Manny Pacquiao. AP photo
World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Black Eyed Peas founding member Allan Pineda aka Apl.de.Ap and Procter & Gamble (P&G) executive Ma. Fatima De Vera-Francisco are this year’s “BPInoy” awardees for “exceptional” global achievements.
BPInoy, now on its sixth year is an annual recognition to outstanding overseas Filipinos given by the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Southeast Asia’s oldest bank which is also celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.
The awarding ceremonies, originally scheduled on Tuesday but were postponed as Typhoon Pedring shut down the metropolis, were held yesterday at the Makati Shangri-la. But only one of the honorees, the US-based de Vera-Francisco, made it to the ceremonies.
Top BPI officials said the three honorees have inspired millions of Filipinos on their career success stories and significant contributions in the local and international field.
“We, at BPI, encourage nation-building by empowering Filipino pride and culture through the BPINoy Awards. Through this recognition, we are encouraging our modern heroes to utilize their unique strengths and become the best in the world,” said BPI executive vice president Teresita Tan.
Pacquiao, the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world, was honored for constantly making history and making an invincible name in the sports industry.
Pineda, an international record producer and music artist, was cited for making waves in the entertainment industry as a Grammy-award winning artist, producer and founding member of international hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas.
De Vera-Francisco was honored for setting a world-class standard for child’s personal care by climbing the global corporate ladder of global consumer firm P&G against all odds. Doris Dumlao