BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ / Photos by RENJIE TOLENTINO and JESSE BUSTOS
As PeopleAsia‘s editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez wrote, the “Men Who Matter” Awards Night, which was recently held at the New World Makati Hotel “celebrate not just the masculine gender — but the attributes that make them matter as people.” And the awardees seemed to agree, as they shared the recognition with both men and women who matter to them in their acceptance speeches.
Leading this year’s roster is Lucio Tan III, who is squarely facing the challenges and responsibilities placed upon his young shoulders as the vice chairman and chief operating officer of the LT Group.
“From my grandfather, I have learned the value of perseverance and diligence. From my grandmother, I learned the values of family and loyalty. From my dad, I learned the values of health as well as my love of sports. From my mother, I learned the values of compassion. And from my brother Kyle, I learned that you can never skip a day at the gym, regardless of how bad the day was,” said the 29-year-old tycoon.
Also present to receive his “Men Who Matter” award was Philippine Airlines president and COO Capt. Stanley Ng, the first pilot to hold such a position in PAL’s 81-year history. “I will start by thanking our Almighty God for his continued guidance and wisdom and blessings to all of us, that even during the pandemic, we were able to actually get through that. And my family for their continuous love and of course, the people of Philippine Airlines,” he said. Ng also thanked “Kapitan” Dr. Lucio Tan Sr. and his wife Carmen for their “unending support for the flag carrier.”
“For very special people”
The crowd — both in-person and online — also swooned as heartthrob actor Donny Pangilinan dedicated his award to his fans and to some very special people in his life.
“I know this is a ‘Men Who Matter’ award, but can we have a round of applause for all the women in our lives? Because I feel like we wouldn’t be here if not for the wonderful women in our lives,” he said. “One of them being my mother who is not here. Mom, I love you. Thank you for being the strongest woman I know. My dad, Anthony Pangilinan is joining me tonight. Thank you for being one of the biggest reasons why I am the man I am today.”
Also drawing resounding applause was human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), which provides legal aid to thousands of Filipinos. “I’m happy to be recognized for being part of that struggle. But there are so many others who have been fighting, who have fought and continue to fight for justice in our country without expecting much less receiving any award or any recognition. It is to them that I dedicate this award and as well to our Filipino youth, who I believe share this dream,” he said.
PeopleAsia also honored Galerie Joaquin Owner Jack Teotico, whose love for the arts helped establish one of the most respected art galleries in the country; broadcast journalist Ed Lingao, who continues to fight fake news both online and onscreen; and “Man of Nature,” Architect Royal Pineda, co-founder, CEO and principal architect of the acclaimed design firm Budji + Royal.
“Men of Science” of also took center stage at the “Men Who Matter Awards Night.” They were Dr. Fabian Dayrit, a longtime Ateneo professor and lifelong researcher who swears by the efficacy and healing benefits of lagundi and virgin coconut oil, or VCO; and Dr. Enrique Posas, who pioneered minimally invasive interventions, such as TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) in 2012, mitral valve repair using the mitra-clip in 2013 and endograft repairs of complex aortic anatomy.
Also receiving their awards were self-made entrepreneur Avin Ong, founder and CEO of the Fredley Group of Companies, which has over nine brands and 2,000 employees; Cocolife president and CEO Atty. Martin Loon, under whose leadership Cocolife marked the two highest net income records in its 42-year history; and event stylist extraordinaire Dave Sandoval, who tearfully dedicated his award to his mother Alicia, who inspired him to do flower arrangements as a young child.
Thanks to online technology, some awardees were also able to deliver their speeches from various parts of the globe. They were UAAP Season 84 “Rookie of the Year” Carl Tamayo, who contributed greatly to the UP Maroons historic championship feat (its first in 36 years); Ascott Limited’s country general manager Philip Barnes, who heads one of the biggest hospitality chains in the country; and Chef Chele Gonzalez, the Spanish-born chef who established some of the most successful restaurants here in the Philippines.
“Diverse and blazing a trail”
“This year, we have a very diverse roster of honorees — lawyers, a pilot, a chef, a chemist, a self-made entrepreneur, basketball player, journalist, cardiologist, top business executives, to name a few — and all of them are very talented and accomplished individuals who have made a mark, or are blazing a trail, in their respective fields or professions,” said PeopleAsia publisher (on leave), Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, who presented the night’s awards with editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez and New World Makati Hotel’s general manager Nantha Kumar.
Aside from the well-heeled audience at the Grand Ballroom of New World Makati Hotel, thousands of viewers also tuned in to PeopleAsia’s Facebook page, where the event was streamed live.
The awards night, held at the Grand Ballroom of the New World Makati Hotel, further cemented PeopleAsia’s robust return to the red carpet, which began earlier this year with the “People of the Year” 2021 Awards Night.
PeopleAsia’s “Men Who Matter” 2022 Awards Night is supported by New World Makati Hotel, Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp., Maserati Philippines, Philippine Airlines, Converge ICT Solutions, Philippine National Bank, JC Premiere Business Internationa, Vie by VCDC, The Aivee Group, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and The Philippine STAR.
