San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang was given the prestigious Lifetime Contributor Award for the private sector at the 2020 Asia CEO Awards, touted to be the largest business awards in the country and Asia.

SMC said Ang was given the award for his visionary leadership, significant and long-term contributions to the country, and unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The award-giving body first cited Ang’s contributions to the country, through his achievements leading SMC.

“His success in business is not only found in the Philippines but also globally. His company is instrumental in the various crucial infrastructure projects that (will) help our country not just recover but also leads us to soar even higher in terms of creating jobs, stimulating economic activities,” the Board of Judges said.

For his part, Ang said that, “To be given the same Lifetime Contributor award that was given to titans such as former President Fidel Ramos and the late SM Chairman Henry Sy Sr., is a distinction I will always be grateful for.”

“That it’s given at this very difficult and challenging time in our country’s history makes it even more meaningful,” he said, adding that the country is still in the midst of the worst crisis the world and current generations have seen.

Under Ang’s leadership, SMC, one of the country’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, has emerged as the country’s top and most consistent private sector partner against the pandemic. 

With its considerable resources, and with the help of employees, volunteers, and its partner non-profit organizations and charitable institutions, SMC initiated numerous projects to help disadvantaged sectors and communities, medical front liners, local governments, and even the national government, better cope with the impacts of COVID-19.

Its total COVID-19 response has reached P13.19 billion. This includes the largest-ever food donation drive in the country, massive donations of disinfectant alcohol from its reconfigured liquor plants; life-saving medical equipment and supplies such as RT-PCR machines and test kits, which have raised the Philippines’ overall testing capacity. 

Ang related that he had been asked many times why the company spends and gives away so much to help with the pandemic, even as it remains aggressive to expand and invest, when business and the economy are down.

“To us, the answer is simple. This crisis is unprecedented. So our response should also be unprecedented. Because what other bigger purpose is there than to help save lives? What other goal is more worthwhile than helping our country and… making it better?  What kind of Filipinos would we be if we do not show malasakit towards each other in this time of great need?” he said.  

Ang also cited that all the work that the private sector has done to grow businesses and build industries would be for nothing if the people and our economy, fail.  “So for us (in San Miguel), now is not the time to hold back. In fact, now is the time to go all out. Our country’s future depends on it,” he said.