From Scholar to Nation-Builder: Paying It Forward
For Grant Cheng, being a Lasallian was never just about earning a degree—it was about becoming the kind of person worthy of the opportunity he was given.
As part of the inaugural batch of Star Scholars under the Manufacturing Engineering & Management program, Grant entered De La Salle University with a deep sense of responsibility. “I was always aware of how I needed to live up to the ideals of the scholarship, to show the debt of gratitude, or utang na loob, that I was the right choice,” he recalls. “I never stopped striving to be worthy of that honor and gift.”
That gift led to a college experience that would transform his life. Grant embraced every opportunity to grow—from leading his course organization (SME) and competing with the DLSU Debate Team, to representing the University in international student leadership delegations and pursuing a year-long exchange at the National University of Singapore. “I would say I had a very well-rounded education and experience,” he reflects. “I learned basic machining, programming, simple circuitry, and the basics of business and management from my formal education. But just as importantly, I met my wife in DLSU—we were in the same course.”
Grant graduated magna cum laude in 2004 and received the Brother Gabriel Connon Award, given to students with a strong Christian character and outstanding accomplishment in the fields of academics, leadership, and community service. He was also recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines, an honor awarded by the President of the Republic. Later, he earned a Master’s degree in Wealth Management with distinction from the Singapore Management University, also on a full-ride scholarship.
The values he developed during those formative years continue to guide him today. “Values are the bedrock of your decisions and who you are,” Grant shares. “And in one’s professional life and career, the values of character, integrity, and perseverance have always served me well.”
These values were tested in 2008 when Cheng was laid off from his job in Singapore during the global financial crisis. “It was a complete shock… It taught me that individual performance and merit are sometimes not enough to ensure stability. Life can be unfair,” he admits. But resilience, a core Lasallian trait, helped him rise again. “By staying true to your values and being willing to adapt, you will find opportunities to thrive… and serve as a springboard for a strong bounceback.”
Today, Cheng is the Chief Financial Officer of Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI), where he has helped raise over ₱40 billion in capital, doubled the company’s customer base, and driven consistent 20% annual growth—even through the pandemic. For this, he was named the 2022 ING-FINEX CFO of the Year, becoming the youngest to ever receive the distinction. His career spans leadership roles in investment and private banking at BDO Capital, EFG Bank, Commerzbank AG, and Citi, after beginning his professional journey as a project manager at Procter & Gamble Asia.
True to his Lasallian formation, Grant remains deeply committed to giving back. He actively supports civic and professional organizations such as the Saint Jude Catholic School Alumni Association, the Financial Executives of the Philippines, and CFA Philippines. “These communities helped shape who I am,” he shares. “I’m simply returning the favor.”
His guiding principle is simple but powerful: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is true from the smallest and most mundane of things to your life plans and family.”
To current Lasallian scholars, he offers heartfelt advice: “Being given a scholarship is more than free education. You were chosen to be a vessel of the institution’s values and ideals. Hopefully, this blessing is not only seen as a financial gift, but also as a call to be a role model… One day, you’ll have the chance to pay it forward and sustain this virtuous cycle.”
From being a full scholar to a nationally awarded CFO, Grant Cheng’s journey is a testament to how a Lasallian education can shape not just careers but lives committed to excellence, service, and impact.
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