Welcome to my Bookstore:
 |
The Borromeo Family of Cebu | BUY FROM AMAZON.COM |
 |
Volkswagen: a Car for the People – a Success Story – 2nd Edition | BUY FROM AMAZON.COM |
 |
Scale Model Collectible Cars – with Official Corgi Toys Catalogue Illustrations | BUY FROM AMAZON.COM |
 |
The German and the Austrian Navies – Volume 2: Second Edition: | BUY FROM AMAZON.COM |
 |
The German and the Austrian Navies: Second Edition | BUY FROM AMAZON.COM |
Borromeo: Part of Cebu, the Philippines and Beyond
This article has received more than 1 million “hits” since November 2007. Included in “The Borromeo Family of Cebu” by Marc E. Nonnenkamp (ISBN 978-1460908082 now available on www.amazon.com through CreateSpace for $17.99 paperback and $9.99 as an Amazon Kindle e-book). This book is on the Amazon “Bestsellers” list in the USA (top 3 percent of retail products), and is also available through Barnes & Noble in paperback and NOOKbook editions. Press release on Yahoo.com News (October 10, 2012): http://news.yahoo.com/book-borromeo-family-cebu-explores-120000775.html. This press release has received 72 response – wonderful considering that 15 is a high rate of response for any press release. Thank you very much for your interest!
Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. (BBEI – Holding Company incorporated on February 8, 1933): incorporated from the Estate of Don José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) and Doña Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (1853-1931). My maternal great grandfather Don José Maria (“Tatay Pepe”) manufactured horse-drawn “Tartanilla” carts from 1879 onward. Here is a nice Cebu-based website page on the history of the “Tartanilla” (from Cebu and the Visayas region) and on the “Calesa” (from Manila and the Luzon region): http://cebuwebsite.tripod.com/tartanillas.html. The similar “Karatela” and “Calesa” horse-drawn carts were manufactured primarily on Luzon, which is home to the bulk of the Philippine population. They differ from the “Tartanilla” carts at the point of passenger entrance. The “Karatela” and “Calesa” carts were manufactured by the Barredo family near Manila, a Spanish family which married into the Borromeo clan in 1937.
Origin of the Word “Tartanilla”
“Tartanilla” is merely the Spanish translation of the Italian “Tartanella,” which refers to a small type of sailing fishing vessel used on the Western (Italian-speaking) coast of the Adriatic Sea. These boats range anywhere from a low of 10 tons up to a high of 100 tons full load displacement, and are propelled by a combination of both sails and oars. The average-sized vessels are called “Tartana,” and are from 40 to 70 tons. The larger ones are called “Tartanone,” and go from 70 up to 100 tons. The smallest ones are called “Tartanella,” and are from 10 to 40 tons in size, with one mast and 16 oars. The “Tartana” have 2 masts and 18 oars, while the larger “Tartanone” are built with 3 masts and 20 oars. On the Dalmatian (Croatian) coast, these vessels are called “Brazzera.” The first Italian not under the Spanish flag settled in the Philippines in the 17th century – his name was Gemelli Careri. When Ferdinand Magellan landed on MactanIsland in Cebu in 1521, there were Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Germans and one Malay among his crew members.
The Family Farm in San Isidro, Leyte
He and my great grandmother Doña Margarita (“Nanay Titay”) also had a salt-trading business located at the CebuCityWharf, the profits from which purchased the large farm in San Isidro, Leyte (now known as “Margarita Agro-Industrial Corporation”). The group has been a “conglomerate” (more than one corporate entity in separate fields of business) since 1971. The largest single shareholding entity in the group is the Salud Borromeo Memorial Foundation, Inc. (operations in San Isidro, LeyteIsland and HQ in CebuCity). The parents of Tatay Pepe (Don Maximo Borromeo y Feliz and Doña Hermenegilda Galan de Borromeo) had an estate located in Banawa, Cebu. This estate came into the family in 1844 and was only sold in 1990. My mother was named after Doña Hermenegilda (“Nanay Binda”).
