| Mark Vega Pangilinan Agana, Guam Guam's Most Valuable Person - A Builder of Empire Business Tycoon and Civic Leader of Distinction |
Mark Vega Pangilinan, whose "MVP" initial stands for "most
valuable person," is indeed a most valuable person. This pure
blooded Filipino indelibly stamped his marks all over the island
Guam. Mark's Shopping Center (department stores); Mark's
Insurance Underwriters, Inc. (insurance); Mark's Motor Co., Inc.
(distributor of Honda cars and motorcycles); and Mark's sporting
goods are just a few to mention. Mark V. Pangilinan has his
hands as an owner, or president, chief executive office or as
chairman of the board of various businesses in the island. In
addition to the ones with Mark's marking, he also owns Guam
Office Supply for office supplies; Ace Hardware for building
supplies; Ben Franklin for variety store; the Guam Amusement
Park, Inc.; the The Guam Tribune; and the Sinajana Shopping Mall.
"I'm a one-man corporation," stated Mark in an interview conducted
by another magazine. "When it comes to business, I answer only
to myself." Indeed, he takes direct control of management and
operations for fourteen (14) of his retailing, real estates and
publishing businesses. Mark is the energetic and dynamic
President and Chairman of the Board of M.V. Pangilinan
Enterprises. On a daily schedule, he meets with the division
heads of his businesses to personally check the pulse of the
valuable person," is indeed a most valuable person. This pure
blooded Filipino indelibly stamped his marks all over the island
Guam. Mark's Shopping Center (department stores); Mark's
Insurance Underwriters, Inc. (insurance); Mark's Motor Co., Inc.
(distributor of Honda cars and motorcycles); and Mark's sporting
goods are just a few to mention. Mark V. Pangilinan has his
hands as an owner, or president, chief executive office or as
chairman of the board of various businesses in the island. In
addition to the ones with Mark's marking, he also owns Guam
Office Supply for office supplies; Ace Hardware for building
supplies; Ben Franklin for variety store; the Guam Amusement
Park, Inc.; the The Guam Tribune; and the Sinajana Shopping Mall.
"I'm a one-man corporation," stated Mark in an interview conducted
by another magazine. "When it comes to business, I answer only
to myself." Indeed, he takes direct control of management and
operations for fourteen (14) of his retailing, real estates and
publishing businesses. Mark is the energetic and dynamic
President and Chairman of the Board of M.V. Pangilinan
Enterprises. On a daily schedule, he meets with the division
heads of his businesses to personally check the pulse of the
operations of each one of them. He likes a direct daily rapport with the managers of his businesses which is
now an empire ranking among the top five businesses in Guam. In terms of sales, it is Guam's most
diversified group of companies whose net assets exceeds more than $35 million.
All Mark's five children have been nurtured, developed and trained to ably assist him in his empire-building
venture. As part of the training, the eldest, David, was the manager of Guam Furniture Mart, Mark's LP Gas
and Mark's Laundromat. Mark, Jr. was the General Manager of Ben Franklin, Cerila was the Assistant Buyer
at Mark's Shopping Center, Genedine was the Operations Manager at Mark's Sporting Goods while John, the
youngest, was sent to the University of California to take up business and finance courses. Mark's youngest
brother, Bert Pangilinan, was a Manager at Mark's Sporting Goods. Currently, the Pangilinan children are all
involved in the helm of leadership of the Pangilinan empire.
Born and raised in the Philippine in town of Mexico, province of Pampanga, Mark worked as a radioman after
the Second World War aboard a merchant marine vessel that traded between the Philippines, Okinawa and
Guam. Taking advantage of his frequent stopover in Guam where most of the laborers were from the
Philippines, reconstructing the island that was totally destroyed by the Japanese, Mark brought with him
Philippine food and products and sold these items to the Filipino laborers.
In June 15, 1946, he decided to migrate to Guam and two years later, he married Guadalupe Torres, a
Chammorri, a native of Guam. Starting with a $5,000 bank loan and a very supportive wife, Mark, slowly and
surely charted his empire-building. First, he operated a tailoring shop and a year later, in 1949, he formally
established the Agana Men's Shop. Three years later in 1952, he opened Bataan Restaurant and Guam
Furniture Mart. Successfully nurturing these businesses for eight years, in the 60's, he started taking off like a
jet in establishing one business venture after another business venture. In 1963, he started the Shoe Store
and the following year, the Mark's Walgreen. In 1966, he inaugurated his variety store, Ben Franklin. Two
years later, he established the Mark's Insurance Underwriters. In 1969, he opened two businesses: Ace
Hardware ( the old location was originally his Manila Trading Company); and Mark's Motors, originally known
as the Mark's Ramblers.
