Manny, The Dreamer

MANILA, Philippines — 1981 was a year of many firsts, most notable of which were the release of Microsoft MS-DOS and the first IBM PC, and NASA’s launch of the first Space Shuttle Mission.

1981 was also the year First Pacific was established. It would be the launchpad for the dreams of Manny V. Pangilinan or MVP.

After spending many years working in Hong Kong, MVP nurtured the dream of coming back and, through business investments, contribute to the Philippines’ growth. More than four decades later, MVP’s dream keeps getting bigger and bolder.

Extraordinary Manny

For MVP’s birthday last year, we launched the children’s book Extraordinary Manny, written by Gian Lao and illustrated by Mark Andres. The book gives a glimpse of how truly extraordinary MVP is, both in his dreams and endeavors. His business accomplishments are well-documented and so, for his birthday, we focused on how he made the Philippines a better place, through his philanthropy, the work of his foundations, and CSR programs.

For the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), we enjoy the privilege of MVP’s benevolent leadership as our chairman. Through his generosity and empathy for our fellowmen, PSF launched and has implemented many  programs through our  nearly 30 years. The largest of our programs is Gabay Guro or 2G, also chaired by MPIC CFO Cabal-Revilla, who would always acknowledge MVP as the inspiration and driving force behind 2G. With his push, our Education Scholarship program has produced 2,296 scholars from various state universities and colleges nationwide since its inception in 2007.

Building, rebuilding dreams

With the guidance of MVP, PSF also builds and rebuilds dreams, especially after major natural disasters. Post-Typhoon Pablo in 2012, PSF turned over more than 200 houses in Davao Oriental. Through Typhoons Yolanda and Odette, earthquakes, and many other calamities that hit the Philippines, PSF has responded with 103 classrooms built nationwide.

To attain our vision of a “Connected, Empowered, Progressive Philippines with No Learner Left Behind,” PSF, together with Smart Communications, delivers the Smart School-in-a-Bag (SIAB), a portable classroom with tools and educational content for the 21st-century learner.  To date, 652 SIABs have been deployed nationwide, especially in remote areas, including Patikul, Sulu, Zamboanga, Sarangani, Palawan, and Tawi-Tawi.

Energizing schools, households

Sharing this aspiration of serving last mile communities, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), through its School Electrification Program, brings the benefits of solar power to off-grid schools nationwide. It has reached schools as far as Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi in the south, and Calayan Island, Cagayan in the north. This year, OMF marks a milestone with 300 schools energized since the program’s inception in 2012.  OMF has already energized more than 70,000 low-income households in the Meralco franchise area.  These programs supporting rural development have extended to the electrification of health centers, agriculture and livelihood facilities, and water access.

Another vital need is water. Thus, Maynilad provides handwashing stations, with 636 stations already installed in schools, terminals, and other public establishments nationwide. The provision includes bidets, drinking fountains, and other water facilities.

TVJ on TV5

TV5, the new home of TVJ, has been in action for the past 10 years, from Batanes to Jolo, through its Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI). The MVP Group Tulong Kapatid, with AKFI as our frontliner, has conducted countless relief operations where 534,030 families have benefited nationwide, including families in Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Norte.

Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) continues to protect wetlands of national importance through UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and the mangroves of Del Carmen, Island of Siargao, Surigao del Norte. MPIF is also partnering with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to enhance the mangrove program in the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, which brings a total of 102,083 hectares in funding conservation initiatives for critical ecosystems.

The Metro Pacific Hospital Group provides medical care, even outside its hospitals.

Pandemic, disaster response

Makati Medical Center Foundation has Public-Private Partnerships for Pandemic Response and Emergency Preparedness (PPPPREPARED), which include Mercy and Surgical Missions, donation of HADR equipment, and disaster response training. MMCF also donates first responder Hospital-In-A-Bike Units to various partner public agencies and organizations throughout the Philippines, with nearly 100 units already delivered.

For its part, Cardinal Santos Charities has assisted 97,576 underprivileged patients from 2014 to June 2023 through various hospital services under its Medical Assistance Program. They have served 15,987 individuals, communities, and vulnerable sectors since 2014 through outreach initiatives, such as health missions, community breast clinic for cancer prevention and health advocacy, and literacy programs.

The numbers and stories go on and on.  To quote MVP, “The story isn’t finished when you find success. The story is finished when you find success for everyone else.”  With how he inspires many to help others, MVP’s story and dreams are truly never finished.

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The author is the president of PLDT-Smart Foundation.