Hier kann man über die Geschichte der Geschäftsgruppe Borromeo in den Philippinen lesen. Seit Karl Kapitän Aro (“Carlos Capitan Aro”) Borromeo im Jahre 1744 in Cavite auf Luzon ankam, gibt es mehr als 800 Famlienmitglieder. Er war Regierungsbeamter. Die Hauptfirma der Geschäftsgruppe Borromeo wurde am 8. Februar 1933 in Cebu gegründet, aber das Geschäft ist wesentlich älter. Heute besteht die Firma aus mehreren Geschäften, wie zum Beispiel Immobilien (Entwicklung, Verkauf und Vermietung für Geschäfte und auch Privatleute), Landwirtschaft (auf Cebu, Leyte und Mindanao), PKW und Motorradhändler (für Ford, BMW, Isuzu, Honda, Kawasaki und Chunlan) sowie Finanzwesen. Vielen Dank für Ihren Besuch!
A Family of Old Parian, Cebu City
The parents of Don Maximo and Doña Hermenegilda were Don Carlos Borromeo y Felis and Doña Maria Angela Tupas de Borromeo, who are the ancestors of the two large lines of the modern Cebuano Borromeo family (“mga tambok” and “mga daut” or “mga niwang”). Don Carlos and Doña Maria lived in Parian, along with so many other of Cebu’s City’s leading families. They owned property in various parts of Cebu including Parian, Barili, Naga, Guadalupe and Banawa.
The Borromeo Group of Companies Today
The modern Borromeo business group (the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc.) of the Philippines is based in Cebu City, although certain family members have businesses independent thereof. Retail brands represented by the extended family include Honda Motorcycles, BMW Motorrad, Velocci, Piaggio, Vespa, Kawasaki, Yamaha, TVS of India, Suzuki, Ford Motor, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Dodge, Jeep, SsangYong (vehicles from Korea), Caltex (ChevronTexaco) and Shell Oil. Real estate interests include commercial property in Cebu (Centro Maximo I and II, the Borromeo Arcade, Plaza Borromeo in Downtown Cebu and Plaza Margarita), the Salud Borromeo Memorial Charity Clinic on Leyte, residential housing developments in Cebu (the North Gate Subdivision with both townhomes and 4 single family home floorplans), landscape architecture in the Southern Visayas (SBA Landscape Archtecture and BARVIN rentals), offices in Cebu (Latitude Tower – a 24 story office tower in Cebu Business Park and 2 similar high rise towers planned for Centro Maximo & the Borromeo Arcade Shopping Center), resort hotels in Cebu and Mactan (the Cebu Grand Hotel, the Montebello Hotel and the seaside Costabella Hotel), parking garages and agribusiness. Other lines of business include employment services (DCC Staffing Services in southern California), home healthcare (Ancestral Home Healthcare in southern California), construction (commercial and residential), transportation and even a dance studio (in both Manila and Singapore). Most activity is in Cebu, but some business extends throughout the Philippines and even abroad. The “active” companies in the list below (not including those since liquidated) employ more than 175,000 individuals.
It is interesting to note that the Borromeo family has been instrumental in both the land-based and the maritime transportation history of the Philippines. 3 branches of the Borromeo family manufactured and sold horse drawn carts in Manila, Iloilo and Cebu – more than 121,000 vehicles from 1870 to 1940. These were the Karatela from Manila (Barredo de Borromeo family), the Calesa from Iloilo (descendants of Carlo Borromeo II) and the Tartanilla from Cebu (Reynes de Borromeo family). Today, the Borromeo Group of Companies led by Max Borromeo owns and operates 98 motor vehicle dealerships throughout the Philippines (marketing, selling and servicing the Ford, Mazda, SsangYong, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha brand names).
