Tycoons, execs named new directors of US-Philippines Society

February 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Local tycoons and executives behind some of the country’s biggest companies have joined the US–Philippines Society as new Philippine directors.

Named as new Philippine directors of the bi-national organization are Aboitiz Equity Ventures CEO Sabin Aboitiz, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chairperson Helen Yuchengco Dee, Filinvest Development Corp. vice chaiperson Lourdes Josephine Gotianun-Yap, First Philippine Holdings Corp. chairman and CEO Federico Lopez, Century Pacific Food executive chairman Christopher Po, LT Group president Lucio Tan III and Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. chairman Manuel Villar Jr.

Headquartered in Washington, the US–Philippines Society was launched 2012 with the mission of enhancing and strengthening relations and simultaneously, raising awareness of today’s Philippines through programs on business, governance, culture, shared history, education, strategic issues and conflict resolution.

As an independent, non-partisan, bi-national organization, it plays an important role in fostering mutual understanding of the dynamics underpinning the longstanding US–Philippines relationship and provides continuity in that relationship amid political change.

Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala co-chairs the US–Philippines Society together with Ambassador John Negroponte.

Other existing members of the US–Philippines Society board of directors include MVP Group of Companies chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, International Container Terminal Services Inc. Enrique Razon, Jr. and SM Investments Corp. chairman Amando Tetangco Jr.

The US–Philippines Society has convened in Manila earlier this week to assess key topics of importance to both countries.

The meeting represented the first private sector-led forum on US–Philippines engagement since the electoral transition in Washington.