MVP Urges Purpose-Driven Leadership as PLDT and Smart Honored at Asia CEO Awards 2025
“Applause has a short echo. What lasts longer is our obligation to keep contributing—to keep our institutions sound, and to keep our next generation of leaders engaged, prepared, and dreaming.”
With these powerful words, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of the MVP Group of Companies, set a reflective tone at the Asia CEO Awards 2025, where he was honored with the Lifetime Contribution Award for his enduring leadership and impact on Philippine business and nation-building.
In a message delivered on his behalf by Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio, Pangilinan reminded today’s leaders that while applause fades, what endures are the values that uphold institutions—integrity, perseverance, and service.
“After a lifetime in business, what endures are not the titles or milestones, but the people who continue to believe that hard work rendered with integrity and tenacity still matters,” Pangilinan said.
He urged the youth to pursue fulfillment not only through achievement but through service, emphasizing that the nation’s progress depends on a new generation of leaders willing to build upon the legacy of those who came before them.
At the same event, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc.—two of Pangilinan’s flagship companies—were recognized among the Circle of Excellence awardees for CSR Company of the Year, underscoring the PLDT Group’s continuing commitment to nation-building through technology-enabled programs.
Through the PLDT and Smart Communities initiative, both companies champion efforts in digital wellness, disaster resilience, education, digital inclusion, and livelihood, empowering communities and promoting sustainable development across the country.
Now on its 16th year, the Asia CEO Awards remains the Philippines’ largest and most prestigious business awards program—and the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia. With over 600 nominations from leading enterprises, the event celebrates the vision, passion, and purpose of leaders and organizations that continue to drive progress and inspire future generations.