Both Carlo “Capitan Aro” Borromeo from Cavite (settled there in 1744) and his son Carlo Borromeo II from Iloilo (settled there in 1769) were harbor captains by trade – hence the title of “Capitan.” Today, Philippine Transmarine Carriers and its sister company Aboitiz-Jebsen led by Gerardo Borromeo employ 55,020 maritime professionals worldwide, 25,000 of whom serve aboard more than 1,230 ships at any one time.
The “Borromean Rings”
The modern Borromeo Group of the Philippines uses the 3 “Borromean Rings” in its official corporate logo. This famous logo goes back to the Borromeo family of Milan, Italy – a surname in use since 1416. The Borromeo family of Milan, Italy traces its origin to the Vitaliani family of Padua, Italy – a surname in use since A.D. 66.
The extended Borromeo-Elkann family of Lombardy in northern Italy has an estimated net worth of USD $652.7 million as of May 2020, largely due to their connection with the Agnelli family which controls FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, N.V.). FCA agreed to merge with Groupe PSA on December 18, 2019. Groupe PSA of France owns the automotive brands of Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall. They also make models such as the Buick Encore, the Buick Regal and the Buick Verano due to Buick’s relationship with Opel Automobile G.m.b.H. of Germany. The Board of Directors of the future PSA-FCA group will have 11 members, 6 of whom will come from Groupe PSA and the remaining 5 of whom will come from FCA. Groupe PSA is controlled by the Dongfeng Motor Group of China (14%), the French state (14%) and the Peugeot family (14%).
Important Notice of Disclaimer:
The following past historical and present business entities are entirely professional entities which have no financial relationship to any extended family members not specifically mentioned herein. Those mentioned apart from the BBEI are thus not controlled by the BBEI. Most BBEI shareholders do not partake in the day-to-day management or operations of the BBEI, and the BBEI is likewise not responsible for their private financial activities. The “official” Internet website of the “Borromeo Group of Companies” may be accessed at: http://www.borromeobrosestate.com/index.php.
Subsidiaries and Retail Outlets:
1.) Honda Motor World, Inc. (33 retail branches located thoughout the Republic of the Philippines).
2.) Motor Ace Philippines, Inc. (161 retail branches selling Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha Motorcycles from Japan, Hyosung from South Korea, Velocci, Piaggio and Vespa from Italy, BMW Motorrad from Germany plus over 529 more dealerships selling TVS Motorcycles from India): https://www.motoracephil.com/motorace.ph/index.html
3.) Honda Motorworld Lending Investment, Inc. (33 financing offices located throughout the Philippines).
4.) Visayas Auto Ventures, Inc. (owns Auto Zoomzoom, Inc. – a Mazda dealership in CebuCity).
5.) Margarita Agro-Industrial Corporation (currently inactive): San Isidro, Leyte.
6.) McBros Devleopment Corporation. Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. real estate development now has a page on www.facebook.com.
7.) Tolar Development Corporation
8.) Dearborn Motors Company, Inc. (among the largest Ford Motor Company franchises in the Philippines).
9.) Ford Alabang; website: www.fordalabang.com (founded in December 2003)
10.) Ford Cavite; website: www.fordcavite.com (founded July 2004)
11.) Ford Laguna (in San Pablo City); website: www.fordlaguna.com (founded in July 2004)
12.) Ford Batangas; website: www.fordbatangas.com (founded in December 2006)
13.) Dearborn Motors Company (Cebu), Inc.
14.) Ford Cebu; website: www.fordcebu.com/
15.) Ford Bacolod (Island of Negros); website: www.fordbacolod.com
16.) Ford Iloilo (Island of Panay); website: www.fordiloilo.com (founded in June 2002)
17.) Ford Cagayan de Oro (Island of Mindanao); website: www.fordcagayan.com
18.) Performance Auto Motor Group, Inc. (sold to new owner in 2012).
19.) Performance Auto BMW (CebuCity); website: www.performanceauto.com.bmw.ph/ (sold to new owner in 2012).
