MVP: The measure of a life

MANILA, Philippines — The singular Manuel V. Pangilinan has built a sprawling empire whose businesses intertwine with the lives of every Filipino.

Who doesn't consume electricity or water? Or who can stand to be without a mobile phone in this age of social media?

Then there's kilometer upon kilometer of highways and expressways, from north to south, that the MVP Group, through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., has either built, rebuilt or refurbished and that are used by thousands of motorists every day, 24/7.

Hospitals, too, have become part of the MVP Group and the network continues to grow.

The list goes on and on. Add to that, the group's recent foray into agriculture, multimedia and a comeback in tourism.

Pangilinan has undoubtedly built a conglomerate whose success also runs parallel to the storied journey of the Philippines.

Sitting atop his sprawling empire, the Forbes-listed billionaire certainly has it all, and so much more — from fancy cars to posh penthouse units in Manila and beyond.

Life's greatest treasures

But as he turns 80, Pangilinan says life's greatest luxury is no longer measured by billion-peso investments, landmark acquisitions or sprawling business empires.

For MVP, it has become simpler — to wake up each day grateful for the gift of life and of living.

This isn't surprising to hear, especially when a person reaches a certain age. It's common for men and women, as they get older, to ponder the things that really matter, beyond fame and fortune.

And almost always, these are the treasures that money can't buy — health, family, and peace of mind.

In the case of MVP, who underwent a major knee surgery a few months ago, he said that during his recovery journey, every small step has become a major achievement.

"Suddenly, standing up feels like winning a badminton championship. Walking across the room deserves applause. And finding a comfortable sleeping position takes more engineering than designing a power plant.

"And you know what? This experience reminds us that no matter how successful we become, our knees remain completely unimpressed," he shared in a speech last May 23 during the 46th anniversary of First Pacific held at the Meralco Theatre in Pasig.

He also shared that his favorite vehicle, despite having a fleet that includes luxury cars, is "a 16-year-old, thrice-depreciated van" because it is the only one that can accommodate his wheelchair and aid his recovery.

Luxury, he suggested, has acquired a completely different definition.

"The luxury cars may remain in the garage for now," he said. "Real wealth is with us here in this theater — family, friends, faith and the determination to stand and walk again."

For much of his career, Pangilinan embodied relentless ambition.

He recalled how First Pacific began in 1981 with a 50-square-meter office in Hong Kong and a staff of only four.

"Forty-five years ago, on a bright Monday morning in the Hong Kong summer, Bob Meyer and I stepped into our very first office — rented furniture included — a space measuring 50 square meters, to meet our entire staff of four people — Fanny, my secretary; Valerie, Bob's secretary; Ah Kay, our messenger and Paul, the office driver. At the heart of Hong Kong — 9th floor, Central Building, Pedder Street corner Queen's Road," he shared.

At the start, he and Bob didn't know much else "except deal-making, which was my thing, and lawyering for Bob."

The future was a vast unknown, he said, adding, "pretty much like the recent knee surgery I just had — a major procedure whose broader health implications I failed to assess beforehand."

Together with Bob, MVP ventured into businesses across continents — banks in California, retailers in Australia, consumer brands in the Philippines, telecommunications in India and investments stretching from New York to China.

They were fearless.

"We risked freely. We didn't have much in the way of experience and money, but we made up for it in sheer energy."

That appetite for risk eventually helped build an empire, and the rest — as they say — is history.

Yet as Pangilinan reflected on those decades, he seemed to have a different understanding of achievement now.

Perhaps that is what turning 80 ultimately brings.

A man who helped build some of the country's most valuable companies now reminds his people that the simplest things in life — standing up without assistance, walking toward loved ones or returning to the badminton court — are, in the end, life's greatest luxuries.

MVP's success story — building an empire from scratch — is truly an inspiring journey.

But as he enters a new decade, he has given success a simpler yet deeper meaning.