Page 64 - The Flame

Faces

RANCISCO Ed Lim initially thought hard work eventually paid off and PSE
that becoming a priest was his call- reached one of its highest points during
Fing, but when fate took its turn and his term.
had its joking way of redefining his life, He also served as Director of the
he later on found himself establishing a PSE; President & CEO of the Securities
career in the field of law and business. Clearing Corporation of the Philippines
As a member of the Philippine and (SCCP); Chairman of the Philippine Stock
New York state bar and a senior partner Exchange Foundation, Inc., (PSEFI) and
in a prestigious law firm, Lim found his Capital Market Development Center,
real passion and niche. Inc. (CMDCI); Director of the Philippine
Dealing & Exchange Corporation (PDEx);
Unpredictable twist Trustee of the Securities Investors Pro-
Recalling his childhood days, Lim did tection Fund (SIPF); and member of
not really intend to become a lawyer. He Capital Market Development Council
entered the Faculty of Arts and Letters (CMDC).
(Artlets) pursuing a degree in Philosophy Lim added that the choice one makes

“Law is an art. It has a story to say. It changes

but the philosophy remains the same...
If you improve the justice system,
it will go a long way in improving
the lives of the people,”

- Lawyer Francisco Ed Lim

in hopes of becoming a priest someday. defines him in the long run. In the same
However, his stint at the seminary belief, he noted that corruption and dis-
was short-lived as he decided to quit honesty may be rampant in his field, but
early on. When asked why he did not one can choose to veer away from doing
pursue it, he simply said, “many are illicit acts by following what is right.
called but few are chosen.” “You can distinguish yourself from
In 1975, he graduated magna cum the rest,” he said. “You can practice it in
laude in Bachelor of Philosophy. He also a grand way, being legally creative within
graduated cum laude in Bachelor of Arts. the bounds of the law. It is always your
Being the first in the family to ven- choice.”
ture into law, Lim narrated that his as- A lawyer for more than 30 years now,
pirations to become a lawyer started Lim realized that in a profession where
when he met a great attorney when he enemies are easily gained, taking risks
was young. are necessary to gain the needed results.
According to Lim, the lawyer who in- “You have to train yourself in every
spired him was hired by his father due to step of the way so that when you go out
a land dispute in Cagayan Valley. Even- to the real world, you are prepared,”
tually, Lim found himself emulating the he said. “If you do this well, you will be
acts of the lawyer. ready to face the risks that you will en-
He never stopped learning since counter in real life.”
then. He entered the Ateneo de Manila Despite the negative things hounding
University to pursue law and later on our justice system, Lim believes that law Francisco Ed Lim
took a scholarship grant from the An- remains as a beautiful profession—rest
gara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz assured it is practiced well. A man of business and law
Law Offices (ACCRA) where he currently “Law is an art. It has a story to say. It
works as a senior partner. He took his is not static. It changes but the philoso-
post-graduate studies at the University phy remains the same,” he said.
of Pennsylvania. “If you improve the justice system, it
will go a long way in improving the lives “The formula for success is quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success.
Getting things done of the people,” Lim said. But it is not at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can.
As he became the longest serving Because remember that is where you will find success.” - Thomas J. Watson
president of the Philippine Stock Ex- Lessons from the seminary
change (PSE) from 2004 to 2010, he Having gained lessons from the semi-
initiated projects that included the pas- nary, Lim said that faith occupies a big
sage of capital-market related laws that role in his life and profession. One of the are presently doing because there is
aimed to boost the stock exchange. lessons he will never forget is living a time for everything,” he said.
With a job mantra that says, “If things balanced life, he said. In everything that he does, Lim treats
should be done, it can be done,” his “You should get focused to what you his role as a father to his four children

64 | FLAME