20.) Makati Finance Corporation: www.makatifinance.com.ph/
21.) Centro Maximo Borromeo Office Complex (Cebu): headquarters of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc (named after Dr. Maximo Borromeo y Reynes, who lived from 1887-1948). Built upon the site of the former residence of José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) and Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (1853-1931).
22.) Judge Andrés Borromeo Commercial Center (Andrés Borromeo Street, CebuCity): home to the second Philippine monument in honor of the late “Fighting Judge” of Surigao, who lived from 1880-1923.
23.) Borromeo Arcade Shopping Mall (Cebu City)
24.) Cebu Talisay Rest House (former property of Dr. Maximo Borromeo y Reynes)
25.) Cebu Borromeo Elementary School (in Talisay, Cebu Province). The school now has a page on www.facebook.com.
26.) Salud Borromeo Foundation and Memorial Charity Clinic, Inc. (San Isidro, Leyte Island). One Board seat held by the Vito Borromeo Estate, Inc.
27.) Isuzu Visayas Corporation (since sold to a new owner).
28.) BL Ramos (real estate)
29.) CPB (real estate)
30.) Mizukawa Motors Corporation (Mitsubishi Cars)
Other Firms owned by extended Borromeo family members (not part of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. “Group of Companies”):
31.) Astron-Gestus / Cebu Maxi Management Corporation
32.) Astron-Gestus, Inc. (Cebu City).
33.) Astron-Gestus (Caltex) Service Station in Cebu City.
34.) Sumitomo-Sime Darby / Yokohama Tire Warehouse (former ownership): Cebu City.
35.) SBA Landscape Architecture, Inc. (Cebu City).
36.) Borromeo-Atega Realty Ventures, Inc. (Cebu City).
37.) Arborville Apartments – Judge Andrés Borromeo Compound (Cebu City).
38.) Colonia Polanco Office & Apartment Tower (México City, México).
39.) DCC Staffing Services, Inc. (medical staffing – Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California, USA – 7 employees); website: www.dccstaffing.com
40.) Ancestral Home Healthcare, Inc. (home healthcare; Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California, USA – 140 employees); http://ancestralhomehealth.com
41.) Borromeo Technology Holdings, Inc. (computer software for office buildings and parking garages – Manila, Philippines)
42.) Smartpark Systems Solutions, Inc. (Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines); website: www.smartpark.net.ph/
43.) Crown Fruit Corporation (pineapple plantation and steel plant near DavaoCity, Mindanao, Philippines)
44.) AMS Farming Corporation (banana plantation near DavaoCity, Mindanao, Philippines); website: www.ams.com.ph. This entity is larger than either of the combined “Borromeo Group of Companies.”
45.) AMSIA Management Corporation (Shell Oil – four services stations in San Carlos, California, USA)
46.) AMJR Holdings, Inc. (banana plantation near Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines): holding company with 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of agricultural plantations.
47.) Soriano Fruits Corporation (banana exports)
48.) DTI-Overland Transport Corporation (trucking company near DavaoCity, Mindanao, Philippines)
49.) Cabadbaran Fruits Corporation (production & export of Señorita Bananas, Papayas & Cavendish Bananas in Agusan del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines)
50.) JOS Trading Corporation (global sales of bananas and papayas; DavaoCity, Mindanao, Philippines)
51.) Redwood Logistics Corporation (global sales of bananas and papayas; DavaoCity, Mindanao, Philippines)
52.) Vito Borromeo Estate, Inc. (real estate holdings in Cebu)
53.) Julie Borromeo Dance Studio and School (Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines)
54.) Rose Borromeo Spanish Dance Company (Singapore); Website: http://www.roseborromeospanishdancecompany.com/index.html
55.) GNC Franchise (Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines – 41 Stores throughout the Philippines) and OSIM Philippines (franchises for luxury massage chairs). OSIM International is based in Singapore. GNC and OSIM Philippines also use the name “Borromeo Group of Companies.” This franchise was sold in 2009.
