, Sweden
• Personal Financial Planning – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA

Personal life

He is married by Teresita Crisostomo, former member, Board of Censors of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

Career

Private sector

The management career of Lapus started at a very young age. This earned for him the title, “Management Whiz Kid in the ASEAN,” given by Asian Finance international magazine. At 20, he worked as an auditor and consultant at SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.). He then became the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Ramcar Group of Companies at age 23, and helped propel Ramcar to become the country's undisputed leader in the battery industry. From 1979 to 1986, Lapus worked as managing director and chief operating officer (COO) of Triumph International (Philippines), Inc. He also worked in the banking sector, serving as director of Union Bank of the Philippines from 1988 to 1992.

Lapus also shared his management expertise in the academe. He was among the original core faculty members of AIM's Masters in Development Management program and has taught at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Maryknoll College (now Miriam College). He has also conducted executive training courses in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Executive branch of government

Lapus' expertise did not go unnoticed by two former presidents. From 1987 to 1989, he served as undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Fund and the Support Services Sector of DAR.

During the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, Lapus served as president, chief executive officer (CEO), and vice chairman of the board of directors of Land Bank of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. Under his leadership, the bank rose to become the 3rd biggest in the banking industry and the best performing government financial institution (GFI).

Career history

• Auditor and consultant of Sycip, Gorres and Velayo (1969–1973)
• Vice president and chief finance officer of RAMCAR Inc. Group of Companies (1973–1979)
• Managing director and chief operating officer of Triumph International Philippines (1979–1986)
• Agrarian reform undersecretary of Department of Agrarian Reform (1987–1989)
• Director of Union Bank of the Philippines (1988–1992)
• President and chief executive officer of Pacific Products Inc. (1990–1992)
• President of Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (1994–1995)
• President, chief executive officer, and vice chairman of the board of directors of Land Bank of the Philippines (1992–1998)
• Representative, 3rd district, Tarlac (1998–2007)

Congressman (1998–2007)

Committee memberships

• Accounts: Vice Chairperson (Journal #4)
• Housing and Urban Development: Vice Chairperson (Journal #8)
• Restoration: Vice Chairperson
• Agrarian Reform: Member for the Majority (Journal #4)
• Banks and Financial Intermediaries: Member for the Majority (Journal #5)
• Bases Conversion: Member for the Majority (Journal #22)
• Dangerous Drugs: Member for the Majority (Journal #5)
• Energy: Member for the Majority (Journal #12)
• Legislative Franchises: Member for the Majority (Journal #12)
• National Culture Communities: Member for the Majority (Journal #16)

Awards and recognition

The following are some of the awards and recognition given to Lapus in the course of his private and government career:

• Triple A Award for outstanding achievements in the practice of Management (the highest AIM alumnus award) – given in 1980; was the youngest recipient (at 29 years old) of the award
• Elevated to the Hall of Fame as Outstanding Legislator for five consecutive years (2000–2004) – given by the Makati Graduate School and Congress Magazine
• Conferred the title Datu Bantugan V for invaluable service to Mindanao
• Outstanding Citizen of Pampanga and Tarlac
• Outstanding CPA in the Philippines
• Outstanding Legislator of the Consumers Union of the Philippines