Award-winning writer and editor Jose “Butch” Dalisay Jr. recently shared a candid moment of Teresita Sy-Coson, vice chairperson of SM Group, waiting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for her luggage. In a Facebook post on September 29, Dalisay shared a photo of Coson standing alongside other passengers at NAIA Terminal 2, patiently waiting for her belongings at the carousel.
“It tells you something when one of Asia’s richest women waits patiently for her luggage,” Dalisay wrote.
Dalisay added that Coson had attended a board meeting in Iloilo over the weekend, where he crossed paths with her group at the airport, though only she was seen waiting for her luggage.
Online commenters praised Coson for her modesty, contrasting her behavior with others in similar positions. “A very good example of simplicity and humility,” one user remarked, while another commented, “Government officials must emulate her.”
Coson, also the chairperson of BDO Unibank, is part of the Sy family, ranked among the 50 richest Filipinos by Forbes, with a combined net worth of $13 billion.
Dalisay, known for his distinguished career in literature and academia, has won multiple Palanca Awards and published over 30 books.