Udenna chief bags excellence award

The Udenna Management team at the EY Singapore Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Gala Night poses for posterity. In photo are (from left) Ivan Tan of Enterprise Singapore; Denis Caes, PNX Petroleum Singapore Pte Ltd (PNX SG) Chief Financial Officer; Stefano Angelocola, PNX SG managing director; Bong Fadullon, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. Chief Operating Officer (PNX PH); Dennis Uy, Udenna Corporation chairman and president; Cherylyn Uy, Udenna Corporation corporate treasurer; Dettie De Claro, PNX PH chief finance officer; Chryss Damuy, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. president and CEO and John Yap, PNX SG trading manager.

Udenna Corporation chairman and president Dennis Uy added another feather to his cap as he clinched the ASEAN Entrepreneurial Excellence Award during EY Singapore’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Gala Night held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia in Singapore.

According to Ernst & Young LLP Singapore managing partner Max Loh, Uy’s entrepreneurial story is “truly amazing.”

“His impact extends beyond job creation through his portfolio of companies to charity-driven ventures through the Udenna Foundation and Phoenix Philippines Foundation, bringing to life how successful corporates can contribute to the society and help build a better working world — and in his case, in the Philippines,” said Loh.

The highly coveted award — which is part of EY Singapore’s EOY, the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs established by Ernst & Young Global Limited — is given to Southeast Asian business leaders who have shown excellence in their industries and significantly improved their home economies not only by providing employment but also through philanthropy and community empowerment.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year is a unique global program recognizing entrepreneurial achievement among individuals and companies. Its impressive roster of awardees has demonstrated vision, leadership and success, and work to improve the quality of life in their communities and countries.

For Uy, it’s another milestone as he has gone on to become one of the nation’s leading businessmen since establishing Udenna Corporation in Davao City in 2002.

Udenna is the parent company of Uy’s venture into distribution and retail of petroleum products through Phoenix Petroleum, the fastest-growing and leading independent oil company in the Philippines, and now the only homegrown brand among the top international industry players.

Phoenix is also the first independent oil company to be listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange after the Oil Deregulation Law was passed in 1998.

He also went into shipping and logistics via Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings, Corp., which has become the biggest shipping and logistics company in the Philippines.

Udenna has since expanded and diversified its portfolio to include property development, education, food, gaming, tourism and infrastructure.

The awarding ceremony was attended by top entrepreneurs, businessmen, and distinguished guests from across the region including Ng Chee Meng, Singapore’s current Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress.