This is one of the parties I've attended last week. I was invited by my friend Samantha Sy , grand daughter of business tycoon Henry Sy. It was her birthday. The theme was "Elite, the most powerful clans in the Philippines". She invited the teens from the most influencial families iUndisputed king of shopping malls in his native Philippines under his company SM Prime. For a decade has followed a strategy of opening at least 2 malls a year, and plans to have 23 malls in operation by the end of this year. Sy has also filed to take public his private holding company SM Investments, which should easily be one of the Philippines' largest IPOs in years. Also under construction is the Mall of Asia on Manila's waterfront, which promises to be one of the largest malls in the world when it opens late this year. Also the largest operator of movie theaters; last year he announced the banning of soft porn movies in all his theaters. n the Philippines. Then we were given a sheet of paper to cast our votes for the top 10 most influential families. Here are the results:
1) The Lopez clan
Despite financial difficulties in several companies of their diversified business empire, this politically astute Ilonggo family wields tremendous political clout with the country’s biggest and robustly profitable television and radio media group centered on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. In fact, a corporate official even once jokingly said that the "ABS-CBN Party" is actually stronger than the hodge-podge coalitions such as Lakas-NUCD or Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). The country’s two leading vice-presidential bets Noli de Castro and Senate Majority Floor Leader Loren Legarda made their mark as ABS-CBN TV broadcasters before entering national politics.
2) Cojuangco Clan
The enigmatic chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) has not publicly endorsed any presidential candidate. Though his NPC has members supporting both President Arroyo and rival Fernando Poe Jr., the movie actor has a longer history of alliance with Danding, and was his active campaign supporter during Danding’s ‘92 presidential bid and was celebrity endorser of his beer products. Despite political foes criticizing him as a Marcos and Estrada crony, Danding has impressed even his bitter critics by the strong financial success and aggressive international expansion of San Miguel Corp.
3) Sy clan
Undisputed king of shopping malls in his native Philippines under his company SM Prime. For a decade has followed a strategy of opening at least 2 malls a year, and plans to have 23 malls in operation by the end of this year. Sy has also filed to take public his private holding company SM Investments, which should easily be one of the Philippines' largest IPOs in years. Also under construction is the Mall of Asia on Manila's waterfront, which promises to be one of the largest malls in the world when it opens late this year. Also the largest operator of movie theaters; last year he announced the banning of soft porn movies in all his theaters.
4) The Zobel-Ayala clan
This Hispanic clan has survived the Philippine revolution against Spain, the Philippine-American War, the bloody Japanese military occupation and other crises. They are entering the 21st century stronger than ever in the most strategic industries such as telecom (Globe Telecom), banking (Bank of the Philippine Islands and BPI Family Bank) and others. They remain the biggest landlords in the Makati financial district and have recently teamed up with immigrant taipan Jose Yao Campos of Unilab to gain control of the massive Fort Bonifacio project.
Although Jaime Zobel de Ayala once served as Ambassador to Great Britain during the Marcos regime, he eventually became closely identified with the People Power regime of President Corazon C. Aquino while his cousin Enrique Zobel backed Marcos.
5) Gozon and Duavit familes
The Gozon and Duavit families control the aggressively expanding television and radio group of GMA Network Inc., which has taken over ABS-CBN’s No. 1 position. Though chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon’s brother-in-law Menardo Jimenez relinquished management to him and the Duavit family in 2001, the Jimenezes still retain substantial shareholdings. Jimenez is a director of San Miguel Corporation, officer of many corporations and his eldest son, PLDT official Menardo "Butch" Jimenez Jr., is being urged by top business people to someday run for high public office.
6) Pangilinan Clan
The big boss of the country’s largest telecom firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) recently led several leaders of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and SGV Group founder Washington SyCip in a high-profile meeting with Fernando Poe on their proposed policies for whoever will become President after the May 10 election. After surviving a headline-grabbing corporate war with John Gokongwei Jr. for control of PLDT and disposing the Fort Bonifacio project at a huge sacrifice, Pangilinan seems to have reconciled with the clan of Indonesian taipan Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) and retained his top post in Hong Kong-based First Pacific conglomerate. With Pangilinan spearheading First Pacific in investing in PLDT, it may eventually become a major success.
7) The Aboitiz clan
Despite their low-profile, Cebu’s prominent Aboitiz business clan is national leader in electric power, controls the biggest shipping giant WG&A and has investments in banking and other strategic industries. The Aboitizes are perceived to be staunch backers of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. During a top-level meeting of the President with the leaders of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. last year, Manila’s four Chinese-language newspapers published photos of then Trade Secretary Mar Roxas and Endika Aboitiz present at the Malacañang meeting. Despite the clan’s roots in the Basque region of Spain, they have close ties with the Chinese community and Aboitiz scions studied Mandarin in Beijing and Taipei. An Aboitiz executive joked that due to the Chinese-style of doing business, their surname should be "Amoytiz" – referring to the old British-style spelling of the city now called Xiamen in south China. GMA’s Presidential Social Secretary Bettina Araneta Aboitiz is the wife of tycoon Sabin Aboitiz.
8) Marcos Clan
Don't know how to explain it. I am shocked that it's in the list! I never imagined it to be there. I didn't even vote for my family.
9) Arroyo clan
It's more of power than wealth.
10) Tan Family
Although the taipan of Philippine Airlines, Fortune Tobacco, Philippine National Bank, Asia Brewery, Tanduay and other firms has maintained a low profile – especially vis-à-vis politicians in recent years – Tan is still perceived to be influential due mainly to his legendary generosity towards political campaigns. Tan is considered the senior leader of the local Chinese business community today. His best friend Bicolano transport tycoon Robin Sy is now also president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.
Snapshots:
Taken by Marjorie Tan (thanks for the pics although some of the pics are from the phone of Samantha Sy)
Model, Victor Basa at the parking lot
zobel-Ayala and Araneta teens
Marjorie tan
enrique, miguel and isabel araneta
Isabel araneta on the drums
sheila gokongwei , Pia araneta, don't know that girl, Beatrice Zobel Ayala, Cecilia Cojuanco
enzo marcos araneta
Samantha Sy and yours truly Lawrence Marcos
