The SERDEF announced yesterday the passing away of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Francisco R. Floro, on January 11. He was 81.
Mr. Floro chaired the SERDEF from 1986 up to the present.
It may be said that he devoted a big chunk of his life to entrepreneurship and small enterprise development.
A true blue entrepreneur in his own right, having parlayed the family-owned Floro Blue Printing to expansion and diversification, Mr. Floro held leadership positions in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), where he served as vice president for SME development from 2000-2003.
At the time of his death, he was PCCI’s vice president for internal affairs and Chairman of the Advocate for Sustainable Enterprises, Networking and Socio-Economic Opportunities (ASENSO Foundation), Inc.
In the past, he served as vice chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (SMED), president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), president of the Financial Executives Institute (FINEX), and founding chairman of the Advertising Board of the Philippines (ADBOARD).
Mr. Floro earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts and his master’s in business administration from the Stanford University, California.
Dr. Paterno V. Viloria, SERDEF president, paid tribute to him, saying: “Pacquing Floro personified the qualities and values of entrepreneurship and leadership which the Foundation is committed to foster. We will honor his memory by continuing the entrepeneurship advocacy he loved so much.”
Mr. Floro’s body lies at the Loyola Memorial Chapels, Guadalupe, Makati City. Cremation will be on on February 17 at the Loyola Crematorium.