MANILA, Philippines – The photo of Teresita "Tessie" Sy-Coson patiently waiting at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 was admired on social media.
In a Facebook post by University of the Philippines (UP) professor Jose Dalisay last Sunday, September 29, the photo of Coson waiting with her luggage at NAIA Terminal 2 can be seen.
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| Photo courtesy: Jose Dalisay (Facebook) |
“ATM (at the moment), at NAIA Terminal 2. It tells you something when one of Asia’s richest women waits patiently for her luggage to come off the carousel,” he said.
SEE ALSO: The greatest lesson Teresita Sy-Coson learned from her late father and SM founder Henry Sy Sr.
“The board of one of her companies had a meeting in Iloilo over the weekend, and we met some of them taking a tour of the city, and we met them again at the Iloilo airport, but I saw none of the others at the carousel, with assistants presumably delivering their baggage to their cars,” he added.
Many netizens were pleased because, despite being one of the richest business people in the Philippines and Asia, Tessie was not entitled and did not call for assistance for herself.
“A very good example!”
“I admire her as a leader.”
“Tessie Sy Coson has always behaved that way. Simple and unentitled. I wish more CEOs were like her. The Gokongwei family are the same.”
“A very good example of simplicity and humility. Mabuhay po kayo.”
“Good example!! Government officials must emulate her…”
“I worked for her spouse. I went to their house one Saturday and she was in their kitchen tutoring her daughter.”
“Feels good seeing this. And contrasts sharply with some others I have seen who behave like they are entitled.”
Coson is the vice chairperson of SM Investments, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, founded by her father, Henry Sy.
It can be recalled that the Sy siblings topped the list of the Top 10 richest people in the Philippines, according to the ranking released by Forbes in August 2024.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
