 In 1976, Pangilinan relocated to Hong Kong as executive director at Bancom International, an investment bank, where he gained experience in international finance.He then went on to the American Express in Hong Kong as an investment banker

In Hong Kong, Pangilinan co-founded First Pacific in 1981 with Liem Sioe Liong and his son, Anthoni Salim.Through First Pacific, Pangilinan returned to the Philippines after 22 years with a number of investments under Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (Metro Pacific).