By ALEX Y. VERGARA/ Photos by RENJIE TOLENTINO
All eyes were trained on this year’s batch of PeopleAsia’s “Men Who Matter” awardees as the country’s leading glossy formally recognized 13 accomplished and extraordinary gentlemen from various fields in a well-attended awards night at The Bellevue Manila’s Grand Ballroom in Alabang.
Before the awards were handed out, the event at the Bellevue Manila’s grand ballroom, which was hosted by the ever-engaging Issa Litton, kicked off with a recorded speech from Philippine Ambassador to the US and PeopleAsia’s publisher, president and chief executive officer (on leave) Jose Manuel Romualdez. “‘Men Who Matter’ has become a proud tradition to PeopleAsia, bringing together exemplary men who have achieved so much in their respective professions. They embody excellence, professionalism; their actions and their decisions, their contributions, their accomplishments are significant in more ways than one. Most especially because they can impact society as a whole,” Romualdez said.
18 Years and counting
Now on its 18th year, the recognition was noteworthy for, among other reasons, focusing both on the seen and the unseen qualities and accomplishments of these year’s recipients — all of who manned up to the respective challenges of their professions and personal lives.
As PeopleAsia’s editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez said in her speech, “Our Men Who Matter awardees tonight matter – when people are looking, and, especially, when no one is looking. They strive to be their best selves even when the spotlight is not on them, even when a good night’s sleep is the only reward for their honest toil.”
And in keeping with the evening’s dress code, requesting guests to leave their formal shoes at home in favor of sneakers – a first since PeopleAsia started recognizing men who man up – Ramirez, despite not gaining a few inches on stage, stuck to her sneaks in lieu of high heels, which, had she insisted on wearing, would have been concealed anyway is her floor-sweeping Noel Crisostomo suit dress. “To me, it was a no contest,” Ramirez said. “I would wear sneakers even when no one is looking.”
And so did this year’s “Men Who Matter” awardees!
“Even when no one is looking“
Leading this year’s roster of awardees is Benhur Abalos who, as interior and local government secretary, continues to spare no effort whether in gaining ground on the war on drugs or ensuring disaster preparedness, curbing corruption or maintaining peace and order in the country. “Men who matter” – it’s simply putting all our traits with the totality of character into specific action,” Abalos said. “If there is one ingredient about all the awardees here, it is their excellence in their own fields, and much more than that, not only making the difference — it’s having the heart to make a difference.”
Also adding his star power to the event is “King of Primetime TV” Coco Martin, who, after starring in two hit action series in a row, is, without a doubt, the country’s hottest superstar today. “May purpose kung bakit ako nandito. Hindi lang para sa trabaho, kung ’di para din makapagbigay ng kaligayahan at inspirasyon sa manonood na Filipino gabi-gabi. Sa pamamagitan nun, nararamdaman ko sa sarili ko na sa simpleng pamamaraan, alam ko na nakakatulong ako sa aking kapwa, pati na rin sa aking industriya. Kaya, sobra akong nagpapasalamat sa PeopleAsia sa recognition na ipinagkaloob sa amin,” Martin said.
(“There’s a purpose why I’m here. It’s not just about work, but also about bringing joy and inspiration every night to Filipino televiewers. Through this, I feel in my heart that I’m helping other people, including the industry. That’s why I can’t thank PeopleAsia enough for the recognition you have given us.”)
Another accomplished public servant honored for his gargantuan work is lawyer Romando Artes, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, who continuously comes up with creative solutions for 14.7 million people living in Metro Manila’s 16 cities and lone municipality. “I’d like to share this award with the 8,000 men and women of MMDA without whom, I would not accomplish a lot of things. I would like to thank also my family for their support,” Artes said.
Meanwhile, this actor-turned-politician may have purposely reduced his showbiz commitments since he first dove into politics in 2010, becoming a three-term congressman of Quezon City, but, judging from the number of guests who wanted to have their pictures taken with him, Councilor Alfred Vargas remains as popular as ever. “We believe that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life, and that service to humanity is the best work of life,” Vargas said. “This pandemic compelled us to ask ourselves what does really matter in life. And for me, my answer remains, family and love. As long as we’re capable of loving and doing good for others and effecting positive change through love.”