56.) Cebu Citylights Gardens Condominiums (Cebu City, Philippines; joint venture with firm from Singapore)
57.) Cebu Mabolo Condominiums (Cebu City, Philippines)
58.) Cebu Grand Hotel; website: www.cebugrandhotel.com
59.) Cebu Montebello Villa Hotel; website: www.montebellovillahotel.com
60.) Cebu Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel (MactanIsland in Cebu, Philippines); website: www.costabellaresort-cebu.com/
61.) Maxi Agricultural Corporation (sugarcane plantation in Bacolod, NegrosIsalnd, Philippines).
62.) Cebu Parkland, Inc. (parking garage in Cebu City, Philippines).
63.) Cebu Holdings, Inc. (real estate holdings in Cebu, Philippines and New South Wales, Australia).
64.) Sugar Technology International (specializes in design technology for the global sugar industry – based in Cebu City). Website: www.groupsti.com.
65.) Philippine Transmarine Carriers (personnel placement for the global shipping industry – 55,020 maritime industry professionals serving aboard 1,230 commercial ships). January 2, 2013 article interviewing Gerardo A. “Dito” Borromeo, CEO of Philippine Transmarine Carriers: http://www.motorship.com/news101/industry-news/intermanager-new-year-challenges-for-shipping. PTC has 10 percent of the annual US $4 billion maritime staffing industry in the Philippines. 33 percent of all global maritime personnel today come from the Philippines. The largest shipping nations in terms of the total displaced tonnage owned by shipping companies in those countries are (in order) Germany, Japan and Greece. The largest German shipping company is HAPAG-Lloyd, founded in Hamburg in 1847. PTC has annual sales of USD $453 million.
Companies formerly owned by members of the extended Borromeo Family
66.) Fabar, Inc. (Austin-Rover, Studebaker-Packard and Toyota of the Philippines): 1945-1984 (first auto assembler in the Philippines; no longer in business). This was founded by the late Fausto Barredo.
67.) Rockgas Inter-Island Gas Service, Inc. (first Philippine Natural Gas Company): 1946-1980 (100% purchased by Philippine national government).
68.) McBros Foods Corporation (McDonald’s of Cebu City): 1992-1998
69.) Honda Cars Cebu, Inc. (Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro): 1992-1998
70.) Atisa Atkins, S.A. de C.V. (engineering firm in Mexico City, Mexico and steel plant in Venezuela from 1964-2001)
71.) Alltech Contractors (power plant construction throughout the Philippines and the Middle East, in alliance with the Mitsubishi Group of Japan). Founded in 1939 and sold in 2004. Alltech had as many as 3,400 employees prior to sale.
Wealthiest Individuals and/or Families in the Philippines (per “Forbes Magazine” as of October 1, 2014): net worth listed in Millions of US Dollars:
| Richest People in the Philippines (October 2014) | Net Worth | Businesses Owned | |||||
| 1 | Henry Sy & family: | $12,700.0 | Shoemart | ||||
| 2 | Lucio Tan & family: | $6,100.0 | Asia Brewery, Philip Morris, PAL | ||||
| 3 | Enrique Razon, Jr.: | $5,200.0 | International Container Terminal Services | ||||
| 4 | Andrew Tan: | $5,100.0 | Alliance Global | ||||
| 5 | John Gokongwei, Jr: | $4,900.0 | JG Summit-Robinson’s | ||||
| 6 | David Consunji: | $3,900.0 | DMCI Holdings | ||||
| 7 | George Ty & family: | $3,700.0 | Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company | ||||
| 8 | Family Jon Ramon Aboitiz: | $3,600.0 | Aboitiz Equity Ventures | ||||
