MVP, Zobel, 7 others conferred papal award

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) chairman and president Manuel V. Pangilinan and eight others were conferred the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at the Manila Cathedral last Wednesday.

The award, which translates to “For Church and Pope,” is an honor given by the pope to the laity for their service to the Catholic Church. First instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, the gold medal features the images of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

“You are sent to look for many opportunities to do good for others and to make more of our brothers and sisters feel God’s care, compassion, healing and love through you,” said Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, on behalf of Pope Francis, during the awarding.

Of the nine awardees, Pangilinan, Ayala Corp. board director Fernando Zobel de Ayala, PHINMA Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Ramon del Rosario Jr. are part of the board of trustees of Caritas Manila.

UnionBank former senior vice president Maria Goolsby and businessman Arnulfo Veridico are long-time supporters of the archdiocese’s social action arm.

The same recognition, the highest papal award for the laity, was conferred on Roselina Quismundo, Elmer Sy, Tomasita Lim and Corazon Rodriguez from the Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Joseph in Manila’s Sta. Cruz district.

The conferment took place during the concelebrated mass that Advincula presided. Also present was Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, currently the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and who previously served as archbishop of Manila.

In his homily, Cardinal Advincula said the cross medals given to the awardees were the Church’s way of saying “thank you” for their unwavering commitment, exemplary service and outstanding contributions to Church and society.

However, receiving these awards should not make them feel that they are entitled because it does not give them a ticket to heaven. “The truth is this award is not even an assurance of entrance to heaven.”

While they receive the honor of being a papal awardee, Advincula reminded them to “wear this medal with humility. Although this award comes from the Pope, it does not raise your status in the Church nor make you better Christians.

“You are here because your lives demonstrate how you allowed God to work through you. Your good works are not yours. They are God’s works, and you are just his instruments. Any goodness that we do springs, not from us, but from the source of all goodness, God himself,” Advincula added.

He also told the awardees that they should continue doing good for others and make them feel God’s compassion and healing.

“The award does not mean that you can already retire from the services that you do. On the contrary, the award means you must continue. You must do more. And you are sent to be models to inspire others to follow the path of love and service. You are commissioned to be beacons of light. And ‘your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father’,” the Manila archbishop added.

Pangilinan, for his part, gave assurance that he would continue to support other philanthropic organizations on top of the various foundations he leads.

“I think that the work Caritas Manila does, and our foundations, is really to be not too self-interested, and to be mindful of others. After all, what are we here on Earth for except to benefit humanity,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan is a long-time supporter and member of the board of trustees of Caritas Manila, the leading social service arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, which implements various charitable programs nationwide.

He also sits as chairman of the One Meralco Foundation, the corporate social development arm of Meralco, which is dedicated to spreading the light to underserved communities across the country. –  Richmond Mercurio