Makati Business Club Appoints Apa Ongpin as New Executive Director
The Makati Business Club, one of the most powerful and high-profile business clubs in the Philippines, is getting a new leader. In an email sent to members on Friday (December 13), the club said that Roberto “Bobby” Batungbacal is stepping down from his role as executive director.
In Batungbacal’s place, the MBC said it is appointing entrepreneur and writer Rafael “Apa” Ongpin.
“We are truly grateful for Bobby’s contributions to MBC during the nine and half months of his tenure,” Edgar Chua, MBC chairman, said in the email. “He initiated a number of new and successful programs like the Agriculture Summit, LGU Awards, and the MBC Golf tournament.
“We wish him the very best as he embarks on the next chapter of his professional journey,” Chua added.
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A third- generation chemical professional, Batungbacal was born to a family of chemists, chemical engineers and manufacturing entrepreneurs. He was the Philippine Country Manager of Dow, the world’s leading material science company, for 16 years. He was President and Director of Union Carbide Philippines Inc, Dow Agroscience Philippines, Rohm & Haas Philippines, Dow Chemical Pacific Limited. He raduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Philippines in Diliman and an Executive MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.
Who is Apa Ongpin?
Ongpin is a nephew of the late industrialist and tycoon Roberto V. Ongpin, the founder of real estate company Alphaland Corp. He has extensive experience in corporate management and operations and is also well known as a writer, editor, and TV personality. He worked as a broadcast journalist for ABS-CBN in the late 1980s, became an actor and radio and TV host, and also spent time as a director and magazine publisher.
His corporate background includes roles as SVP for PhilWeb and EVP for Alphaland Corp. He was also a senior consultant for Gatessoft Corp, and enterprise software company, and was president of Quicksilver Satcom Ventures. He currently runs a charter boat business and is a member of the board of trustees of The Beacon School.
Ongpin studied at the Ateneo De Manila University and graduated with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and Communications. He also completed an MBA at INSEAD in 1997.
Founded in 1981, The Makati Business Club promotes the role of the business sector in national development efforts and as a forum for constructive ideas and action. It tasks itself with helping “create the environment for more jobs and better lives for Filipinos.”
According to its website, the MBC is focused on advocacies and projects that push for a competitive, job-creating economy and democratic society. Some of its initiatives include economic briefings, digital democracy partnerships with LGUs, Philippine Business Councils, the APEC Business Advisory Council (Philippines), and sustainability & circular economy for businesses.
The MBC’s members include some of the biggest private companies in the country encompassing early every major sector and industry. Its Board of Trustees is currently chaired by Edgar Chua, with Jaime Augusto Zobel De Ayala as Vice Chairman. Members include Treasurer Rizalina Mantaring, Dr. Aris Alip, Cosette Canilao, Jose Cuisia, Ramon Del Rosario, Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Peter Maquera, Victor Paterno, and Manolito Tayag.
