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In a July 2024 briefing, 80-year-old tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan laid out the blueprint for passing the torch across his sprawling business empire—from telecoms and power to toll roads and media. The specifics: look for leaders in their 30s and early 40s who are digitally fluent, not legacy managers with traditional degrees. Today, April 5, 2025, his comments remain relevant as the MVP group pushes into AI data centers, renewable energy, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Pangilinan told reporters he had already asked HR to identify the first tier of successors below him—and the second tier after that. “I have a few names already, younger people,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. The succession challenge is unique because the MVP group isn’t a single listed conglomerate like the Sys or Gokongweis. It’s a web of publicly traded and private companies anchored on PLDT, Meralco, Metro Pacific Investments, and MediaQuest, each with its own board and shareholder base.
The tycoon compared the process to assembling an all-star basketball team—his favorite sport. Instead of one MVP (Most Valuable Player), he needs multiple leaders who can run different plays across vastly different industries. Pangilinan stepped down as PLDT president in 2021 only to return in 2024 after his successor Al Panlilio resigned for health reasons, underscoring how delicate handing over the reins can be.
Tech fluency is non-negotiable. “They can’t be the run-of-the-mill legacy guys majored in HRM or home economics,” Pangilinan said bluntly. The next generation must be IT-oriented because the group is investing heavily in AI-ready data centers (via PLDT’s VITRO REIT), large-scale renewable energy projects, and electric vehicle charging networks. Industry observers note that this mirrors a global trend: family-run conglomerates in Southeast Asia are increasingly prioritizing digital literacy in succession planning, often bypassing traditional management tracks.
Meralco’s solar pivot and EV play. Pangilinan also detailed where the utility’s growth will come from. Rooftop solar installations are eating into Meralco’s conventional electricity sales, but instead of fighting the trend, he wants Meralco to lead it. “You don’t need a franchise to solarize Cebu City, Davao City, wherever,” he noted. The company will target commercial and industrial customers first, then scale to households—despite the operational headaches of permits and installation. On electric vehicles, he sees Meral
