Zobel de Ayala family
Encyclopedia
The Zóbel de Ayala clan is a Filipino
business family of German-Spanish ancestry. Since the 19th century, they have created the Ayala Corporation
, a holding company for a combination of businesses related to the heart of Philippines business, industry and finance.
’s mountainous region of the Basque Country
, where Juan Larrazabal Ayala (circa 1475) was an influential landowner. The immigrant ancestor Antonio de Ayala sailed for Manila
in the 19th century. There he established an industrial partnership with Domingo Roxas, and later with Dr. Johannes Andreas Zobel, a German pharmacist from Hamburg
, who settled in Manila
in 1832. Roxas was a descendant of Mexican immigrant Antonio Fernández de Roxas of Acapulco
, who migrated to the Philippines in 1695 as an early colonist.
The clan has resided in the Philippines for more than 20 generations. Historically, the family has been well known for their socio-economic and cultural contributions to the country, such as the pioneering of Manila's first rail system in the 20th century, establishing the oldest existing financial institution in Southeast Asia, as well as the construction of the first steel bridges in the Philippines. They had the first private plane in the Philippines, which they named Prima Zobelina.
The Zóbel de Ayalas own and control the Ayala Corporation
, the country's largest and oldest conglomerate that includes the Bank of the Philippine Islands
, Ayala Land
Inc., the Manila Water Company, and Globe Telecom
, one of the largest mobile phone networks in the Philippines. The Ayala Corporation was also responsible for developing large areas of Makati City
into residential subdivisions (gated communities
) between the 1940s and 1960s. These subdivisions include Forbes Park, Dasmariñas Village
, Bel-Air Village
, San Lorenzo Village, Urdaneta Village, San Antonio Village, and Magallanes Village. In addition, Ayala Corporation later developed the center of Makati into a mixed-use industrial development now known as the Ayala Center
and its surrounding throughfares (Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, Paseo de Roxas & Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.), which now comprise the Makati skyline. In 2001, the family acquired the 54-hectare Fort Bonifacio Global City development in Metro Manila. Other industrial and real estate developments also exist in other parts of Luzon and Cebu including several international partnerships in banking, construction and Information Technology.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
business family of German-Spanish ancestry. Since the 19th century, they have created the 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...
, a holding company for a combination of businesses related to the heart of Philippines business, industry and finance.
History
The Ayala ancestors were from northern SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
’s mountainous region of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, where Juan Larrazabal Ayala (circa 1475) was an influential landowner. The immigrant ancestor Antonio de Ayala sailed for Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in the 19th century. There he established an industrial partnership with Domingo Roxas, and later with Dr. Johannes Andreas Zobel, a German pharmacist from Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, who settled in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in 1832. Roxas was a descendant of Mexican immigrant Antonio Fernández de Roxas of Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, who migrated to the Philippines in 1695 as an early colonist.
The clan has resided in the Philippines for more than 20 generations. Historically, the family has been well known for their socio-economic and cultural contributions to the country, such as the pioneering of Manila's first rail system in the 20th century, establishing the oldest existing financial institution in Southeast Asia, as well as the construction of the first steel bridges in the Philippines. They had the first private plane in the Philippines, which they named Prima Zobelina.
The Zóbel de Ayalas own and control the 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...
, the country's largest and oldest conglomerate that includes the Bank of the Philippine Islands
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Bank of the Philippine Islands is the oldest bank in the Philippines still in operation and is the country's third largest bank in terms of assets, the country's largest bank in terms of market capitalization, and the country's most profitable bank...
, Ayala Land
Ayala Land
Ayala Land, Inc. is the real estate arm of Ayala Corporation, one of the Philippines' oldest and largest conglomerates. From an internal division of Ayala Corporation, it was spun off and incorporated in 1988. It was publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange in 1991...
Inc., the Manila Water Company, and Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom , commonly known as Globe, is a telecommunications company in the Philippines. Globe provides mobile, fixed line, and broadband Internet services.- History :In 1928, Congress passed Act No...
, one of the largest mobile phone networks in the Philippines. The Ayala Corporation was also responsible for developing large areas of Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
into residential subdivisions (gated communities
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
) between the 1940s and 1960s. These subdivisions include Forbes Park, Dasmariñas Village
Dasmariñas Village
Dasmariñas Village or simply Dasma, is a private subdivision and gated community in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It occupies 187.21 hectares and is bounded by Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to the north, McKinley Road to the northeast, Pili Avenue/Forbes Park South to the east, Maricaban...
, Bel-Air Village
Bel-Air Village
Bel-Air Village is a private subdivision and gated community and politically a barangay in Makati City, Philippines. To the north, the village is bound by Neptune-Anza-Orion-Mercedes-Amapola Streets, Estrella Street on the northeast, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on the southeast, Jupiter Street on...
, San Lorenzo Village, Urdaneta Village, San Antonio Village, and Magallanes Village. In addition, Ayala Corporation later developed the center of Makati into a mixed-use industrial development now known as the Ayala Center
Ayala Center
The Ayala Center is a commercial complex operated by Ayala Land Incorporated located in the central business district of Makati in Metro Manila, Philippines.-About the Center:...
and its surrounding throughfares (Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, Paseo de Roxas & Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.), which now comprise the Makati skyline. In 2001, the family acquired the 54-hectare Fort Bonifacio Global City development in Metro Manila. Other industrial and real estate developments also exist in other parts of Luzon and Cebu including several international partnerships in banking, construction and Information Technology.
Public service
- The family established the Premio Zobel Award 80 years ago, which they award annually to recognize outstanding citizens who encourage the intellectual development of the Philippines.
- The Ayala Foundation has assisted preservation and development of the country's cultural heritage and businesses.
Legacy and honors
- The De La Salle-Santiago Zóbel SchoolDe La Salle-Santiago Zobel SchoolThe De La Salle–Santiago Zobel School is a Catholic institution for boys and girls located in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, the Philippines...
was named after Jacobo Santiago Zóbel (1954–1965), the eldest son of Enrique ZobelEnrique ZobelEnrique 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...
and Rocio UrquijoRocio UrquijoSpanish-born painter Rocio Urquijo has been exhibiting around the world for the past 30 years. Urquijo's petit points are her most recent means of artistic expression. "They are nomadic, an ideal technique in order to create while traveling...
.
- The Zobel de Ayala siblings are among the three Filipino families included in the ForbesForbesForbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's list of the "World's Richest Families"a.
- 2007 Harvard Alumni Achievement Award was awarded to Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, then the 48-year-old chairman of the Ayala Corporation. It is the highest honor of the Harvard Business SchoolHarvard Business SchoolHarvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. Zobel was the first Filipino and the youngest alumnus to be so honored, for his exemplary leadership in business.
Language
Most of the members of the Zobel de Ayala Family are or have been polyglots, traditionally having Spanish, but more recently English as their mother language.Prominent family members
- Enrique ZobelEnrique ZobelEnrique 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...
- Fernando Zobel de AyalaFernando Zobel de AyalaFernando Zóbel may refer to:* Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president of Ayala Corporation* Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo, artist...
- Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y MontojoFernando Zóbel de Ayala y MontojoFernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo , also known as Fernando Zóbel y Montojo, Fernando M. Zóbel and sometimes as Fernando M...
- Jaime Augusto ZobelJaime Augusto ZobelJaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala is a Filipino businessman. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of the Ayala Corporation...
- Jaime Zobel de AyalaJaime Zobel de AyalaJaime 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...