On his milestone birthday, PLDT Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan returns to the City of San Juan to inspire a new generation of dreamers through a learning and community initiative led by the PLDT-Smart Foundation and Tulong Kapatid.
Returning to the city that shaped his early years, PLDT Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan marked his milestone 80th birthday by giving back to the next generation.
Through Tulong Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility alliance of foundations under the MVP Group of Companies, PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), together with Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc (AKFI), Cardinal Medical Charities Foundation, Maynilad, Makati Medical Center Foundation and One Meralco Foundation — as well as members of the Pangilinan family, turned over learning support items and launched a community mural painting activity at the Tibagan Child Development Center in Barangay Tibagan, San Juan City.
Inspired by Extraordinary Manny, the children’s storybook that traces Pangilinan’s journey from his childhood to becoming one of the country’s most respected business leaders, the initiative encourages children to dream big, persevere, and believe in their potential.
MVP with San City Mayor Francis Zamora during the turnover ceremony at Barangay Tibagan.
The occasion held special significance for Pangilinan, whose family moved to San Juan in 1951. Growing up in Little Baguio, he spent many of his formative years in the city, where many of his earliest aspirations took root.
Joining the event were MVP and members of his family, PSF President Ma. Esther O. Santos, PLDT and Smart Chief People Officer and PSF Trustee Gina P. Ordoñez, PLDT Treassurer, OIC CFO and PSF Treasurer Leo I. Posadas, DMCI President and CEO and PSF Trustee Jorge A. Consunji, AKFI Executive Director Menchie Silvestre, Cardinal Medical Charities Foundation Executive Director Jenny Laxamana, Makati Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Marge Macasaet-Barro, Maynilad Corporate Affairs & Communication Head Marie Antonette De Ocampo, and employee volunteers.
Tulong Kapatid donated food and learning kits, bookshelves, whiteboards, hygiene kits and vitamins, vanity kits, and art supplies. The Pangilinan family also contributed classroom toys and playground slides. Beneficiaries enjoyed a storytelling session, while executives and volunteers helped create a colorful mural that transformed the learning space into a vibrant reflection of hope and possibility.
“We wanted to celebrate MVP’s milestone birthday in a meaningful way. Through the Extraordinary Manny storybook and this classroom mural, we hope to inspire children in the city where he grew up to dream big and believe that they, too, can achieve extraordinary things,” said Santos.
Addressing children and community members gathered at the center, Pangilinan reflected on the significance of returning to the place he once called home.
“It’s good to be back home in San Juan. I grew up here, so it brings back memories,” he said.
For Pangilinan, the activity also embodied the continuing mission of the MVP Group’s foundations to uplift communities and create opportunities for Filipinos.
“It’s a manifestation of the continued work of our foundations to uplift the communities that we serve. It’s part and parcel of the work. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share these blessings to the people of San Juan.”
Barangay Tibagan Chairperson Daniel Simon Gaa welcomed guests, parents, and children during the event, which was also attended by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.
“Mapalad po ang San Juan dahil kami ay napili sa pagdiriwang ng kanyang kaarawan — hindi lang po ito ordinaryong selebrasyon, siya po ay nagbigay ng napakaraming gamit pang-eskwela para sa mga bata,” said Zamora.
More than a birthday celebration, the initiative was a tribute to the values that have guided Pangilinan throughout his life — service, education, and creating opportunities for others. Through a brighter and more engaging learning environment, the PLDT-Smart Foundation and its partners hope to inspire every child to pursue their dreams and write their own extraordinary stories.
After all, as Extraordinary Manny reminds us, even the most remarkable journeys can begin in an ordinary neighborhood — in this case, right here in San Juan City.
