As part of our series of exclusive gatekeeper interviews, FSA speaks with Ma. Cristina Gabaldon, head, investment management division at Metrobank Trust Banking Group.

Gabs has nearly two decades of market experience and is currently the head of the investment management division of Metrobank Trust.

She started her career in Unionbank of the Philippines as a portfolio manager and eventually CIO. She then moved to Bank of the Philippine Islands as senior equities portfolio manager and next as head of equities of Sun Life of Canada Philippines.

Gabs previously served as a Board of Trustee of CFA Philippines and is currently part of the Board of Senior Advisor of Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP), formerly as President in 2023-2024, Board of Trustee for the Market Committee in 2025.

She graduated from De La Salle University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Applied Economics. Gabs is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

What attracted you to the wealth management industry?

What drew me to wealth management was its unique blend of finance, strategy, and personal journey. Growing up, I was always exposed to financial markets with my father as a stockbroker. Wealth management principles like looking at risk and return, asset allocation, and disciplined investing resonate with me. As I plan for my eventual retirement, I understand firsthand the importance of disciplined investing, long-term planning, and making informed financial decisions. This perspective helps me connect more deeply with clients as we work together to build and preserve wealth for the future.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

One of the highlights of my career has been managing client portfolios across various market cycles, including periods of significant volatility. I take particular pride in helping build an investment process and framework that is disciplined, research and portfolio manager-driven, and capable of producing repeatable results over the long term. Consistently delivering strong investment performance while building and leading high-performing teams has enabled me to progress through the ranks and succeed in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Beyond my corporate responsibilities, I have also had the privilege of serving as President and Board of Trustee- Market Committee of the Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP). Through these roles, I have been able to contribute to industry development, support market reforms, and advocate for initiatives that strengthen investor confidence and promote fair market practices. Being part of efforts that help protect minority investors and enhance the integrity of the capital markets has been particularly meaningful to me, as these initiatives create lasting benefits not just for our clients, but for the broader investing public. Now, I am part of FMAP’s Board of Senior Advisors and continue to guide and participate in the initiatives of the current Board of Trustees.

What lessons have you learned from your work?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in asset management is that enduring success comes from a repeatable process, not from occasional investment wins. While markets will always be unpredictable, a disciplined framework grounded in rigorous research, risk management, and continuous improvement creates the conditions for generating consistent and replicable alpha over time.

Equally important are the lessons I have learned about leadership and team management. Strong investment outcomes are rarely the result of individual effort alone. They come from building diverse, collaborative teams that challenge ideas, embrace accountability, and remain committed to continuous learning. Over the years, I have learned that empowering people, developing future leaders, and fostering a culture of trust and excellence are just as important as making sound investment decisions.

What strategies are you recommending to your clients?

In today’s increasingly complex and fast-moving markets, one of the key solutions I recommend is Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPM). DPM allows clients to benefit from professional portfolio management, where investment decisions are made proactively and efficiently based on an agreed mandate, risk profile, and investment objectives. This enables timely execution, disciplined portfolio construction, and continuous monitoring without clients having to make day-to-day investment decisions themselves.

A core component of our approach is diversification, particularly through global exposure. By investing across different geographies, asset classes, and sectors, clients can access a broader opportunity set while reducing concentration risk in any single market. Global diversification has become increasingly important as investment opportunities and risks are no longer confined to domestic markets.

For clients with income requirements, we also recommend allocating to income-generating investments such as high-quality fixed income securities and income-focused funds. These solutions can provide a more predictable stream of cash flows while continuing to support long-term capital preservation and growth objectives.

Ultimately, DPM combines professional expertise, disciplined execution, diversification, and ongoing portfolio oversight, allowing clients to stay focused on their long-term financial goals while adapting to changing market conditions.

What types of funds have you onboarded recently?

We continually enhance our investment universe by onboarding funds that are best in class and provide greater diversification, income opportunities, and access to long-term growth trends. Recently, we have expanded our offerings to include global thematic ETFs and mutual funds focused on compelling structural themes such as low-duration fixed-income strategies, data centres, and digital infrastructure, which we believe are well-positioned to benefit from macroeconomic and evolving technological developments.

Our objective is to provide clients, whether discretionary or directional, with a well-curated suite of investment solutions that address different market environments, risk profiles, and financial goals, while ensuring they have access to both global opportunities and professionally managed investments.

What keeps you awake at night?

As an investment professional, it is not the day-to-day market fluctuations that keep me awake, but the possibility of unexpected market events and whether we are sufficiently prepared to navigate them. My primary concern is ensuring that our portfolios remain resilient and that we continue to deliver value to our clients across different market environments.

I admit that checking the markets before bedtime has become a habit, especially knowing that significant developments often unfold after local trading hours. While overnight events can create risks, they can also present opportunities. The challenge is that we do not always have the ability to react immediately so making preparation, disciplined portfolio construction, and scenario planning even more critical.

Ultimately, what keeps me awake is the responsibility of being ready for what we cannot predict, while remaining positioned to capture opportunities when they arise.