Tourism greats

The Manila Overseas Press Club, Asia’s oldest and most prestigious press club, honors the movers, shakers and achievers tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of New World Makati.

The First Lady, Louise Araneta Marcos (LAM), is our guest of honor and speaker. She will award the golden solid brass trophies to the MOPC Grand Tourism Excellence honorees, assisted by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

LAM is the transformative inspiration behind the modernization of various aspects of governance, including tourism, culture and arts, the Pasig River Rehabilitation, repurposing of the Malacañan mansions, heritage preservation, health care and diplomatic relations.

DOT chief Frasco is a blue-chip lawyer in the field of international arbitration and commercial litigation, former mayor of a model city, Liloan, Cebu and has pathbreaking work as tourism czar. Our laureates:

Ramon S. Ang, chair and CEO, San Miguel Corporation

RSA is exceptional in visioning and execution in three areas: 1) airports, the three largest, NAIA, Bulacan San Miguel Aerocity and Boracay, which will service up to 150 million passengers yearly; 2) the biggest tollways franchise, enabling seamless mobility for millions and 3) SMC’s awesome range of products and services that make travel such a pleasure and meaningful experience. SMC is a significant player in hotels and upscale resorts like Boracay and Bugsuk. To minimize or eliminate flooding in Metro Manila and environs, RSA has vowed to clean up rivers and creeks, at no cost to the government and to the people.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, CEO, PLDT-Smart, Metro Pacific and Meralco

Without the businesses MVP manages marvelously with a sharp focus on governance, viability, service excellence, sustainability and inclusion, there cannot be any tourism and the world will stop: Meralco for reliable power, PLDT and Smart telco for connectivity and mobility, highways and railways to move people and goods, water and health care for all and agribusiness for basic sustenance.

SM Investments Corporation, Henry Sy family, with Amando Tetangco, chair

SMIC displays visioning and smart execution in launching and managing the best of the Philippines’ hotels and resort destinations and in offering the finest in shopping and dining experiences in its 88 malls. Its BDO-China Bank has the largest and most inclusive network empowering many tourism-related SMEs and contributing to a fulfilling travel experience.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chair, Ayala Corporation

The oldest conglomerate is remarkable for its tourism entrepreneurship and destination development. With 2,826 rooms, 11 hotels and three islands, Ayala is premier in high-end resorts, island development, upscale and mid-level hospitality rooms.

Alliance Global Group, Inc., Kevin Tan, CEO

Kevin and dad Andrew built the largest hotel portfolio and premium lifestyle conglomerate and are the biggest in the player and leisure sector, owning five hotel brands, 8,140 rooms and 7,700 seats of convention capacity.

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., with Rafael Aboitiz, head of Aboitiz Airports

With amazing speed, the Aboitiz group bagged the three biggest airports of the south – Mactan Cebu, Laguindingan and Bohol Panglao. The three gateways will soon serve over 20 million passengers a year. Aboitiz contributes to people’s upliftment with Aboitiz airports, water and digital infra investments.

Globe Telecom, Inc., Carl Raymond R. Cruz, president/CEO

Globe has exceptional mobility and seamless connectivity service that makes life better for most Filipinos, including millions of travelers who are never away from home or office, and for its GCash financial inclusion that makes for memorable and wonderful dining, shopping and travel experiences.

Clark Development Corporation, Atty. Agnes Devanadera, president and CEO

This tough as nails lawyer repurposed sprawling Clark, once the premier military base in Asia, into a major tourism and leisure destination for foreign tourists and domestic Filipino travelers by providing, with elan and excellence, the five major needs of tourists – lodging, dining, shopping, sightseeing and escape and leisure, in an area that is clean, green, safe, accessible and complete.

Discovery World, Christopher John AD Tiu, executive director

For award-winning resorts and super hotels in prime destinations like Boracay, Coron, El Nido, Davao, Manami and Ortigas, and for related businesses such as cruises, diving programs, hotel-shopping strips, hotels for the young, well-planned communities and renewables like solar.

Alejandra “Dading” Clemente, founder, Rajah Tours and Travel

She pioneered the travel and tours business in the last 45 years through grit, management skill, marketing prowess and service excellence, thus helping put the Philippines on the world map and empowering Filipino travelers and foreign visitors to enjoy the best deals and the best attractions at the most optimum price while using the latest in travel technology.

Amit Oberoi, GM, Shangri-la BGC

He is 2025 Hotel GM of the Year for exceptional management in over 15 years of four Shangri-La properties – the Shangri-La in BGC, Makati, Boracay and EDSA – and enabling Filipino travelers to savor the best in dining and lodging experiences, topped by his warmth and engaging personality.

Nantha Kumar, GM, New World Hotel

He is the MOPC 2025 Hotel GM of the Year for making New World the highest-rated five-star hotel in Makati, turning it around financially, making the hotel the go-to destination for escape, family getaway, meaningful celebrations, meetings and conventions and other milestones of hospitality.

Rodeo Masbateño, Inc. by the Espinosa family

They made Masbate the Rodeo Capital of the Philippines by showcasing the cowboy skill game as a unique cultural festival, an inimitable rural tourism attraction and a destination magnet, while promoting the province’s cattle and livestock industry.

Sonya’s Garden, Sonya Garcia, founder and visionary

She smells the flowers. She has exceptional entrepreneurship in developing and nurturing a specialty garden, dining and hotel destination up above the clouds and amid her lush gardens in Tagaytay, where love and good tidings are whispered while one partakes of an enticing explosion of flavors, feelings, concoctions and delectable dishes only Sonya can deliver with aplomb, warmth, wondrous smile and service.

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