BIRTHDAY celebrator MVP (left) is joined by Gov. Pineda and Mayor Tetangco in raising symbols of their support to the planting of 66,000 trees in the country. Behind them is PLDT President and CEO Napoleon Nazareno.
Photo by Joey Pavia
APALIT, Pampanga – Manuel V. Pangilinan and his group of companies invested heavily for the future generation when they decided to plant at least 66,000 trees all over the country as part of the special birthday gift for the business tycoon who turned 66-years-old Saturday.
This, according to environmentalist Cecile Yumul who is leading an advocacy to save at least 1,100 full-grown trees along the stretch of the MacArthur Highway in Pampanga from the planned expansion of the national highway pushed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Yumul, spokesperson of the Save the Trees Coalition, said the investment of Pangilinan ‘is significant” considering he is influential not just in the country but internationally.
Yumul said the Pangilinan group’s project to plant thousands of trees should inspire other firms in the country and abroad to “invest in saving Mother Earth.”
Yumul said other businessmen and prominent personalities should celebrate important occasions in their lives “with meaning such as what MVP did.” She added that trees are “truly beneficial and will last forever compared to statues.”
Yumul stressed that Pangilinan had “paid forward” the future of children and the unborn.
The MVP group of companies, including TV 5 president and CEO Ray C. Espinosa, gave Pangilinan a gift of 66,000 trees. The first two numbers of Pangilinan’s gift symbolize his age.
Environmental sustainability is among the priorities of Pangilinan and his companies, including Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company and Smart Communications.
AN INSPIRATION
Pangilinan, who traces his roots in Apalit town, was described as an inspiration and model “in achieving big in life” by Gov. Lilia Pineda.
Pineda vowed to give 6,000 trees, while Apalit Mayor Oscar “Jun” Tetangco pledged the same number as their share in the “special gift” to Pangilinan during the celebration of his birthday here.
Pineda said Pangilinan had inspired and influenced her and her fellow Capampangans in working hard to achieve success in their respective endeavor.
“More importantly, MVP made us ponder more about development and businesses that really keep the economy running, especially during crisis,” said Pineda in the dialect.
“If you are beside Mr. Pangilinan, most of the time he will talk about achievable economic plans for Pampanga and the rest of the country. As I have said before, I learned a lot from him in just a few hours of conversation,” she added.
Pineda said Pampanga had always been close to the heart of Pangilinan as he allotted last year at least P10 million for a study on how make flood waters useful instead of destructive to lives, investments and properties in the province yearly.
The Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI) chaired by Pangilinan and Pampanga provincial government entered in a memorandum of understanding for the said study.
Apalit, some 50 kilometers north of Manila, is one the flood-prone areas in the province’s fourth district.
Pineda and Tetangco joined Pangilinan in a morning Mass at the St. Peter’s Church officiated by Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.
Dennis Capulong, top aide of Mayor Tetangco, said Pangilinan “started to celebrate his birthday in Apalit a few years ago when Mayor Jun was already at helm.”
Pangilinan, who usually wears suits and barong Tagalog in public and company meetings, was wearing a green polo shirt on Saturday. Green is associated with care for the environment and nature around the world.
Through the PLDT-Smart Foundation, Pangilinan turned over P3.5 million to the midwives of the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF). The donation will be used to build 12 birthing clinics, said Mayor Tetangco who hosted the breakfast for the birthday celebrator.
Pangilinan, who speaks the Capampangan language, also donated P850,000 to the Aklat Gabay Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa to build two “Silid-Pangarap” classroom buildings equipped with books and school supplies, at the Apalit-Sampaga Elementary School. He also handed over wheelchairs, walkers and prosthetics to the KDF and its beneficiaries.
