Makati Business Club
Encyclopedia
The Makati Business Club or MBC is a private non-stock, non-profit business association organized in the Philippines as a Forum for Constructive Ideas. As a forum, the MBC is dedicated to addressing economic and social policy issues which affect the development of the Philippines. The main thrust of the MBC is to foster and promote the role of the private business sector in national development efforts, both in the planning and the implementation of policy.
The Makati Business Club is composed of over 800 chief executive officers and senior executives representing almost 450 of the largest and most dynamic corporations in the Philippines. Over the years, the MBC has become the leading forum for business and government leaders to address. Issues discussed before the MBC have included trade and investment policy, monetary and fiscal matters, labor and employment, energy, education, health, media control, foreign policy, politics, elections and governanace.
, known to many as "E.Z." gathered together a few business friends and associates to a discussion which would have far-reaching implications on the Philippine business community. He felt that the business community should speak out as a single solid voice, not to lobby for its own corporate or sectoral interest, but to support or oppose policies which affected national life. It was felt that to be relevant any criticism should be constructive.
Thus was born the Makati Business Club as a Forum for Constructive Ideas in 1981.
An Executive Board was constituted with Enrique Zobel as Chairman, Rogelio Pantaleon, Bernardo Villegas
and Joe Romero as members. Then a Board of Advisers was formed consisting of James Collins (Citibank), Jaime Ongpin
(Benguet Consolidated), Antonio Ozaeta (PCIB), Washington SyCip
(SGV & Co.) and Jaime Zobel de Ayala
(Ayala Corporation
), with Cesar A. Buenaventura as Chairman. The top 1000 corporations were also invited to join the Club and many of them, including multinationals, responded favorably.
The MBC was launched at a press conference on October 29, 1981 at Nielsen Tower. Mayor Yabut spoke against the formation of MBC, saying it is an "elitist group" and that there was already a Makati Chamber of Commerce. Later, the MBC got a call from General Fabian Ver
to furnish the PSG with a directory of MBC's members, and this was refused.
The first General Membership Meeting was held at the Intercontinental Hotel on Nov. 9, 1981 with then-Prime Minister and now Chairman of RCBC and Trustee of the MBC, Cesar Virata
.
During the snap elections in 1986
, the first campaign speeches by both candidate Corazon Aquino
and incumbent President Ferdinand E. Marcos were delivered before the MBC on January 6th and 21st respectively. These were landmark events in their time. Later on Cory Aquino would return to address the MBC as President of the Republic.
Today, MBC continues with its original mission of being a Forum for Constructive Ideas. However, in keeping with the times and the advent of globalization, MBC for several years had advocated the adoption of a free market economy and embarked on investment promotion activities.
The Makati Business Club is composed of over 800 chief executive officers and senior executives representing almost 450 of the largest and most dynamic corporations in the Philippines. Over the years, the MBC has become the leading forum for business and government leaders to address. Issues discussed before the MBC have included trade and investment policy, monetary and fiscal matters, labor and employment, energy, education, health, media control, foreign policy, politics, elections and governanace.
History
Enrique ZobelEnrique Zobel
Enrique Jacobo Emilio Zobel y Olgado , was a prominent Filipino businessman. The only child of Colonel Jacobo Zóbel y Roxas and Ángela Olgado, he was a member of the influential Zobel de Ayala family of the Philippines and a first cousin of Jaime Zobel de Ayala.Zobel was chief executive officer of...
, known to many as "E.Z." gathered together a few business friends and associates to a discussion which would have far-reaching implications on the Philippine business community. He felt that the business community should speak out as a single solid voice, not to lobby for its own corporate or sectoral interest, but to support or oppose policies which affected national life. It was felt that to be relevant any criticism should be constructive.
Thus was born the Makati Business Club as a Forum for Constructive Ideas in 1981.
An Executive Board was constituted with Enrique Zobel as Chairman, Rogelio Pantaleon, Bernardo Villegas
Bernardo Villegas
Bernardo Villegas is a Filipino writer, thinker and economist. He was a member of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the Philippine Constitution under the government of former President Corazon Aquino. He has been an advisor of the recent Philippine Presidents...
and Joe Romero as members. Then a Board of Advisers was formed consisting of James Collins (Citibank), Jaime Ongpin
Jaime Ongpin
Jaime Ongpin born 1938 died 1987 was Minister of Finance of the Philippines under President Cory Aquino, appointed in 1986 after having played an instrumental role in her campaign. He died on December 7, 1987 at age 49 of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot...
(Benguet Consolidated), Antonio Ozaeta (PCIB), Washington SyCip
Washington SyCip
Washington SyCip is a Chinese Filipino accountant, founder of the Asian Institute of Management and Sycip Gorres Velayo and Company. A product of the Philippine public school system, Sycip was in the United States completing a post-graduate degree during the outbreak of the Second World War...
(SGV & Co.) and Jaime Zobel de Ayala
Jaime Zobel de Ayala
Jaime Zobel y Fitz , also known as Jaime Zobel de Ayala, is a prominent Filipino businessman and philanthropist. He was the last managing partner of Ayala y Compañía in 1967 when the company changed to a corporation. He served as both president and chairman of Ayala Corporation from 1983 to 2005...
(Ayala Corporation
Ayala Corporation
Ayala Corporation is a holding company for the diversified interests of the Ayala Group. Founded in the Philippines by the Spanish and German Ayala, Roxas, and Zobel families during colonial rule, it is the country's oldest and largest conglomerate...
), with Cesar A. Buenaventura as Chairman. The top 1000 corporations were also invited to join the Club and many of them, including multinationals, responded favorably.
The MBC was launched at a press conference on October 29, 1981 at Nielsen Tower. Mayor Yabut spoke against the formation of MBC, saying it is an "elitist group" and that there was already a Makati Chamber of Commerce. Later, the MBC got a call from General Fabian Ver
Fabian Ver
Fabian C. Ver was a General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos...
to furnish the PSG with a directory of MBC's members, and this was refused.
The first General Membership Meeting was held at the Intercontinental Hotel on Nov. 9, 1981 with then-Prime Minister and now Chairman of RCBC and Trustee of the MBC, Cesar Virata
Cesar Virata
Cesar Enrique Aguinaldo Virata is a former Prime Minister of the Philippines from 1981-1986 under the Interim Batasang Pambansa and the Regular Batasang Pambansa. One of the Philippines' business leaders and leading technocrats, he served as Finance Minister from 1970 during the Marcos regime and...
.
During the snap elections in 1986
Philippine presidential election, 1986
The Presidential and Vice-Presidential snap elections were held on February 7, 1986 in the Philippines.-Background:President Ferdinand E...
, the first campaign speeches by both candidate Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
and incumbent President Ferdinand E. Marcos were delivered before the MBC on January 6th and 21st respectively. These were landmark events in their time. Later on Cory Aquino would return to address the MBC as President of the Republic.
Today, MBC continues with its original mission of being a Forum for Constructive Ideas. However, in keeping with the times and the advent of globalization, MBC for several years had advocated the adoption of a free market economy and embarked on investment promotion activities.