FIRST PHILIPPINE FUND INC
DEF 14A, 1996-09-06
Previous: RALLYS HAMBURGERS INC, 424B3, 1996-09-06
Next: FONIX CORP, S-8, 1996-09-06



<PAGE>   1
 
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1996
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )
 
Filed by the Registrant                       /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  / /
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
Check the appropriate box:
/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule       / /  Confidential For Use of the Commission
     14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12                   Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
</TABLE>
 
                         The First Philippine Fund Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
     /X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or
          14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
 
     / /  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
          14a-6(i)(3).
 
     / /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
          0-11.
 
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (5)  Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     / /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     / /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
          Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
          was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
          statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Filing Party:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Date Filed:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
    was determined.
<PAGE>   2
 
                         THE FIRST PHILIPPINE FUND INC.
                              152 WEST 57TH STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD OCTOBER 31, 1996
 
     The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The First Philippine Fund Inc. (the
"Fund"), a Maryland corporation, will be held at the offices of Clemente
Capital, Inc., 152 West 57th Street, New York, New York, on Thursday, October
31, 1996 at 9:30 A.M., New York time, for the following purposes:
 
     1. To elect four Class III directors to serve for terms expiring on the
        date of the annual meeting of stockholders in 1999.
 
     2. To ratify the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP as the Fund's
        independent accountants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997.
 
     3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
        or any adjournments thereof.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed August 19, 1996 as the record date for the
meeting. Only holders of the Fund's common stock at the close of business on
such date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting or any
adjournments thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.
 
     A copy of the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996
has been previously sent to stockholders.
 
                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
                                          William H. Bohnett
                                          Secretary
 
Dated: September 6, 1996
 
                                   IMPORTANT
 
     UNLESS YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND
SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED FOR
THAT PURPOSE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR
PROMPT RESPONSE WILL ASSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING, THEREBY SAVING YOUR FUND
THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION OF PROXIES.
<PAGE>   3
 
                         THE FIRST PHILIPPINE FUND INC.
                              152 WEST 57TH STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                      FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD OCTOBER 31, 1996
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
     The Board of Directors of The First Philippine Fund Inc. (the "Fund")
solicits the proxies of the holders of the Fund's common stock for use at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Clemente
Capital, Inc., 152 West 57th Street, New York, New York, on Thursday, October
31, 1996 at 9:30 A.M., New York time and at any adjournments thereof.
 
     This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy enclosed herewith were first
mailed to stockholders on September 6, 1996. Any stockholder who executes and
delivers a proxy may revoke it by written communication at any time prior to its
use or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. All properly executed proxies
received in time for the meeting will be voted as specified in the proxy or, if
no specification is made, for each proposal referred to in this Proxy Statement.
 
     The cost of soliciting the proxies will be borne by the Fund. Directors,
officers and regular employees of the Fund may solicit proxies by telephone,
telegram or personal interview. In addition, the Fund has retained the services
of Shareholder Communications Corporation to solicit proxies from stockholders.
The cost of such services is estimated at $5,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
The Fund will, upon request, bear the reasonable expenses of brokers, banks and
their nominees who are holders of record of the Fund's shares of common stock on
the record date, incurred in mailing copies of the Annual Report, this Notice of
Meeting and Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy to the beneficial
owners of the Fund's shares of common stock.
 
     Only holders of issued and outstanding shares of the Fund's common stock of
record at the close of business on August 19, 1996 are entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, the meeting. Each such holder is entitled to one vote per share
of common stock so held on all business of the meeting and any adjournments
thereof. As of the record date, there were 11,225,000 shares of common stock
outstanding.
 
     COPIES OF THE FUND'S ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY
SHAREHOLDER. REPORTS MAY BE ORDERED BY WRITING CLEMENTE CAPITAL, INC., 152 WEST
57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 OR CALLING (800) 937-5449.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors (the "Board") is divided into three classes in
accordance with the Fund's Charter and By-Laws. The class of directors (Class
III) whose term will expire at the 1996 Annual Meeting consists of four current
directors, Lilia C. Clemente, Edgardo B. Espiritu, Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. and
Robert B.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
Oxnam, who are each nominated for election for a term of three years to expire
at the 1999 annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
 
     Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the stock voting at the
meeting. Votes shall be tabulated by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Abstentions do not constitute a vote "for" or "against" a matter and will be
disregarded in determining votes cast on an issue. Broker "non-votes" (i.e.,
proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that such persons have not received
instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares
on a particular matter with respect to which the brokers or nominees do not have
discretionary power) will be treated the same as abstentions.
 
     Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director of the Fund if
elected. In the event that any of such nominees should become unavailable for
election for any presently unforeseen reason, the proxies will be voted for such
person, if any, as shall be designated by the Board to replace any such nominee.
 
     The information set forth below as to the ages and principal occupations of
these nominees and the other members of the Board of Directors, and the number
of shares of common stock of the Fund beneficially owned by them, directly or
indirectly, has been furnished to the Fund by such directors or nominees.
 
                 NOMINEES FOR THREE YEAR TERMS EXPIRING IN 1999
                                  (CLASS III)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     NUMBER AND
                                                                                     PERCENTAGE
                                                                                    (IF OVER 1%)
                                                                                     OF SHARES
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY
                                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION         DIRECTOR        OWNED AS OF
     NAME AND ADDRESS       AGE       DURING PAST FIVE YEARS          SINCE      AUGUST 19, 1996(1)
- --------------------------- ---   ------------------------------  -------------  ------------------
<S>                         <C>   <C>                             <C>            <C>
*Lilia C. Clemente......... 55    President and Chief Executive   October 1989          1,200(3)
152 West 57th Street              Officer of the Fund since
New York, NY 10019                October 1989; Chairman and
                                  Chief Executive Officer of
                                  Clemente Capital, Inc. since
                                  1986; Chairman and Director of
                                  Clemente Global Growth Fund,
                                  Inc.; Director of Philippine
                                  Strategic Investment
                                  (Holdings) Limited.
Edgardo B. Espiritu........ 61    President and Chief Executive   October 1989             --
Ritz Tower                        Officer of Westmont Bank from
Makati, Metro Manila              June 1994 to present; Chairman
Philippines                       of the Board of Western State
                                  Bank from 1992 to present;
                                  Chairman and Chief Executive
                                  Officer of EBE Company, 1992
                                  to present; Chairman of the
                                  Fund from October 1990 to
                                  October 1992; President and
                                  Vice Chairman of Philippine
                                  National Bank from 1986 to May
                                  1992.
</TABLE>
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     NUMBER AND
                                                                                     PERCENTAGE
                                                                                    (IF OVER 1%)
                                                                                     OF SHARES
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY
                                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION         DIRECTOR        OWNED AS OF
     NAME AND ADDRESS       AGE       DURING PAST FIVE YEARS          SINCE      AUGUST 19, 1996(1)
- --------------------------- ---   ------------------------------  -------------  ------------------
<S>                         <C>   <C>                             <C>            <C>
Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J...... 65    President of Fordham            October 1989             --
Fordham University                University since July 1984.
Bronx, NY 10458
Robert B. Oxnam             53    Senior Advisor, Bessemer        October 1989            100
725 Park Avenue                   Securities Corp., November
New York, NY 10111                1992 to present; President of
                                  The Asia Society, a
                                  non-profit, non-political
                                  educational institution, from
                                  1981 to November 1992;
                                  Director of Clemente Global
                                  Growth Fund, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                   MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CONTINUING IN OFFICE
                      DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1997
                                   (CLASS I)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                         <C>   <C>                             <C>            <C>
Adrian C. Cassidy.......... 80    Retired Chief Financial         October 1989          3,400(2)
71 Selby Lane                     Officer of Pacific Telephone &
Atherton, CA 94026                Telegraph; Director of
                                  Clemente Global Growth Fund,
                                  Inc. and Datron Systems, Inc.
                                  (communications company).
*M.A.T. Caparas............ 72    Director, Century Holding       October 1994             --
1266 Lubich Drive                 Corp., Los Angeles,
Mountain View, CA 94040           California, 1992 to present;
                                  Director, Century Bank, 1988
                                  to 1994; Chairman, Philippine
                                  Presidential Commission on
                                  Good Government from 1988 to
                                  1990.
Stephen J. Solarz.......... 56    Member, United States House of  October 1994             --
1120 Bellview Road                Representatives from 1975 to
McLean, VA 22102                  1992; President, Solarz
                                  Associates, an international
                                  consulting firm from 1992 to
                                  present; Chairman, Central
                                  Asian-American Enterprise
                                  Fund; Senior Counselor, Apco
                                  Associates, a public affairs
                                  company; Director of Astrum
                                  International Corp. (a holding
                                  company for luggage, water
                                  conditioning and other
                                  businesses).
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
                   MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CONTINUING IN OFFICE
                      DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1998
                                   (CLASS II)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     NUMBER AND
                                                                                     PERCENTAGE
                                                                                    (IF OVER 1%)
                                                                                     OF SHARES
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY
                                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION         DIRECTOR        OWNED AS OF
     NAME AND ADDRESS       AGE       DURING PAST FIVE YEARS          SINCE      AUGUST 19, 1996(1)
- --------------------------- ---   ------------------------------  -------------  ------------------
<S>                         <C>   <C>                             <C>            <C>
Stephen Bosworth........... 56    Executive Director of The       October 1989          1,200
600 Third Avenue                  Korean Peninsula Energy
12th Floor                        Development Organization since
New York, NY 10016                February 1996; President of
                                  U.S./Japan Foundation from
                                  1988 to January 1996; U.S.
                                  Ambassador to the Philippines
                                  from 1984 to 1987; Adjunct
                                  Professor at Columbia
                                  University from 1990 to
                                  present.
*Leopoldo M. Clemente,      58    Executive Vice President and    October 1989          1,200(3)
Jr.........................       Managing Director of the Fund
152 West 57th Street              since October 1989; President
New York, NY 10019                and Chief Investment Officer
                                  of Clemente Capital, Inc.
                                  since 1987; President and
                                  Director of Clemente Global
                                  Growth Fund, Inc.; Director of
                                  Philippine Strategic In-
                                  vestment (Holdings) Limited.
*Peter Favila.............. 48    Chairman and Director of the    July 1995                --
PNB Financial Building            Fund since July 1995;
Roxas Boulevard                   President of Philippine
Pasay City                        National Bank since July 1995;
Metro Manila                      Chairman and Director of PNB
Philippines                       Investments Limited since July
                                  1995; President, Security Bank
                                  Corporation from 1990 to June
                                  1995.
All Directors and Officers as a Group (14 persons).............................               8,100
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 *  Directors considered to be persons who are "interested persons" (as defined
     in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Fund or of the Fund's
     investment advisers. Peter Favila, M.A.T. Caparas and Mr. and Mrs. Clemente
     are deemed to be interested persons because of their affiliation with the
     Fund's investment adviser, Clemente Capital, Inc., or the Philippine
     Adviser, Philippine National Bank, or because they are officers of the Fund
     or both.
 
