THIS is one rare instance when corporate rivals San Miguel Corp and the MVP group are on the same page.
SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang not only delivered on his promise of a P20 million for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), he threw in an additional P30M to make it a P50-million windfall for the body headed by men allied with his longtime business rival Manny V. Pangilinan.
POC president Ricky Vargas, MVP's most trusted lieutenant, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Ang and SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua for the financial help that he said will go a long way in boosting the cause of Filipino athletes and Philippine sports in general.
Vargas personally received the check after making a courtesy call on Ang and Chua at the SMC headquarters in Ortigas on Wednesday accompanied by POC secretary-general Patrick Gregorio.
"I was pleasantly shocked and momentarily speechless," said Vargas after the turnover of the financial support.
"The P20 million was already generous. But the additional P30 million highlights the commitment of San Miguel and Mr. Ang to Philippine sports. I am beyond grateful."
Ang told Vargas that SMC has always been willing to be a 'sports godfather,' saying sports plays an important role in building a nation's character.
Chua, it turned out, recommended the additional financial support as SMC's way of fully supporting the leadership program of Vargas in the POC.
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