The Roots
Tracing
the roots of Madrigal Properties requires going back into the lives of the owners'
grandfather, the late Senator Vicente Madrigal and grandmother Susana Paterno.
Mr. Vicente Madrigal was successful in his businesses and industries. He
had wide interests in coal, oil, cement, shipping, and real estate. His wife,
Susana had her own career: a dress shop, jewelry shop, and real estate. She spotted
the possibilities of Alabang and planted the mango trees that now serve as a pleasant
enclave.
He acquired a newspaper chain, the People's Press, which published
four newspapers, DMHM, including the mass daily Philippine Herald, Debate, Mabuhay,
and Monday Mail. He believed in industrialization, and owned cement plant, oil
and sugar mills. He felt his role was that of industrialist rather than a politician.
A
year after the death of his wife, he ran for the Senate in the election of 1941.
Though hesitant at first to be a politician, he gave in to the request of then
President Manuel Quezon, and was elected as Senator.
He presided over his
vast holdings in his office building in Escolta, Manila. His holdings includes
the first and foremost profitable coal-trading operation; a shipping line with
dozens of ocean-going vessels; oil mills in Manila and Cebu; logging concessions
in Surigao; a gold mine in Masbate; a cement plant in Rizal; a cotton factory
in Tondo; and the Jai Alai fronton on Taft Avenue, Manila.
They also have
accumulated choice lots in and around Manila and outlying areas as far as Bicol.
This includes an 11,000-hectare hacienda in Canlubang planted to coconut and sugarcane
and Alabang, the bamboo and mango orchard of Manila, which is now a whole new
city called Ayala Alabang, housing thousands of the wealthiest families in the
Philippines.
Their children were Macaria, Pacita, Josefina , Antonio, Jose
(the founder of Belek, Inc.), Consuelo Alejandra, Maria Luisa. They taught them
to be self-sufficient and to always help others. They insisted that the children
should work. He gave business assignments to them. He assigned Antonio to the
shipping lines, foreign and local. To Jose, the real estate holdings and their
development. To Consuelo, the Rizal Cement.
Senator Vicente Madrigal equally
gave properties to his seven children through draw lots. Land and buildings are
equally divided. This can be seen in the equal ownership of the Madrigal Building
in Ayala Avenue. Each floor is assigned to a child but there is still a managing
company that manages common properties. He also gave ownership to shipping and
banking companies.
The Founder
Don Jose, together with his six
other siblings, established their own companies out of the inherited properties
from their father. Don Jose and his wife, Victoria Abad Santos established Madrigal
Properties for his real estate properties.Victoria Abad Santos was the daughter
of the famous World War hero Justice Jose Abad Santos.
On May 30, 1984,
Don Jose incorporated Belek, Inc. The name Belek was coined from his nickname
- Belec, which is short for "Belecoy"- a tease for someone with slant
Chinese eyes.
Lagirdam, Inc. was incoporated on November 14, 1984. Its
name was derived from the surname "Madrigal" spelled backwards.
Belvic
Corporation was incorporated on May 29, 1985. Belvic was the combination of "Belec"
and his wife name's "Victoria".
A sister company Lekbe, Inc. was
incorporated on December 17, 1991. Lekbe was his nickname "Belec" pronounced
backwards. He incorporated Vicbel Inc on January 14, 1993. Vicbel was the combination
of his wife name and his name.
The Children
After the death of
Don Jose on August 26, 1995 and the death of Victoria on Oct. 1996, their children
Mr. Vicente II and Mr Gerardo Madrigal assumed management of the company. They
either serve as the Presidents or the Vice Presidents of the companies.
Officers'
Profile
| Name | Position | Education |
| Gerardo
Abad Santos Madrigal | President | •
Master in Business Administration, Boston University
• MS in Broadcast
Administration
Liberal Arts, Tufts University, Massachusetts |
| Vicente Abad Santos Madrigal
II | Vice President | •
Ph.D. Economics, Princeton University
• Bachelor in Arts major in
Mathematics (with General Honors), University of Chicago |
| Terri Ann Moss Madrigal | Chief
Executive Officer | • Bachelor in Education,
Tufts University, Massachusetts |
| Ma.
Paconda Tapel Lim | General
Manager | • Master in Business Administration,
De La Salle University
• Bachelor in Accountancy (Cum Laude), Polytechnic
University of the Philippines |
| Romerico
J. Solis | Administrative Officer | |
| Eugene
A. De Ramos | Property Officer | |
| Jimae
A. Ramientas | Business Development
Officer / Architect | |
Personal
Values of Officers
The president, Mr. Vicente A.S. Madrigal II
and the vice-president, Mr. Gerardo A.S. Madrigal were both influenced by their
father, the late Don Jose Paterno Madrigal. They like to emulate the many traits
of the old school that their father had exhibited. Among the more poignant ones
was his belief that it was the man's role to provide all that he could for his
family. To lavish love and wealth on their family. To never utter bad word about
anyone. To always provide assistance to friends whenever needed. They want to
maintain the tremendous respect and admiration garnered by their father from all
his colleagues. Just like his father, they also would like to be known in the
business circles as men of great principles, whose advice were sought by business
and political leaders alike. To have sharp business acumen that is tempered by
a conservative approach. And to remain as simple and generous men who will share
so much of themselves to their families.
Source: Tribute to Don Jose
Madrigal, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 2, 1996
