Zest-O’s Yao new ‘Grand MVP Bossing’

Former ambassador Alfredo Yao, whose ventures include juice maker Zest-O, its spin-off airline Zest Airways (now AirAsia Zest ) and Philippine Business Bank, was awarded the Grand MVP Bossing title last week, an annual nationwide search for top Filipino entrepreneurs, a statement last week showed.

The search, organized by Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Go Negosyo, also awarded six other “Bossings.”

These were Catherine Dizon-Posas of Dizon Farms, Dr. Mary Chan of Ideal Vision, Michael Deakin of Lifeline Ambulance Rescue Inc., Felix and Prudencio Garcia of Mekeni Food Corp., Glenn Yu of Seaoil Philippines Inc. and Dr. Genevieve Ledesma-Tan of Southville International School and Colleges, the statement showed.

Special awards were also conferred to the Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team and Philip Golding of S&L Fine Foods Inc.

“The best traits of the Filipino always shine through during these difficult and challenging times. As we continue to celebrate the ‘Gilas’ of the Filipino, we also aim to recognize and honor the resiliency of our countrymen in these trying times,” PLDT First Vice President and Head of PLDT SME Nation Kat Luna-Abelarde said in the statement.

“The Filipino spirit of bayanihan continues to live and is well pronounced today, as we witness many of our kababayans contribute their time, talents and resources to make sure that our countrymen get relief in the soonest time possible. Our Bossings, along with PLDT, have dedicated this evening for the victims of Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda,’” she added.

Through the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), PLDT SME Nation and the SMEs pledged to contribute funds to help rebuild the affected areas of the typhoon through “Blocks of Hope.”

Bossings throughout the years have also partnered with PLDT SME Nation to raise funds and awareness on how to help the victims of the recent calamities such as the shirt drive of Jay Aldeguer’s Cebu-based Islands Souvenirs.

Aside from honoring local businesses, the MVP Bossing Awards was also part of the international celebration of Global Entrepreneurship week, from Nov. 18-24.

This is the biggest international celebration of entrepreneurship with over 35,000 events marking the festivities by more than a hundred countries.

The MVP Bossing Awards was also made possible with the support of Smart Communications, Meralco, Maynilad, Philex Mining Corporation, TV5, ePLDT, and Manila North Tollways Corp.