MVP beyond the boardroom
MANILA, Philippines — It is common knowledge that Mr. Manny V Pangilinan (MVP) is an excellent businessman. Google him and twenty four hours might not be enough for you to read everything you will find about him.
So we set out to know what MVP is like when he is not wearing a businessman-chairman-of-the-board hat. What is he like when he is just being…him? What is that side like?
I (Kai) have an MVP memory I have never forgotten in the last ten years: I was Yahoo Philippines’ celebrity editor, and Patricia Hizon invited us to cover the PhilPOP 2014 Music Festival at Meralco Theater in Ortigas.
MVP — a known connoisseur of the arts — was chairman of the board of the foundation. He joined us at the post-event dinner, and I have never forgotten his outfit: a Cowboy-style suit (like what you see Western sheriffs wear in movies, but without the Cowboy hat) with a pair of gray crocodile leather boots.
That moment told me that MVP is not a stiff black-and-white leader. He has many colors just as he has many sides, and this is what Cecile and I set out to do for this banner story. It is not a praise release but a celebration of a human who inspires many.
So we set out to know what MVP is like when he is not wearing a businessman-chairman-of-the-board hat. What is he like when he is just being…him? What is that side like?
I (Kai) have an MVP memory I have never forgotten in the last ten years: I was Yahoo Philippines’ celebrity editor, and Patricia Hizon invited us to cover the PhilPOP 2014 Music Festival at Meralco Theater in Ortigas.
MVP — a known connoisseur of the arts — was chairman of the board of the foundation. He joined us at the post-event dinner, and I have never forgotten his outfit: a Cowboy-style suit (like what you see Western sheriffs wear in movies, but without the Cowboy hat) with a pair of gray crocodile leather boots.
That moment told me that MVP is not a stiff black-and-white leader. He has many colors just as he has many sides, and this is what Cecile and I set out to do for this banner story. It is not a praise release but a celebration of a human who inspires many.
“His mission is to improve accessibility to high-quality healthcare”
Dr. Harish Pillai, CEO, Metro Pacific Health
(as told to Kai Magsanoc)
I was a well-known figure in the Indian healthcare system, the CEO of a large group which I had taken public in the stock market. I was at the cusp of spending the rest of my life in India, so what am I doing in the Philippines?
The turning point was meeting MVP. I was really inspired by his own story when I did some reading about who he was. He comes from humble beginnings, a total merit-based person. Through sheer hard work and determination, he is where he is now.
He finished studies under scholarships abroad, and chose to return to the Philippines when he could have settled elsewhere. He always talks about a woman in every man’s life, and in Manny’s case, it was his mother.
Manny was supposed to undergo treatment for a health issue in Hong Kong, but his mother insisted that he should come back to Manila. And so he was admitted and treated in Makati Medical Center.
Imagine someone who had no prior connection to healthcare — that was the first time he got exposed to the healthcare system. That was a pivotal point.
In my case, what resonated was Manny’s mission of providing accessibility and bringing a sense of equity for Filipinos in healthcare. Healthcare — especially private healthcare — is not affordable to many. He is always telling me that his mission is to improve accessibility to high-quality and affordable healthcare. That’s really what I am doing.
Another thing that stayed with me from our first meeting was when MVP said, “We have the best human capital in this country: very well-trained doctors, the world’s largest exporter of nurses, yet many Filipinos go to other countries for healthcare.”
One part of his vision is to develop a system so that the most complex and difficult procedures can be done here in the country.
Another thing I really like about him is he is so well-read. He is into history and has a sharp memory for inspiring quotes. It’s fascinating — how much time does he give for reading? And it’s not about industries Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) is invested in. It could be about geopolitics, culture, and many more.
One of his passions which he frequently talks about is mother and child. How can you build a world-class hospital in the Philippines focusing on the health of children, the new generation? As a group, we are incubating ideas to fulfill his dreams and vision.
“MVP: Strategy substantiated”
Jojo Gendrano, SVP and head of Enterprise and International Business, PLDT
(as told to Cecile J. Baltasar)
The first time I met MVP was in 2000. He treated a group of Filipino students from University of Pennsylvania to dinner at The Palm, a steakhouse in Philadelphia.
Most of them, including MVP, were Ateneans. I was the only one from La Salle. This was around the time when La Salle was winning its fair share of UAAP championships in basketball. During the dinner, I blurted out, “Go La Salle.”
Eerie silence at the table. But MVP didn’t take that against me. He took the time to talk to everyone at that table. When he got to me, I introduced myself and told him my father, Rene, was a PLDT employee (back then. He’s now retired).
“Oh, I know Rene very well,” MVP told me. Later on, he said, “Maybe you should work for PLDT.” I told him to give me some time to gain experience. I was fairly sure our paths would cross. And 13 years later, they did.
As my boss, I’d call MVP “Strategy Substantiated.” He understands so many domains, and grasps each one to a specific level of detail to know how to execute plans. His mental capacity is something else.
