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Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands

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Coordinates: 14°35′41″N 120°58′34″E / 14.59465°N 120.97615°E / 14.59465; 120.97615
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Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands
Tagalog trans.: Bulwagang Pangkalakal ng mga Lupaing Pilipinas
AbbreviationCCPI
NicknameThe Chamber
FormationApril 9, 1886; 138 years ago (1886-04-09)
Founders
  1. D. Juan Rodríguez
  2. D. Miguel Velasco
  3. Sr. Rogaciano Rodríguez
  4. Sr. Francisco Reyes
  5. D. Ricardo Aguado
  6. Sr. Teodoro Yang-co
  7. Sr. Luis Hidalgo
  8. D. Pedro Roxas y Arroyo
  9. Sr. Rafael Reyes
  10. Sr. Tomás Sunico
  11. Sr. Vicente Somoza Cua-Peco
  12. Dr. Ariston Baustista
  13. Sr. Vicente D. Fernández
  14. Sr. Telésforo Chuy-dian
  15. Sr. Bernandino Hernández
  16. Sr. Faustino Lichauco
  17. Don Ramón Soriano
  18. Sr. Tomas Argüellles
  19. Sr. Ignacio Sy-yap
  20. Don Rafael del Pan
Founded atManila
TypeNon-profit
Professional title
The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands
HeadquartersThe Chamber Building, Paseo de Magallanes 3, Intramuros, 1000 Manila, PH
Location
Coordinates14°35′41″N 120°58′34″E / 14.59465°N 120.97615°E / 14.59465; 120.97615
Region served
National
Official language
English (current)
Spanish (historical)
OwnerChamber of Commerce of the Philippines Foundation, Inc.
Main organ
COMMERCE Magazine
Websitechamberphilislands.ph//
Formerly called
La Cámara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas
Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands
headquarters
Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands headquarters
The Chamber Bldg., façade
Map
General information
Location14°35′40″N 120°58′34″E / 14.5944887°N 120.9761999°E / 14.5944887; 120.9761999
AddressNo. 3 Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Brgy U 56 Zone 49
Town or cityManila
Country Philippines
Inaugurated1937
Design and construction
Architect(s)Juan Arellano
Magallanes Drive
Route 120 shield
Former name(s)Paseo de Magallanes
NamesakeFernando Magallanes
Maintained byIntramuros Administration
Length0.632 km (0.393 mi)
LocationIntramuros, Manila
East end N150 (Liwasang Bonifacio)
West end N1 (Plaza Mexico (Manila) towards Bonifacio Drive)

La Cámara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas,[1] widely known today as The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands,[2] is the oldest business institution[3] in the Philippines, having been founded in 1886. The Chamber traces its roots back to the Spanish period when the King of Spain, Alfonso XII through Queen Regent Maria Cristina, issued a Royal Decree on April 9, 1886 creating similar institutions for all Spanish colonies.

The Camara de Comercio de Manila was formally organized and presented to its General Assembly on May 24, 1887, and on June 17, 1887 its statutes and by-laws were initially approved by the Gobierno Superior of the Philippines; and finally approved by Her Majesty, the Queen Regent of Spain, Maria Cristina, on February 9, 1888.

Sr. Don Joaquín María Elizalde was its first President, followed in 1890 by Sr. Don Francisco Godínez, and in 1895 by Sr. Don José de Echeita.

After the Spanish–American War in 1888 and the situation settled down, on July 19, 1903, the Camara de Comercio de Manila held its first formal session, with the Philippine Governor-General William Howard Taft as its Honorary President and Don Francisco Reyes as the first Chamber President.

