MVP in the eyes of the millennial generation
(From left) Prior-chancellor of the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat Rev. Fr. Rafaelito Alaras, OSB; Office of the President Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; San Beda College Board of Trustees chairman Dr. Manuel Pangilinan; Smart Infinity head Julie Carceller; and PLDT-Smart Foundation president Esther Santos.
MANILA, Philippines - Much has been written and said about how Manuel V. Pangilinan inspired, ignited and propelled significant changes in Philippine society, with his unique brand of transformational and transactional leadership style and management approach applied in a number of corporate entities he has led through the years.
Interestingly, his success story has become a subject of many research, strategic papers, theses and doctoral dissertations, one of which this author was privileged to write some years back.
Today, the results and findings of this scholarly research have become topics for discussion in leadership and management classes in a number of business schools.
A one-on-one taped video interview with MVP which this author produced has been shown in several leadership forums and given students an opportunity to understand and appreciate MVP’s amazing leadership style and management approach.
In today’s academic environment, MVP’s vast anthology of achievements, and inspiring and thought-provoking lessons on leadership are intelligently discussed, constructively scrutinized and critically analyzed by millennial students yearning for present-day role models and newfound learnings.
Gladly, a relatively huge number of these business students aged 17 to 20 years old found in MVP the quintessential Filipino leader who has been exhibiting the admirable leadership traits of ora et labora (pray and work), fides (faith), scientia (knowledge) and virtus (virtue) — all marks drawn from his Benedictine formative education in San Beda. These have made MVP enduringly Bedan.
Today’s millennial students consider MVP as a true pioneer and iconoclast whom they want to emulate in spite of his seemingly unreachable place in the business community.
In fact, the young ones would like to know more about MVP and his journey of struggles and triumphs, not much through books and journals, but through social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) where he could be more accessible among technology-crazed users.
MVP is also seen by the youth as a true business pillar whose passion and dedication to excellence made him land on the top of his field and steered his corporate entities to inestimable heights.
These millennials wonder if the passion and the dedication of MVP wane as one ages or even grow with the passing of time.
The millennials are amazed as to how MVP, even at age 71, manages to hone his leadership skills which to them seem to be updated and upgraded even in the heyday of the digital era.
Millennials observed, too, that MVP is fond of surrounding himself with top-caliber people who are undeniably his “real power.”
The millennials however see him as a very straightforward and generous leader who knows how to reward and appreciate people for a well-done job.
More importantly, the minds of today’s millennials are constantly plagued by MVP’s ways to adapt to change as he is a visionary leader who challenges his people to welcome new ideas and innovations — hallmarks of a genuine thought leader.
Millennials also wonder if MVP has always been destined for greatness.
However, a closer look at his modest roots reveals that it is MVP’s character, competence, core values and sense of mission for the country which contributed much to his success both as a person and as a business leader.
And on his 71st birthday celebration, our wish for him is to continue enlightening, inspiring and challenging the youth, guiding them to an empowered future and making them truly great Filipinos: men and women of faith, knowledge and virtue, for today’s millennials are hoping to become better and a greater version of the MVP they have always held up high.