Also considered a rock star of sorts, this time by his parishioners, is Fr. Dave Concepcion, chaplain of the Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt. Like his fellow awardees, he also gamely wore sneakers, one of only two pairs of shoes the charismatic priest owns. “Maiksi lamang ang buhay—nakikiraan lamang tayo. Dumating tayong walang dala, aalis tayong walang dadalhin. Harinawa, makapag-iwan [tayo] ng magandang alaala (Life is short—we’re mere passersby. We arrived with nothing, we will leave with nothing. May God be with us so that we could leave good memories behind),” Fr. Concepcion said.
Creative meets corporate
Also commanding attention onstage is artist Leeroy New, whose huge, thought-provoking installation pieces have graced various parts of the country and the world. ““It is a great honor and privilege to be recognized, especially [since I am] coming from the art industry where it usually takes a backseat to the rest of the eight more impressive industries. I feel that being given a platform to what I do is important,” New said.
The corporate world is also well-represented in this year’s edition of “Men Who Matter.”
Among them is the disarming Atty. Michael Toledo, director of government and public affairs of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp., head of the MVP Group media bureau, and COO of Silangang Mindanao Mining Company, Inc., who has proven all these years that he is a man of his word. Quoting from celebrated American poet Maya Angelou, Toledo said: “You will forget what people say, you will forget what people do, but you will never forget how they made you feel. I think I can speak on behalf of the other awardees that we will never forget how PeopleAsia made us feel. You have definitely humbled us. You have definitely emboldened us. You have definitely inspired us to do better.”
Greg Camacho, director of deliveries of Grab Philippines, was also the doting son as he brought his parents and siblings along to receive the award. “We’ve grown to be the top food delivery platform in the country and it shows you the power of tech to scale impact. But all of these doesn’t happen on tech alone. It happens because of trust. I would like to thank the trust of our rider-partners, our merchant partners, and you, our customers, for allowing us to serve you,” he said.
Dubbed by friends as a “serial entrepreneur” for his numerous business involvements, the tall and commanding Fred Hui, Nexgen Asia CEO, also paid tribute to his fellow awardees in his acceptance speech. “It’s an honor to be receiving this award—it’s an even greater honor to be placed in the same ranks with the fellow awardees. I admire and honor you, guys,” he said.
Chris Yu, executive marketing director of Volvo Philippines, also accepted the award with pride, with his wife and daughter watching in the audience. “I’ve presented few of these awards in the past, so I never thought I’d be receiving one and I’m honored for that. I’ll take a page out of Donny Pangilinan’s playbook when he received the award last year. ‘He said to acknowledge the women who made you matter as a man.’”
HSBC Philippine president and CEO Sandeep Uppal, in his recorded message, also reflected on his success as a product of team effort. “A success is never alone. I would like to share this success with a number of people who really matter—it is HSBC’s staff in the Philippines, as well as worldwide; it is HSBC customers, my family and loved ones. It’s really the inspiration that they have provided me has allowed me to be where I am today.”
Meanwhile, Chef Josh Boutwood, the man behind such restaurants as The Test Kitchen, Savage, Ember and Helm, as well 137 company-operated restaurants under the Bistro Group, said through a recorded speech: “It comes at a time when it means so much to me. To all the other recipients, congratulations! Those who were in attendance, [I] wish I was there to spend some time with you, guys, but please have a drink for me.”
Weeks before the event, Dr. Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr., seasoned bone surgeon and medical center chief of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, also one of this year’s awardees, had already confirmed that he would attend the event. But true to the nature of his profession, Pujalte skipped the event at the last minute to attend to an emergency surgery.
Despite the intermittent monsoon rains, guests trooped from various parts of the metro all the way to Alabang to witness the annual event, which was made more lively by spot numbers from the all-female trio The Singing Sensations. Guests later capped off the evening, feasting on the hearty and delicious buffet spread prepared by the hotel — that is after enjoying the musical performances of The Marcy David Band and The Singing Sensations.
PeopleAsia‘s “Men Who Matter” 2023 Party & Awards Night was staged in cooperation with The Bellevue Manila, Singapore Airlines, United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp.(COCOLIFE), Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Converge ICT Solutions Inc., NexGen Asia, The Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Angkas, Sweet Comfort Events Management, Events Central by Anna Winstel and the Philippine STAR.