Chamber Presidents

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A chronological listing of the Chamber's presidents and their terms:

CHAMBER PRESIDENTS[4]
Term 1886 1890 1896 1903–1904 1904 1905
Pres. Joaquin Marcelino de Elizalde Francisco Godínez José María de Echeita Francisco Reyes Teodoro Yangco Rafael del Pan
Term 1906–1912 1912–1915 1915–1916 1916–1917 1917–1918 1918–1919
Pres. Vicente D. Fernandez Rafael Reyes Teodoro Yangco Mauro Prieto Jose F. Fernandez Ramon J. Fernandez
Term 1919–1920 1920–1921 1921–1922 1922–1923 1923–1924 1924–1925
Pres. Vicente Madrigal López y PdT Juan B. Alegre Jose V. Ramirez Alfonso M. Tiaoqui Teodoro Yangco Leon Miguel Heras
Term 1925–1926 1926–1927 1927–1928 1928–1929 1930–1931 1931–1932
Pres. Vicente G. Genato Manuel E. Cuyugan Vicente T. Fernandez Pio V. Corpus Leopoldo R. Aguinaldo Isaac Barza
Term 1932–1933 1933–1934 1934–1935 1935–1936 1936–1941 1941
Pres. Gonzalo Puyat Arsenio N. Luz Eulogio Rodriguez Leopoldo R. Aguinaldo Vicente Madrigal López y PdT Aurelio Pedro Periquet y Ziálcita
Term 1941–1945 1945–1949 1951 1951–1954 1954–1955 1955–1957
Pres. Vicente Madrigal Gil J. Puyat Aurelio Pedro Periquet y Ziálcita /
Daniel R. Aguinaldo 		Antonio de las Alas Teofilo D. Reyes Sr. Cesar M. Lorenzo
Term 1957 1957–1958 1958–1960 1960–1961 1961–1962 1962–1963
Pres. Bienvenido R. Medrano Primitivo Lovina Marcelo S. Balatbat Gaudencio E. Antonino Alfonso Calalang Hermenegildo R. Reyes
Term 1963–1964 1964–1965 1965–1966 1966–1967 1967–1968 1968–1969
Pres. Domingo Arcega Demetrio Muñoz Aurelio Periquet Jr. Pio Pedrosa Teofilo Reyes Jr. Teofisto Guingona Jr.
Term 1969–1970 1970–1971 1971–1972 1972–1973 1973–1974 1975–1978
Pres. Rogelio W. Manalo Simeon C. Medalla Miguel S. Arámbulo Jr. Wigberto P. Clavesilla Dominador Lim Fred J. Elizalde
Term 1983 1984 1985–1992 1992–1993 1993–1996 1996–2000
Pres. Perfecto Mañalac Paulino S. Dionisio Jr. Vicente Angliongto José Barredo Lourdes L. Sanvictores Exequiel B. Garcia
Term 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2010 2010–2017
Pres. Rose D. Teodoro Francis C. Chua Melito S. Salazar Jr. Benigno N. Ricafort Jose Luis U. Yulo Jr.[5][6]

The Founders

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Among the founders of the Chamber were representatives of the cross-section of the economy. They were: Don Juan Rodriguez, shipbuilder; Don Miguel Velasco, real estate owner; Sr. Rogaciano Rodriguez, businessman; Sr. Francisco Reyes, banker, who was the first president from 1903-1904; Don Ricardo Aguado, businessman; Sr. Teodoro Yang-co, real estate owner; Sr. Luis Hidalgo, businessman; Don Pedro A. Roxas, real estate owner and businessman; Sr. Rafael Reyes, real estate owner and industrialist; Sr. Tomás Sunico, industrialist; Sr. Vicente Somoza Cua-Peco, real estate owner and businessman; Dr. Aristón Baustista, industrialist; Don Vicente D. Fernández, attorney-in-fact of Don Pedro P. Roxas; Sr. Telésforo Chuy-dian, real estate owner and businessman; Don Bernandino Hernandez, businessman; Sr. Faustino Lichauco, real estate owner and importer; Don Ramón Soriano, real estate owner and importer; Sr. Tomas Argüellles, architect; Sr. Ignacio Sy-yap, businessman; and Don Rafael del Pan, lawyer.

First Meeting

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The first organizational meeting of the founders was held at the residence of Don Juan Rodriguez on Calle Vives in San Nicolas District. It was presided by Don Miguel Velasco. In this meeting, the group adopted "Cámara de Comercio de Manila" as the name of the organization. It was later changed in 1919 to "Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands / Camara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas".[7]

American Period (1903-1946)

[edit]

The change of sovereignty in the country from Spanish to American changed the tenor of business in the islands. Vicente Madrigal, Juan B. Alegre, Jose V. Ramirez, Alfonso M. Tiaoqui, Vicente P. Genato, Manuel E. Cuyugan, Vicente T. Fernandez and other prominent members of the Camara proved themselves leaders in espousing improved business relations in the Philippines.[8]

On May 3, 1915, the members of the Camara de Comercio Filipinas amended its by-laws, and on June 19, 1915, its Escritura Social was ratified.

