Here are a few…
Note one thing though, all these people started from zero, some folks out there imagine Spain gave them some giant business upon setting foot in the islands for being Spaniards.
All of them arrived during the second half of the 19th century and went on to prosper under the United States. The reasons why Spanish immigrants were successful in business may be argued cojuncturally (colateral circumstances attached to being Spanish, such as education or better business culture); but not politically by some super-structure favouring them, as it is most comfortable to argue. Simply because the superstructure changed (to the United States), and many times antagonised them.
- ZÓBEL DE AYALA
The family Zóbel de Ayala are the owners of the largest Philippine company, which carries their name Compañía Ayala. It has reach in all sort of business fields now, which already would make them a prominent or “prestigious" family.
The family comes from the marriage of the Zóbels (an Hispanised German family in the Philippines) and the Ayalas, which were a Spanish family and the ones with the Ayala Company. They are probably one of the mestizo families that remains “most Spanish" in terms of ancestry, probably fitting as criollos.
Jaime Zóbel de Ayala, patriarch of the family and his sons
Their origin was in the beer makers of the district of San Miguel in Manila, which is today the largest beer company in Asia as well, with business all over the Hispanic world and an offshoot in Spain seated in Málaga.
But their reach goes beyond that, being for example the funders of the most iconic modern bridge in Manila, which carries their name as the Ayala Bridge. Apart from having various museums and competititions owned or sponsored by them in Spain itself.
Rocío Mercedes Zóbel de Ayala, in Sotogrande, Spain, where they vacation, in an event organised by the family
Sotogrande, Cádiz, Spain, town where the Zóbel de Ayala family vacations in Spain
Íñigo Zóbel de Ayala, with king Juan Carlos I
Similarly they are also the creators of the Zóbel Prize, which is an award created and funded by the family for Philippine literature in Spanish. It was the family's response after the US took Spanish out of schools and administration, starting the demonisation of everything Spanish, in order to narrate the new US administration as the light after the horror. See the antagonisation mentioned before. To this day the family's Zóbel Prize is single local Philippine institution promoting the Spanish language, from the pocket of the family.
The family is probably the most active in social events and networking within the Spanish descendant families in the islands, with a visible reach still in Spain's business and upper class. Organising prestigious yearly polo tournaments in Spain, funding art museums, or setting up off-shoots of their companies seated in Spain. In the Philippines they have also a pretty big network and philantropic activity (I mean, they have both an iconic bridge and a literature prize with their name)…
Jaime Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala, giving a conference on electronic stuff
Jaime Alfonso Zóbel de Ayala, inaugurating a clinic in Manila
- ARANETA
The Araneta family is more diverse business-wise, in root they were Spanish immigrangs who started in the business of sugar, but then went on to other fields and ultimately politics.
Familia Araneta, largest real estate “dynasty" in the Philippines
They became the largest real estate business in the Philippines in the mid 20th century and built the Araneta City, with the then-largest stadium in Asia inside of it. Similarly, they have the seemingly iconic Araneta Mansion where the family resides.
Araneta City, where the family business is seated
Araneta Colosseum, largest stadium in the Philippines and once in all of Asia
But what brought them most renown is probably their political activity throughout the decades, becoming in that sense sort of a Philippine equivalent of the Clintons or Kennedys, but with roots in business more than politics.
Araneta Mansion, with traditional colonial Spanish Philippine architecture
- RAZÓN
The Razón family are also a giant of Philippine business, being the owners of the largest port company in the country.
Enrique Razón, patriarch of the family
Their main and original business was in handling port cargoes, having gained control of all major ports' business in the Philippines, but specially for controlling all of Manila's port activity. Later they expanded into resorts and casinos in the tourism business in the islands.
Enrique Razón with President Duterte
And ultimately they have become also the second largest business in power, with investment in all sort of power sources (oil, gas, solar) and their distribution to various regions of the islands.
The family also enjoys its own pop culture stars status in the islands, even if not as much as the Ayalas, they also have their networking and front page fashion magazine appearances.
Katrina Razón, daughter of Enrique
And they have a side connection with another wealthy family, the Puyat Family, which are not as much Spanish descended in root, although they have become quite Spanish by marrying these families. They are not as rich either, but they are easily spotted as such in Philippine pop culture.
- ABOITIZ
If the Razóns were the second in power business, the Aboitiz have the largest company in Philippine power. The family is actually pretty old as well, and probably the one that remains the most Spanish next to the Ayalas.
Aboitiz Family, original members
Aboitiz Family, modern members
The family is seated in Cebú and the Visayas, rather than Manila, being the Cebú the 2nd city in the Philippines during the Spanish period, so it also received plenty of Spanish immigration along with Manila.
Jon Ramón Aboitiz, former patriarch, now defunct in 2018, and wine lover
They have the Visayan Electric Company from the region, and the Aboitiz Power Corporation, as well as the Davao Light and Power Corporation. And basically having some foothold in virtually every single power company in the country.
Besides these, they also have a giant in the country dealing with financial activities, although mostly focused as well on industrial matters, but from a financial field (loans, funding, shares holding etc). And of course their fair share of networking and popularity among the masses.
Tristan Aboitiz, one of the three sons, in a party
Eduardo Aboitiz, another son, the Spanish-looking one on the left, in another party
Carlos Aboitiz, explaining the advantages of renewable energies for the company
There are many more renown Spanish families in business but those are the biggest ones, and the list has to end somewhere.
The other main field of prominence of Filipino Spaniards apart from business—although it is less about families and more so of random individuals coming from “common Spanish families"—is modelling, hosting, acting and influencers. The presence of Spanish descendants in cinema, TV or social media is very large for the small size of the community in the country.
(C) Quora 2022