(1) The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished
     to the Fund by the directors. Unless otherwise noted, beneficial ownership
     is based on sole voting and investment power.
 
(2) The 3,400 shares attributed to Mr. Cassidy are held in a family trust of
     which he and his wife are co-trustees.
 
(3) Lilia C. Clemente and Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr. are wife and husband. Each
     disclaims beneficial ownership of the other's shares.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
     In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Clemente, William H. Bohnett, Valentin Araneta
and Thomas J. Prapas serve as executive officers of the Fund, as set forth
below. Each of the executive officers serves at the pleasure of the Board.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
    NAME AND ADDRESS       AGE                      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- -------------------------  ---   -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>   <C>
William H. Bohnett.......  48    Secretary of the Fund since October 1989; Partner of
666 Fifth Avenue                 Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (law firm), Counsel to the Fund,
New York, NY 10103               since February 1991.
Valentin Araneta.........  44    Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Fund
PNB Financial Building           since January 1995; Managing Director and a Director of the
Roxas Boulevard                  Philippine Adviser since 1992; currently, Senior Executive
Pasay City                       Vice President of PNB, and other positions within PNB since
Metro Manila                     1980; Managing Director of PNB International Finance Ltd.
Philippines                      since 1988.
Thomas J. Prapas.........  57    Treasurer of the Fund since October 1989; Chief Economist and
152 West 57th Street             Portfolio Manager at Clemente Capital, Inc. since 1986;
New York, NY 10019               Lecturer in Economics at College of Staten Island (City
                                 University of New York) from September 1967 to January 1990.
</TABLE>
 
     The Board held four meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996.
Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board
and of all committees of the Board on which they served. The Board has appointed
an Audit Committee, presently consisting of Messrs. Bosworth, Cassidy and Oxnam,
which met once during the fiscal year. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to
advise the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters
affecting the Fund.
 
