Features

Manuel V Pangilinan

31 Aug 2008 by business traveller

The chairman of Metro Pacific Investments in Manila is a self-confessed workaholic.

As chief executive of the Philippine unit of First Pacific, he oversees the Hongkong-based conglomerate’s interests in the Philippines, which include leading telecommunications company Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT).

He has also assumed the role of chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the country’s oldest and largest corporate-led foundation, which pours billions of pesos into relieving proverty. Speaking with Tina Dumlao in the middle of an investors’ meeting, he shares some travel wisdom and the reason for getting involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR).

How often you do fly?

I would say on average twice a month, mainly Hongkong and places around the region, and occasionally to the US and Europe. I logged over 200,000 miles last year. That is my average, and it has not really increased over the years.
 

Do you remember your first trip abroad?

It was April of 1965 to Hongkong when my parents brought me there for the first time as a break. I was in my third year in college. I was with my family and cousins. I was so excited to fly; we flew Philippine Airlines. I thought the clouds were like cotton candy. And we stayed at the Ambassador Hotel on Nathan Road. I think it is still there, but the Sheraton is blocking it now.


At the time, we had a view of the Victoria Harbour.

Now that you're a veteran traveller, tell us who do you like to fly with?

Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines, with their full suite of entertainment systems so I do not have to bring an iPod. I like to travel light – I carry my own luggage.

What's in the bag?

I like to have the just-in-case clothes because you never know, but I schedule tightly so I don’t have to bring much. I usually bring dark suits – grey, blue or black – because you’re in meetings the whole day and you wouldn’t want to look wrinkly.

Any tips on how to arrive ready for business?

When it’s a long flight, I eat and do a bit of work, and then take a pill. That’s because the first meeting is usually at breakfast. You want to hit the ground running. 
 

If and when you find the time to relax, where would you go?

I ski, which I haven’t been able to do for sometime. I like to visit Japan, especially Hokkaido and Nagano in Honshu, and there’s Switzerland too.

The nicest cities are Paris – my favourite hotel is the Crillon – because it has a lot of character and the food is excellent, and Vienna for its history. I would also like to go to Budapest, St Petersburg and the Middle East, all of which I haven’t been to. Maybe, if I close a lot of deals and pare down some of my office activities properly, I would have more time to travel and stay longer in certain places.

Do you still buy souvenirs?

I used to, but no longer. I liked collecting Lalique crystals. There was a time when I bought a lamp in Amsterdam and lugged it all the way to Hongkong. I thought then that was the last time I would do something like that!
 

Why did you get involved in CSR?

My company PLDT would give money everytime people would ask. But when we began working with PBSP, we became more participatory, going beyond the role of donors. I was attracted to PBSP because of its ability to use the discipline of business to run a social institution.

You get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you have managed to change even one life in your lifetime for the better. Someone you do not even know managed to do better because of something you did.

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