METAPHOR for LIFE

Joaquin Henson | philstar.com

It is often said that sports is a metaphor for life. And no less than PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, known as MVP, has noted that many of the values in the corporate world are related to sports – teamwork, camaraderie, working hard and passion to get the job done.

MVP’s love of sports is widely recognized. He owns the Talk ‘N’ Text franchise in the PBA and is the chief backer of the Ateneo and San Beda College varsity basketball teams. MVP is the president of the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) and chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (SBP). He supports taekwondo, track and badminton, too. Before getting hooked to playing badminton, MVP was into squash.

So when the first MVP Olympics was conceptualized to gather over 2,000 employees of 15 related companies in a three-day sportsfest, the consensus was it’s about time.

The event got off to a big start at the Meralco grounds last Friday and will end this afternoon. This morning, participants will assemble for a family three-kilometer “Mardi Gras” run where cash prizes await the best male and female finishers and the best in costume. A 12 noon Mass celebrated by Fr. Jerry Orbos is also scheduled today. The basketball finals will be played at the Meralco gym starting 2 p.m. with the entire Talk ‘N’ Text squad in the stands.

First MVP Olympics project director Patrick Gregorio, who is also Smart Sports director and ABAP secretary-general, said the event is all about getting together through sports because “lahat tayo MVP.”

Since the MVP group of companies has grown exponentially through the years, Gregorio said an event like the first MVP Olympics is the perfect vehicle to remind everyone that in the end, the driving force for excellence is unity of purpose.

First MVP Olympics chairman and PLDT senior vice president Ricky Vargas said the goals of the activity are to maximize employee participation across companies at all levels, strengthen inter-company relations to improve communications, provide a venue to strengthen inter-personal relations, promote a culture of healthy lifestyle and embrace the positive values of teamwork, hard work, competition and builds camaraderie.

The men behind the affair are Vargas, Gregorio, MVP’s executive assistant Abet Dungo and medical director Dr. Raffy Bejar.

* * * *

Gregorio listed the 15 participating companies as PLDT, Smart, Meralco, Maynilad, Burger King, Outback, Davao Doctors, Cardinal Santos, Makati Medical, Philex, Manila North Harbor, TV-5, Metro Pacific, Metro Pacific Tollways and ePLDT.

The calendar has 11 sports with 36 gold medals at stake. Basketball is the premier sport and each team is required to enlist at least five players 35 years old and above in a 16-man roster with 15 to play. Tournament commissioner Perry Martinez said a different set of five players will see action in each of the first three quarters then it will be any five at any time in the last period. Playing for Manila North Harbor are former La Salle cagers Mikee Romero and Erick Arejola and Ateneo’s Joy del Rosario. Others suiting up are Junel Ladaban and Gabby Cui of PLDT and Epok Quimpo of Smart.

Also in the calendar are billiards (9-ball pool singles), tennis (men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles), dancesport (six grades – waltz, tango, chacha, samba, rumba and jive), badminton (men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles), cheerdancing (10-15 minute routines), chess, track and field, volleyball, MVP Idol and Talentadong Pinoy. Additionally, there’s the Laro Ng Lahi where the events are patintero, water relay, tug-of-war and fruit relay (a 200-meter run with oranges, rambutans, siniguelas, melons, papayas, watermelons, calamansi and Indian mangoes passed from hand to hand). There’s also the “Shall We Dance” contest. And to top it all is the “Mardi Gras” three-kilometer run.

* * * *

SBP executive director Noli Eala and ABAP executive director Ed Picson, both broadcast veterans, emceed the opening rites last Friday.

Gregorio said the organizers even thought of a mascot – the arowana named “hijo.”

“The arowana is an expensive fish that brings good luck,” said Gregorio. “MVP has a pet arowana in his PLDT office and he calls it ‘hijo’ because that’s what his beloved mother used to call him.”

Gregorio said the overall champion will receive P200,000 and cash prizes, individual medals and the arowana mascot will be given the top three performers in each event.

“MVP is so excited,” said Gregorio. “I told him that the MVP Olympics is as big and as prestigious as the Southeast Asian Games – of course, with a little exaggeration. But kidding aside, we were very serious in organizing this sportsfest because we realize the importance of keeping all the MVP employees in tune with the MVP values, especially as we grow larger and larger. In the office or the playing field, we hope to stress the importance of passion, determination and commitment.”