From Hong Kong hustle to homegrown honor: MVP's ode to the OFW spirit

(PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan was bestowed the Gintong Alon Leadership Award by the Philippine Association of Hong Kong or PAHK. He recently accepted the award at an event in Hong Kong, and reflected on his early days as a young banker in Central, his entrepreneurial journey with First Pacific, and the shared resilience of overseas Filipino workers.)

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Sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan at kapwa OFWs; Consul General Romulo Israel Jr.; Senator and Mrs. Raffy Tulfo; PAHK chair Scylla Kwong; mga kasapi ng Philippine Association of Hong Kong; mga minamahal kong mga kapatid sa Hong Kong magandang gabi sa inyong lahat.

Sa kaunahan, maraming salamat sa inyong napakahalagang parangal. Ako po ay tunay na nagagalak na makapiling muli kayong mga Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong. It feels good to be back home.

I am deeply moved by a recognition such as this coming from a place where I lived for 22 continuous years, and from people whom I care for dearly.

There may be some doubt in my heart as to whether I deserve this award - over other Filipinos who have served, and continue to serve, here in Hong Kong. But there is no question about my pleasure and pride in receiving it.

So I accept this award on behalf of all the workers here, simply as a trustee and steward for all the services and sacrifices they have given - for their families, to Hong Kong, and for our country.

Let me just highlight how important you are as an economic contributor to the Philippine economy.

In 2024, official inward remittances totaled $38.34 billion equivalent to about 10 percent of our country's gross domestic product in nominal terms. The money our foreign workers send represents the largest single business in the Philippines and its biggest employer, supporting around 10 million people.