In the '70's, Mark continued diversifying and adding new businesses to his now lucrative empire. In 1971, he
opened the Mark's L.P. Gas (Micro Gas) and two years later, he successfully launched the Mark's Shopping
Center - an addition connected the Mark's Men's Apparel, Mark's Shoe Store and the Mark's Walgreen. In
1974, he built the Guam Amusement Park which later was converted into Yigo Shopping Center. He followed
this move by relocating Ben Franklin to a new 5-storey building. In 1977, he converted his variety store into
Mark's Shopping Goods, and in 1979, he went into publishing by starting the "The Guam Tribune" which
evolved into the "The Guam Shopper's Guide."
The 80's was Mark's crowning decade. A total of nine (9) business decisions were made for his now very
flourishing empire. In 1981, Mark moved his Ace Hardware to a new location. In 1982 alone, an additional five
major moves were brilliantly executed by Mark. The Mark's Sporting Goods relocated to a new 3-storey
building, next to Ben Franklin. Mark purchased the Brig Restaurant, Mark's Laundromat, Mark's Music Store
and restructured the Guam Tribune.
In 1983, a disaster hit Mark. Mark's Shopping Center burned down - thus, forcing Mark to move the business
to the old Ace Hardware location. In 1984, Mark purchased the Guam Office Supply and in 1985, Ace
Hardware opened it's doors to the public in Tamuning.
At 65, Mark has no intention of retiring. The remarkable energy of the man with the boyish good looks enjoys
immensely his accomplishments by getting personally involved with the day-to-day operations of his empire.
Last November 9, 1991, the Government of Guam proclaimed the date as "Mark V. Pangilinan Day." In a
dinner held in his honor, Governor Joseph F. Ada, Ltd. Gov. Frank F. Blas and U.S. Congressman Ben Blaz
and other VIPs of Guam, extolled Mark and heaped all kinds of deserving praises and accolades to this
Filipino whose humble beginning of a $5,000 bank loan has been mushrooming and literally is involved in
various business ventures imaginable.
The highest award of Guam, the Ancient Order of the Chammorri, was twice awarded to Mark V. Pangilinan.
He has served on several commissions and has been receiving several dozes of awards from business and
civic organizations. In 1974, he was named as one of the Most Outstanding Filipino Overseas. He also was
the recipient of Pope Paul's Pro-Ecclesia Pontificate for services rendered to the Catholic Church.
Mark's civil activities are as busy as his empire building. For the University of Guam, he was former Chairman
of the Board of Regents. He was also former Chairman of the Board of Directors for Guam Power Authority
and was Campaign Chairman of Guam for the American National Red Cross. He is a member of the Civilian
Advisory Council of the Strategic Air Command, SAC-USAF. Mark is the official spokesman of several Filipino
organizations, including the Filipino Community of Guam.
The popular Philippine Consul General in Guam, the Honorable George G. Aducayen, Jr., sums it all up:
"Mark V. Pangilinan is not only an example of a great Filipino, but also a great son of Guam."
- Nonoy Mendoza
now an empire ranking among the top five businesses in Guam. In terms of sales, it is Guam's most
diversified group of companies whose net assets exceeds more than $35 million.
All Mark's five children have been nurtured, developed and trained to ably assist him in his empire-building
venture. As part of the training, the eldest, David, was the manager of Guam Furniture Mart, Mark's LP Gas
and Mark's Laundromat. Mark, Jr. was the General Manager of Ben Franklin, Cerila was the Assistant Buyer
at Mark's Shopping Center, Genedine was the Operations Manager at Mark's Sporting Goods while John, the
youngest, was sent to the University of California to take up business and finance courses. Mark's youngest
brother, Bert Pangilinan, was a Manager at Mark's Sporting Goods. Currently, the Pangilinan children are all
involved in the helm of leadership of the Pangilinan empire.
