Details of the eventful day emerged weeks later, offering a glimpse into how the billionaire businessman, tougher with his wife, Converge co-founder Maria Grace Uy, chose to spend the occasion.
About 600 employees from Converge, partner firm Magnus and affiliated companies were treated to breakfast in Pampanga, with meals featuring tocino, longganisa, corned beef, eggs and fried rice.
Assistance was also distributed to about 1,700 jeepney drivers in Angeles City through their transport associations.
Uy hosted a separate breakfast gathering for around 100 family members and friends was held at Museo Ning Angeles following a church mass.
Guests were served traditional Kapampangan dishes including tidtad, sotanghon guisado, goto-arroz caldo, tokwa’t baboy, torta, assorted suman and tsokolateng batirol.
Born in China, Uy migrated to Angeles City as a child and grew up under the guidance of his uncle Johnny Uy, helping in the family’s grocery business in Angeles, Pampanga.
Those modest beginnings stand in sharp contrast to his later rise as the founder of Converge and one of the Philippines’ top billionaires.
Converge also held masses and simple food gatherings at its Pasig and Bonifacio Global City offices, where employees were served snacks such as hotdogs and fish balls.
The celebration concluded with a private dinner at Manila House, bringing together about 150 family members, close friends and business associates.
The occasion offered a reminder that even after joining the ranks of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, Uy has not forgotten where he started.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
