The Makati Business Club Turns 45 Years and Launches New Advocacy Campaign

TAGUIG, Philippines — 15 October 2026. The Makati Business Club (MBC) celebrated its 45th anniversary at the Grand Hyatt Manila, gathering its members, the public and private sectors, and other partners. Throughout our history, we have represented the business community in engagements with the government and other like-minded organizations to push for reforms and policies that promote job creation and a democratic society.

MBC’s principal advocacies are: (1) Agriculture, (2) Climate & Sustainability, (3) Energy, (4) Infrastructure, (5) Digital, (6) Economy, and (7) Accountability, Transparency, and Good Governance.

JAZA on MBC’s 45-Year Legacy

Chairman of Ayala Corporation and Vice Chairman of the Makati Business Club, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, is MBC’s keynote speaker of the evening. Founded by his late uncle Enrique Zobel, JAZA rooted his speech in MBC’s history and decades of advocacy work and initiatives.

Recognizing the role of collaborations among competitors in the business community, he also highlighted the community’s ability to find a common voice for the Philippines’ political and economic future. He calls for founders to look beyond their private endeavors, listing broader considerations that determine the success of both businesses and the nation as a whole: good governance, strength of democratic institutions, and the conditions necessary for a stable and productive economy.

“Our founders understood something that remains true forty-five years later, and will likely remain relevant well into the future: that the success of private enterprise and the progress of the country are ultimately inseparable. Business cannot thrive over the long term in a society that is not itself thriving,” JAZA states in his remarks.

MBC Chairman Edgar Chua echoes this sentiment in his message. He states, “What I believe sets MBC apart is that our advocacies have always been rooted in a broader question: How can a stronger economy translate into better opportunities and better lives for Filipinos? Whether we talk about investment, jobs, infrastructure, energy, digital transformation, or good governance, we are ultimately talking about the conditions that allow people and communities to prosper.”

New Year, New Advocacy

MBC has always been a space where business leaders can expand their reach, touching upon the bigger picture that allows businesses to invest, grow, and create value on a national scale. As such, after four decades of innovative ideas and action, MBC is also announcing the launch of its new advocacy campaign: poverty eradication.

Launching at the beginning of 2027, this campaign is headed by MBC Trustee and Card MRI Founder Dr. Aris Alip.

The PEC hopes to act as a cross-cutting platform, connecting corporate resources with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), NGOs, micro-entrepreneurs, and social enterprises.

Makati Business Club was founded in 1981 by Enrique Zobel. At the forefront of economic and social advocacy for the Philippine business sector, MBC has helped lead business efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and liberalize the economy. Ultimately, MBC seeks to create more jobs and better lives for Filipinos by working with businesses, the government, and other partners.

For press inquiries, interviews, or promo materials, please contact: Dessa Lou Tope, Communications and Media Department Manager

Email: dessalou.tope@mbc.com.ph

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