MANUEL PANGILINAN
During his younger years, Manuel Pangilinan or MVP, as he is called, did not see himself as a naturally gifted leader. In fact, he was shy and preferred to be in the background. But inherent in him was a competitive spirit and a constant desire to be the best that he could be, fueling his dream to improve his family's life.
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After graduating from high school in San Beda College, MVP went to Ateneo de Manila University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in economics in 1968. He went on to take his MBA on scholarship at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania as a Procter & Gamble Fellow.
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Since the start of his professional life, MVP's strength has always been in the field of finance and investments. In Manila, he worked for Philippine Investment Management Consultants Inc. (PHINMA), and in Hong Kong, Bancom International Limited and American Express Bank. MVP founded First Pacific in May 1981, and serves as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Today, he remains at the helm of various corporations operating business across several industries: telecommunications, public utilities, investment holdings, healthcare and broadcast communication. Among these are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Manila Electric Company (Meralco), ePLDT, Inc., Smart communications, Inc., PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures, Inc. (formerly named Pilipino Telephone Corporation), Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Manila North Tollways Corporation, Philex Mining Corporation, Philex Petroleum Corporation, Landco Pacific Corporation, Medical Doctors, Inc. (Makati Medical Center), Davao Doctors, Inc. and Colinas Verdes Corporation (Cardinal Santos Medical Center), Mediaquest Holdings, Inc. and Associated Broadcasting Corporation (TV 5), and Roxas Holdings Inc.
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He is the incumbent Chairman of the Board of Trustees of San Beda College. He is also the Chairman of the Philippine Disaster Resiliency Foundation, Incorporated (PDRF) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). He Co-Chairs the US-Philippines Business Society as well. Being a sports patron, he was named Chairman Emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.
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Believing in the power of doing good MVP has gone beyond business pursuits, taking the lead in corporate social responsibility initiatives focusing on poverty alleviation, emergency preparedness and disaster response, business development, youth education and leadership, and sports.
He has received multiple recognitions from the government, business community, and the academe for his contributions to the country.
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MVP joined the ranks of prestigious awardees whose qualities honor the legacy of the late Ambassador Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, exemplary corporate citizenship, and an undying passion to move the country forward, MVP is awarded the 2015 Ramon V. Del Rosario Award for Nation-Building.