Born and raised in the Philippine in town of Mexico, province of Pampanga, Mark worked as a radioman after
the Second World War aboard a merchant marine vessel that traded between the Philippines, Okinawa and
Guam. Taking advantage of his frequent stopover in Guam where most of the laborers were from the
Philippines, reconstructing the island that was totally destroyed by the Japanese, Mark brought with him
Philippine food and products and sold these items to the Filipino laborers.
In June 15, 1946, he decided to migrate to Guam and two years later, he married Guadalupe Torres, a
Chammorri, a native of Guam. Starting with a $5,000 bank loan and a very supportive wife, Mark, slowly and
surely charted his empire-building. First, he operated a tailoring shop and a year later, in 1949, he formally
established the Agana Men's Shop. Three years later in 1952, he opened Bataan Restaurant and Guam
Furniture Mart. Successfully nurturing these businesses for eight years, in the 60's, he started taking off like a
jet in establishing one business venture after another business venture. In 1963, he started the Shoe Store
and the following year, the Mark's Walgreen. In 1966, he inaugurated his variety store, Ben Franklin. Two
years later, he established the Mark's Insurance Underwriters. In 1969, he opened two businesses: Ace
Hardware ( the old location was originally his Manila Trading Company); and Mark's Motors, originally known
as the Mark's Ramblers.
In the '70's, Mark continued diversifying and adding new businesses to his now lucrative empire. In 1971, he
opened the Mark's L.P. Gas (Micro Gas) and two years later, he successfully launched the Mark's Shopping
Center - an addition connected the Mark's Men's Apparel, Mark's Shoe Store and the Mark's Walgreen. In
1974, he built the Guam Amusement Park which later was converted into Yigo Shopping Center. He followed
this move by relocating Ben Franklin to a new 5-storey building. In 1977, he converted his variety store into
Mark's Shopping Goods, and in 1979, he went into publishing by starting the "The Guam Tribune" which
evolved into the "The Guam Shopper's Guide."
The 80's was Mark's crowning decade. A total of nine (9) business decisions were made for his now very
flourishing empire. In 1981, Mark moved his Ace Hardware to a new location. In 1982 alone, an additional five
major moves were brilliantly executed by Mark. The Mark's Sporting Goods relocated to a new 3-storey
building, next to Ben Franklin. Mark purchased the Brig Restaurant, Mark's Laundromat, Mark's Music Store
and restructured the Guam Tribune.
In 1983, a disaster hit Mark. Mark's Shopping Center burned down - thus, forcing Mark to move the business
to the old Ace Hardware location. In 1984, Mark purchased the Guam Office Supply and in 1985, Ace
Hardware opened it's doors to the public in Tamuning.
At 65, Mark has no intention of retiring. The remarkable energy of the man with the boyish good looks enjoys
immensely his accomplishments by getting personally involved with the day-to-day operations of his empire.
Last November 9, 1991, the Government of Guam proclaimed the date as "Mark V. Pangilinan Day." In a
dinner held in his honor, Governor Joseph F. Ada, Ltd. Gov. Frank F. Blas and U.S. Congressman Ben Blaz
and other VIPs of Guam, extolled Mark and heaped all kinds of deserving praises and accolades to this
Filipino whose humble beginning of a $5,000 bank loan has been mushrooming and literally is involved in
various business ventures imaginable.
The highest award of Guam, the Ancient Order of the Chammorri, was twice awarded to Mark V. Pangilinan.
He has served on several commissions and has been receiving several dozes of awards from business and
civic organizations. In 1974, he was named as one of the Most Outstanding Filipino Overseas. He also was
the recipient of Pope Paul's Pro-Ecclesia Pontificate for services rendered to the Catholic Church.
Mark's civil activities are as busy as his empire building. For the University of Guam, he was former Chairman
of the Board of Regents. He was also former Chairman of the Board of Directors for Guam Power Authority
and was Campaign Chairman of Guam for the American National Red Cross. He is a member of the Civilian
Advisory Council of the Strategic Air Command, SAC-USAF. Mark is the official spokesman of several Filipino
organizations, including the Filipino Community of Guam.
The popular Philippine Consul General in Guam, the Honorable George G. Aducayen, Jr., sums it all up:
"Mark V. Pangilinan is not only an example of a great Filipino, but also a great son of Guam."
- Nonoy Mendoza
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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