MANILA, Philippines — Besides being a prominent figure in the Philippine business industry, Manny V. Pangilinan, known to many as MVP, is recognized for his bonafide support of the country’s sports scene. He established the MVP Sports Foundation Inc. (MVPSF) in 2011, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering local athletes by providing them opportunities to better their skills and compete in various tournaments. Moreover, it also aims to pave the way for Filipino athletes to successfully obtain medals in worldwide sports competitions, the most prestigious of which is the Olympics.
MVP’s love for sports and MVPSF’s vision are shown in a way that connects all of his companies, and that is through the MVPO– an athletic event where employees from the MVP Group of Companies gain the same relentless spirit and drive through various sports competitions and talent events.
Precision on Point. MPTC exhibits extensive game knowledge and team collaboration in the Billiards – Doubles category. All photos from MVPO
What is MVPO?
Since 2010, the annual sports event has championed the Filipinos’ burning passion and commitment towards athleticism. It remains steadfast in promoting camaraderie among the MVP Group of Companies, temporarily setting aside work rivalry and biases to strengthen one communal bond.
With the theme “Tuloy ang Alab, Tuloy ang Laban,” 10 corporations have begun their relentless quest for victory this year, showcasing their excellence not only in the market but also inside the playing field. MVPO 2024 features Meralco, PLDT, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Smart/Maya, First Pacific Leadership Academy, Philex Mining, Media Quest, and Metro Pacific Investments to complete all 26 exciting competitions.
The athletic event is an ongoing activity, which kicked off last May 17, 2024, at the Meralco Grounds. Starting with a series of fun and easy-level games, the participating teams brought out their inner competitiveness in the human hamster race, group sack race, executive egg toss, and wooden ski race. This served as a warm-up stage for several individual and group sports tournaments, such as badminton, basketball, billiards, bowling, chess, crossfit, dancesport, darts, golf, eSports, fun run, table tennis, tennis, track and field, obstacle course racing, and volleyball. There also is an ultimate frisbee event.
Some competitions are arts and performance-based, with the addition of executive cosplay, battle of the bands, broadway musical, Ms. MVPO, and street dance.
Now on its third leg, MVPO 2024 has dedicated the whole month of July for badminton, darts, and tennis, and is set to conclude in October.
Game of Intelligence. The top-seeded Meralco team plays against Metro Pacific Health during the chess competition.
How does sportsmanship bridge the gap between companies?
MVP’s care towards his employees appears to transcend office matters, prioritizing everyone’s overall well-being. Through MVPO 2024, the employees get to take a break from work, have a healthy body, and most importantly, develop a deeper level of connection with their officemates.
Aside from the fitness benefits, the athletic gathering promotes trust and open communication to establish an efficient working system and rise through the ranks. Signing up for games, solo or team, allows employees to get to know one another and encourages friendly competition that can even stretch from the playing ground to the workplace.
This blurs out the division between companies, building a rich culture of collaboration and respect for each representative. In fact, it is important to note that MVPO also plays a pivotal role in honing the employees’ character and motivation level to perform through the years.
MVPSF President Al Panlilio said, “The MVP Sports Foundation is often related to our support of our elite athletes. We’re proud to be a part of the Olympic journey of many athletes heading to Paris 2024.”
“However, our mission is more than that. While we aim to empower Filipino athletes from the grassroots and help them progress, we also want everyone to participate in sports because this supports personal development and helps create a culture of sportsmanship and winning. This is aligned with the vision of MVP for his employees to have a healthy lifestyle. This is why the MVPO is an important banner under our organization. It uplifts the competitiveness of the participants while also strengthening the unity of our people,” he added.
What is the participating teams’ current standing?
As of writing, Meralco sits comfortably on top, with six gold medals, two silver, and one bronze to register 38 overall points from its recent back-to-back wins in Street Dance and Battle of the Bands competition. However, nothing is set in stone yet for the electricity provider, as PLDT stays close with 36 points—only two markers behind the leading team.
With two gold, six silver, and four bronze medals, PLDT is consistent in its appearance as a podium finisher across 12 game departments, such as chess, billiards, golf, and bowling. Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. also followed suit to secure the third spot with 25 points, while Maynilad dominated the executive cosplay to earn 21 points.
Metro Pacific Health has two golds and one bronze under its belt at fifth. Conversely, completing the bottom half teams are Smart/Maya First Pacific Leadership Academy, Philex Mining, Media Quest, and Metro Pacific Investments.
MVPO 2024 is far from being over and has several games to offer. Thus, the current standing still can be shaken up, giving the losing teams the prospect to redeem themselves and turn it around.
While this may seem trivial to others, the athletic event is an extension of MVP himself and signifies his overflowing love for sports and his people. Through it, his employees absorb the same characteristics, allowing them to build healthy relationships.
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