     Directors who are not affiliated with Clemente Capital, Inc. (the
"Adviser") or PNB Investments Limited (the "Philippine Adviser") receive an
annual stipend of $8,000 for serving on the Board and its committees, an
additional $500 for each Directors' meeting which they attend and reimbursement
for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their attendance at Directors'
meetings. The Fund does not pay any pension or other benefits to its Directors.
For the year ended June 30, 1996, Directors' fees totaled $58,500. For the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1996, the following table sets forth compensation
received by the Fund's directors from the Fund and Clemente Global Growth Fund,
Inc., a closed-end investment company for which Clemente Capital, Inc. acts as
investment adviser.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM
                                                                                THE FUND AND CLEMENTE
                                                              COMPENSATION       GLOBAL GROWTH FUND,
                     NAME OF DIRECTOR                         FROM THE FUND             INC.
- -----------------------------------------------------------   -------------    -----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>
Peter Favila...............................................      $     0               $     0
Lilia C. Clemente..........................................            0                     0
Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr...................................            0                     0
Stephen Bosworth...........................................       10,000                10,000
M.A.T. Caparas.............................................            0                     0
Adrian C. Cassidy..........................................        9,500                19,500
Edgardo B. Espiritu........................................       10,000                10,000
Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J......................................       10,000                10,000
Robert B. Oxnam............................................        9,500                20,000
Stephen J. Solarz..........................................        9,500                 9,500
</TABLE>
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
     The Adviser, which pays the compensation and certain expenses of its
personnel who serve as Directors and officers of the Fund, receives an
investment advisory fee.
 
     The Philippine Adviser, which pays the compensation and certain expenses of
its personnel who serve as Directors and as officers of the Fund, receives an
investment advisory fee from the Adviser.
 
     Philippine National Bank ("PNB"), which acts as trustee of a trust fund
arrangement under which certain of the Fund's assets are held in the
Philippines, and which pays the compensation and certain expenses of its
personnel who serve as Directors and as officers of the Fund, receives a monthly
fee of .15% (on an annualized basis) of the Fund's average weekly net assets
held in the trust, subject to a $150,000 minimum fee per year, for
administration of the trust fund arrangement, including portfolio accounting and
valuation services.
 
     Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., of which William H. Bohnett, the Secretary of
the Fund, is a partner, acts as legal counsel to the Fund.
 
     As of August 19, 1996, the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund owned
approximately 7.48% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As of such date, no
other person owned of record or, to the knowledge of management, beneficially
owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
                        RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF
                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     At a meeting held on August 1, 1996, the Board, including a majority of
Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund, selected Price Waterhouse
LLP to act as the Fund's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1997. Such selection is being submitted to the stockholders for
ratification. The employment of Price Waterhouse LLP is conditioned on the right
of the Fund, by majority vote of its stockholders, to terminate such employment.
Price Waterhouse LLP has acted as the Fund's independent accountants from the
Fund's inception.
 
     The services to be provided by the Fund's independent accountants include
examination of the Fund's annual financial statements, assistance and
consultation in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission and New York
Stock Exchange filings, and review of the Fund's annual federal and state income
tax returns.
 
     One or more representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are expected to be
present at the meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they
so desire. Such representatives are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions from stockholders.
 
                     INVESTMENT ADVISERS AND ADMINISTRATOR
 
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
     The Adviser, a New York corporation, has its principal office at 152 West
57th Street, New York, New York 10019. Lilia C. Clemente, President and Director
of the Fund, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Adviser.
Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr., a Director of the Fund, is President, Chief
Investment Officer and a Director of the Adviser. In addition to Mr. and Mrs.
Clemente, the Adviser's Directors are Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr., President of
Diaz-Verson Capital Investments, Inc., an investment advisory firm located in
Columbus, Georgia; Michael K. Majure, Executive Vice President of Diaz-Verson
Capital
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
Investments, Inc.; Irving L. Gartenberg, Esq., general counsel to the Adviser;
Robert J. Christian of Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware; and
Thomas J. Prapas, Managing Director and Chief Economist for the Adviser. Mrs.
Clemente owns approximately 60% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Adviser.
The address for Mr. and Mrs. Clemente and Mr. Prapas is 152 West 57th Street,
New York, New York 10019. The address for Messrs. Diaz-Verson and Majure is 1200
Brookstone Centre Parkway, Suite 105, Columbus, Georgia 31904; the address for
Mr. Gartenberg is 122 East 42nd Street, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10017;
and the address for Mr. Christian is 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington,
Delaware 19890.
 
THE PHILIPPINE ADVISER
 
     The Philippine Adviser was organized in November 1988 under the laws of
Hong Kong and has its principal offices at 110-116 Queen's Road, Central Hong
Kong. The Philippine Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNB International
Finance Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNB. PNB, the largest bank in the
Philippines, is 46% owned by the Philippine Government. However, under the
Articles of Incorporation of PNB, an eleven member, shareholder-elected board of
directors directs the affairs and business of PNB, manages and preserves its
properties and assets, and exercises its corporate powers. The remaining 54% of
PNB is owned by various individuals, none of whom to the knowledge of the Fund
own 5% or more of PNB's outstanding securities. PNB serves as trustee of certain
of the Fund's Philippine securities pursuant to a Trust Agreement between PNB
and the Fund dated November 7, 1989.
 