At meetings, he steers the direction to guide us. Once, he stood up, asked for a whiteboard, took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and started writing figures on the board. And he enjoyed it. That is MVP, teaching us while also being our boss.
MVP would sometimes joke that he wants us working at the office non-stop. But he values balance and lets us also enjoy our personal lives. He understands that we have families and is supportive of us taking time off, also, to the point that sometimes, we feel guilty approaching him to get permission to ask for more vacation time.
When we chat, we have very interesting discussions around technology. He’s very big on the importance of data, AI, and cyber security. He’s always tinkering on his smart phone or watching something on the smart TV in his office. As you’d expect, MVP is very attuned to technology.
In fact, rather than slow down, I think he’s accelerating. He has grand plans, and he wants all of them to be executed well.
“I think he’s immortal”
Albert Villa-real, President and CEO of PLDT Global
(as told to Cecile J. Baltasar)
I’ve always seen MVP to be at the pinnacle of success, even back when he was just starting out in Hong Kong. When he established First Pacific, he was already very dedicated to his business.
As his nephew, I grew up seeing him at family gatherings, especially during Christmas and New Year. He’s always loved fireworks. He would come home and spend so much on fireworks for New Year’s Eve. I remember thinking, “Wow, he’s got a lot of money to burn just for fireworks.” Later on, I realized it was his way of starting the year right by repelling all the bad luck with a bang.
Back then, I didn’t see myself working for him. But here I am, working in the MVP Group for 28 years now.
MVP motivates us into becoming strong leaders by telling us straight if what we’re doing is wrong. He calls things as they are. And if you do something that does not reach his expectations, he’ll advise you on how to improve. He’s very much a hands-on kind of boss.
At meetings, his head is typically bent over his phone and you’ll see him texting away or signing documents. You’d think he’s not paying attention. But when he looks up from his phone, you can be sure that he’s going to ask something about what you just said. He won’t put people on the spot just for the sake of doing that. But he will ask a question if it’s worth asking. And if it’s about numbers, he can compute quickly in his head, and challenge and revise figures as he goes along. Sharp; very sharp.
Outside of work, you wouldn’t think it, but he’s funny. And you’d be surprised—he loves to know what’s happening in local showbiz. Sometimes, he’s even more updated about it than us.
At the end of the day, despite all the companies he’s running, and all the successes he’s had, MVP is still grounded and in touch with his human side. He’s never forgotten his roots. He laughs with the staff; trades jokes with the security guards; talks about anything under the sun, and encourages more laughter when green jokes are mentioned. And if someone in need approaches him for help, he gives help out of his own pocket without hesitation. His generosity isn’t limited to the scholars or charities that are already programmed within the year. It always goes beyond that.
He also does what he can to stay active through his regular badminton workouts. He makes sure he’s on top of all his companies, and lets his officers update him even on weekends. That’s the kind of leader he is. The books he reads about leaders in history and war inspire him when he strategizes his next moves.
During the pandemic, when everyone was on lockdown, MVP was always working in the office, alone. I asked him once why he risked getting sick. He told me, “We’re in a battle. As the leader of the company, I have to be at the forefront of that battle.”
“He also inspires those of us in technology”
Mr. Vic Tria, CEO and President, Multisys
(as told to Kai Magsanoc)
MVP is a techie in the business sense. Multisys once held “Clash of Codes,” a hackathon held on a Sunday, and MVP came, gave a speech, and stayed. A hackathon brings kids together and they aim to develop products through coding.
MVP has a soft spot for the youth. This resonated in what he saw in Multisys — a technology company filled with promising and exceptionally talented young professionals excelling in their ever-competitive and evolving field.
MVP invested in Multisys to empower these talented programmers and help bring their skills to the global stage. With his support over the years, Multisys has become more and more recognized, and was recently named a Technology Company of the Year finalist at the IT-BPM Awards of IBPAP, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of the best and the biggest multinational tech companies in the Philippines. Such support for young talent reflects his belief in the massive potential of our youth to drive innovation and success.
MVP feels energized around the next generation of young professionals. When he meets with the Multisys team, he has such a distinct, heartwarming smile. This is everyone’s observation. He appreciates being with professional young talents. And it’s always good to hear him giving an empowering message to the youth.
MVP gave a speech at the launch of Multisys in 2018: “You are young but with what you do, you are larger than life,” and those words resonated with each and every one of us until this day.
While everyone knows that MVP inspires those in sports, many don’t realize that he also inspires those of us in technology. In fact, he co-founded QBO with Butch Meily of Ideaspace Foundation. Today, Multisys is partnering with startups, playing a “big brother” role to young tech innovators.
MVP’s consistency is truly admirable. I have been with the PLDT Group for the last 21 years, and MVP has been our constant passionate visionary leader. His keen ability to clearly envision the group’s future and rally everyone around a shared vision has taken us all to where we are today — a blessed and purposeful journey so far. We will always be grateful to God for MVP.
