National dev’t projects boosted Ramon Ang, MVP media coverage — study

Insider Spotlight

• Ramon S. Ang (San Miguel) and Manuel V. Pangilinan (Meralco) led CEO visibility
• Coverage tied to projects linked to national development
• Financial results plus vision drove positive narratives
• Sustainability strong in media; ethics absent from discussion

San Miguel Corp. chair Ramon S. Ang and Meralco chair Manuel V. Pangilinan dominated local media narratives among top CEOs in the first half of 2025, according to a new study by media intelligence firm CARMA.

Their prominence reflects how large-scale infrastructure and development projects continue to shape CEO reputations in the Philippines.

Driving the news

CARMA’s CEO Media Index reviewed Tier-1 Filipino media coverage from January to June 2025, analyzing how the country’s most-mentioned CEOs are portrayed.

The report said: “Pangilinan and Ang had the largest media presence, due to projects tied to national development.”

It also noted that financial reporting alone was insufficient to generate favorable coverage. Leaders who combined results with strategy, communication, and vision gained stronger reputational standing.

“CEOs who paired financial reporting with clear vision, strategic guidance, and strong communication were seen positively, even amid mixed company performance,” the study said.

Apart from Ang and Pangilinan, Land Bank of the Philippines president Lynette V. Ortiz led in digital transformation visibility, and Globe Telecom president Carl Raymond Cruz emerged as a thought leader in technology.

All CEOs scored positively in terms of favorability. However, most rarely appeared in headlines, with the exception of Cruz, who received significant headline attention following his April 2025 appointment as Globe Telecom CEO.

Personal lives of CEOs were of interest with high coverage of Puregold president Ferdinand Vincent P. Co tied to now-confirmed dating rumors with actress Bea Alonzo. 

By the numbers

• 43 percent of all coverage highlighted sustainability initiatives
• None focused significantly on ethical behavior
• Both Ang and Pangilinan consistently featured in development-related coverage, underscoring their companies’ roles in the national economy.

Why it matters

The findings highlight the media’s preference for CEOs who are visibly tied to nation-building efforts. Ang’s expansive infrastructure projects and Pangilinan’s leadership in energy and utilities gave them unmatched visibility.

But the study also points to a reputational blind spot: while sustainability dominates narratives, ethical behavior rarely enters the discussion—an omission that could affect how trust in business leaders evolves.

The bottom line

Ang and Pangilinan remain at the forefront of CEO media coverage in the Philippines, driven by their roles in major national projects. Yet the lack of ethical leadership narratives reveals a gap in how corporate reputation is framed in the press, the study explained.