Dr. Ferdinand C. Maquito goes by the nickname “Max”, and a family name that is pronounced with no extension, due to his long stay in Japan. In his previous life, he was a Mechanical Engineer, with a BS degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and was involved in engineering projects in a state-owned shipyard operating in Batangas. Through a series of scholarships, he was able to obtain his MS Industrial Economics from the Center for Research and Communication (now inside the University of Asia and the Pacific), and his PhD in Economics from the University of Tokyo. His research and advocacy focuses on mechanisms for achieving sustainable shared growth, which aspires for three socio-economic goals of efficiency (kahusayan), equity (katarungan), and environmental friendliness (kalikasan), or KKK in short. This was inspired by his study and work in Japan with the Sekiguchi Global Research Association (SGRA) of the Atsumi International Foundation (AISF). Currently, the KKK mechanisms include community currency, land value taxation, decentralization, and Japanese shared growth institutions in Official Development Assistance. Foreign Direct Investment, and Export-Import (international trade).