| 9 | Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family: | $3,400.0 | Ayala Corporation | ||||
| 10 | Tony Tan Caktiong & family: | $2,000.0 | Jollibee Food Corporation | ||||
| 11 | Robert Coyiuto & family: | $1,700.0 | Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation | ||||
| 12 | Lucio & Susan Co: | $1,900.0 | Puregold Price Club | ||||
| 13 | Emilio Yap: | $1,500.0 | Manila Bulletin, Manila Hotel, Philtrust Bank | ||||
| 14 | Manuel Villar: | $1,500.0 | Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. | ||||
| 15 | Inigo & Mercedes Zobel: | $1,200.0 | Ayala Corporation | ||||
| 16 | Alfredo Yao: | $1,000.0 | Zest-O Corporation | ||||
| 17 | Andrew Gotianun: | $955.0 | Filinvest Development Corporation | ||||
| 18 | Vivian Que Azcona & family: | $935.0 | Mercury Drug Corporation | ||||
| 19 | Eduardo Cojuangco: | $870.0 | San Miguel Corporation | ||||
| 20 | Beatrice Campos & family: | $825.0 | Unilab, Del Monte Pacfic | ||||
| 21 | Ricardo Po & family: | $770.0 | Century Canned Food founded in 1978 | ||||
| 22 | Oscar Lopez & family: | $700.0 | Lopez Holdings Corporation | ||||
| 23 | Alfonso Yuchengco & family: | $685.0 | Yuchengco Group of Companies | ||||
| 24 | Roberto Ongpin: | $680.0 | Alphaland Corporation | ||||
| 25 | Betty Ang: | $670.0 | Monde Nissin Corporation | ||||
| 26 | Dean Lao: | $625.0 | D&L Chemical Industries founded in 1963 | ||||
| 27 | Manuel Zamora: | $620.0 | Kubota Agro-Industrial Machinery Philippines, Inc. | ||||
| 28 | Carlos Chan: | $550.0 | Liwayway Marketing Corporation | ||||
| 29 | Jorge Araneta: | $510.0 | Araneta Group | ||||
| 30 | Mariano Tan, Jr.: | $445.0 | Greenfield Development | ||||
| 31 | Edgar Sia: | $390.0 | Mang Inasal Food Chain | ||||
| 32 | Ramon Ang: | $380.0 | Petron Corporation | ||||
| 33 | Michael Romero: | $375.0 | Globalport 900, Inc. | ||||
| 34 | Concepcion family: | $320.0 | Concepcion Industrial Foodmakers | ||||
| 35 | Philip Ang: | $315.0 | Nickel Asia Mining | ||||
| 36 | Frederick Dy: | $310.0 | Security Bank Corporation | ||||
| 37 | Luis Virata: | $300.0 | Nickel Asia Mining | ||||
| 38 | Alfredo Ramos & family: | $260.0 | Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development | ||||
| 39 | Wilfred Steven Uytengsu & family: | $255.0 | Alaska Milk Corporation | ||||
| 40 | Tomas Alcantara & family: | $250.0 | Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. | ||||
| 41 | Jose Antonio: | $240.0 | Century Properties | ||||
| 42 | Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr. & family: | $235.0 | Rustan’s Group of Companies | ||||
| 43 | Jacinto Ng: | $230.0 | Republic Biscuit Corporation | ||||
| 44 | Gilberto Duavit & family: | $200.0 | GMA Network-Radio & TV | ||||
| 45 | Menardo Jimenez: | $195.0 | Albay Agro-Industrial Development Corporation | ||||
| 46 | Eric Recto: | $190.0 | ISM Communications Corporation | ||||
| 47 | Walter Brown: | $183.0 | Apex Mining Corporation | ||||
| 48 | Felipe Gozon & family: | $182.0 | GMA Network-Radio & TV | ||||
| 49 | P.J. Lhuillier & family: | $180.0 | Pawn & Jewelry Stores based in Cebu | ||||
| 50 | Juliette Romualdez: | $170.0 | Banco de Oro | ||||
| 51 | Michael Cosiquien: | $169.0 | Megawide Construction Corporation | ||||
| 52 | Edgar Saavedra: | $168.0 | Megawide Construction Corporation | ||||
| 53 | Lourdes Montinola & family: | $155.0 | Far Eastern University | ||||