By 1919, English began to be used instead of Spanish, thereby the Cámara was also officially referred to in documents as the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands. On July 17, 1933, During the 3rd session of the 9th Philippine Legislature, the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce was authorized to sell to the Chamber a land for its building[9][10] and approved therein on December 6, 1933. On September 15, 1934, The Chamber was issued title to its own land, and through the contributions of private businesses, The Chamber's 3-storey building, designed by the architect Juan Arellano,[11] was built and inaugurated in 1937 with Philippine President Manuel Quezon officiating[12] with then-President Aurelio P. Periquet y Ziálcita.

After the end of World War II, upon the attainment of Philippine independence, on April 6, 1949, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Department of Commerce and Industry issued a Reconstruction of Records of the Chamber of some lost documents where the Chamber was named as Cámara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas (and henceforth, Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands).[13]

Official Publication

[edit]

The Early COMMERCE Years

[edit]

Before the Chamber’s founding, the necessity for unilaterally voicing the interests of the business community in the Philippines was a dismissive concept. However, manifold concerns confronting the conduct of business emboldened the Chamber towards issues essential to the material progress of the country.

The Chamber’s official publication, named the “Revista de la Cámara de Comercio de las Islas Filipinas” released its maiden issue in 1927, subsidized by Leopoldo R. Aguinaldo (who became a Chamber president), and who later renamed the magazine’s name to “COMMERCE”. The change in name was made to identify it as the official organ of the Chamber.

COMMERCE Magazine had two sections for English and Spanish readerships, but was later reformatted into a wholly English language publication. It was printed in a deluxe format, on heavy paper, which made it the most expensive, authoritative and exclusive trade publication in the Philippines.[14] In January 1952, Dr. Jose R. Katigbak was appointed to manage the magazine, assisted by M.M. de los Reyes. The Board of Editors headed by Dr. Katigbak included Domingo Abadilla and Hilarion Vibal as staff, followed by other prominent members of the Chamber who took turns in running the publication, such as Teofilo Reyes, Hilarion Vibal, Benito Medina, Carlos de Lara and George Yulo.

The Later COMMERCE Years

[edit]

The publication of COMMERCE was halted during the Philippine Martial Law regime. In 2015, José Luis U. Yulo Jr. (56th President of the Chamber) and Denissa G. Venturanza (Executive Director) decided to revive the publication. Currently, COMMERCE Magazine (Philippines) is issued regularly on a quarterly basis.

Images

[edit]
The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (historical marker)[15]
Headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, Intramuros, Manila
The Chamber Building (marquee)

References

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  1. ^ "Chamber History". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands website.
  2. ^ Robert Rafferty (October 22, 2019). "List of Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines". Glueup.com.
  3. ^ "Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands". Terrapinn.com.
  4. ^ "130 Years of the Chamber". COMMERCE. No. 2016-2017 Special Issue. p. 7.
  5. ^ "Jose Luis Yulo, Jr". Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
  6. ^ "NordCham and the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands sign Memorandum of Cooperation". NordCham Philippines. November 22, 2017.
  7. ^ "130 Years of the Chamber". COMMERCE. No. 2016-2017 Special Issue. p. 8.
  8. ^ "History of COMMERCE Magazine". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands website.
  9. ^ "1937 original building of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
  10. ^ "1963 Post World War II Restoration with original structure intact". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
  11. ^ "The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, Historical Marker". Wikimedia Commons.
  12. ^ "Philippine President Quezon officiates at the Chamber with Don Aurelio Periquet Sr". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands.
  13. ^ "130 Years of the Chamber". COMMERCE. No. 2016-2017 Special Issue. p. 9.
  14. ^ "History of COMMERCE Magazine". Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands website.
  15. ^ Bartolome, Tin (27 March 2015). "A Historic Landmark". ABS-CBN News.
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