     Peter Favila, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund, is President
of PNB and Chairman and a Director of the Philippine Adviser. Valentin A.
Araneta, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Fund, is Managing
Director and a Director of the Philippine Adviser and Senior Executive Vice
President of PNB. In addition to Messrs. Favila and Araneta, the Philippine
Adviser's Directors are Inocencio Deza and Francisco Magsajo, Jr. The address of
Messrs. Favila, Araneta, Deza and Magsajo is PNB Financial Building, Roxas
Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
 
THE ADMINISTRATOR
 
     PFPC Inc., the Fund's administrator, has its principal office at 103
Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809.
 
                                 MISCELLANEOUS
 
     As of the date of this Proxy Statement, management does not know of any
other matters that will come before the meeting. In the event that any other
matter properly comes before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form
of proxy intend to vote all proxies in accordance with their best judgment on
such matters.
 
     All shares represented by proxies sent to the Fund to be voted at the
Annual Meeting will be voted if received prior to the meeting.
 
     In the event that sufficient votes in favor of any proposal set forth in
the Notice of this meeting are not received by October 31, 1996, the persons
named in the enclosed form of proxy may propose one or more adjournments of the
meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournments will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present
in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be adjourned. The persons
named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote in favor of such
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the
proposal for which further solicitation of proxies is made. They will vote
against any such adjournments those proxies required to be voted against such
proposal. The costs of any such additional solicitation and of any adjourned
session will be borne by the Fund.
 
                              1997 ANNUAL MEETING
 
     Stockholder proposals meeting tests contained in the proxy rules adopted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission may, under certain conditions, be
included in the Fund's proxy material for an annual meeting of stockholders.
Pursuant to these rules, proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at
the Fund's 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Fund on
or before May 1, 1997 to be considered for inclusion in the Fund's Proxy
Statement and form of proxy relating to that Annual Meeting. Receipt by the Fund
of a stockholder proposal in a timely manner does not insure the inclusion of
such proposal in the Fund's proxy material.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,
                                          WILLIAM H. BOHNETT
                                          Secretary
 
Dated: September 6, 1996
 
             PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD NOW
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
                        THE FIRST PHILIPPINE FUND INC.

                                  P R O X Y

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
              ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- OCTOBER 31, 1996

         The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Leopoldo M. Clemente, Jr. and
William H. Bohnett, and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with
power of substitution to each of them to vote all shares of The First
Philippine Fund Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of The First Philippine Fund Inc. to be held at the
offices of Clemente Capital, Inc., 152 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019
on Thursday, October 31, 1996 at 9:30 A.M., New York time, and at any
adjournments thereof.

         UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE SPACES PROVIDED, THE UNDERSIGNED'S
VOTE WILL BE CAST FOR ITEMS (1) AND (2).


         (CONTINUED, AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED, ON THE REVERSE SIDE)


<PAGE>   12
- -----  Please mark your votes
  X    as in this            
- -----  example               
                                    

1.The election of                                NOMINEES:  Lilia C. Clemente, 
directors: for all        FOR      WITHHELD      Edgardo B. Espiritu, Joseph A. 
nominees listed        ---------   ---------     O'Hare, S.J. and Robert B. 
below (except as                                 Oxnam  (INSTRUCTION: To 
marked to the con-                               withhold authority to vote for
trary below)           ---------   ---------     any individual nominee, write
                                                 that nominee's name on the 
                                                 space provided below).

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY (to vote for all nominees listed below)

- ----------------------------------------------------------

2. Ratification of selection             FOR      AGAINST      ABSTAIN   
   of Price Waterhouse LLP as         ---------   ---------   ---------  
   independent accountants:                                              
                                                                         
                                      ---------   ---------   ---------  
3. In their discretion on any         ---------   ---------   ---------  
   other business which may                                              
   properly come before the                                              
   meeting or any adjournments        ---------   ---------   ---------  
   thereof.






SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER                                      DATE
                        --------------------------------------    --------------

SIGNATURE OF JOINT OWNER, IF ANY                              DATE
                                ------------------------------    --------------

Please sign exactly as your name or names appear above. When signing as 
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full
title as such.  Votes MUST be indicated (x) in Black or Blue Ink. Please Sign
and Return Promptly in Enclosed Envelope. No Postage is Required.


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission