BIZ BUZZ: Tanduay’s lucky No. 8
MANILA, Philippines — Tanduay—a household name, as you may have at least one bottle in your house—remained on its throne for the eighth year in a row.
On Wednesday, Tanduay said it remained the World’s No. 1 Rum, based on The Millionaires’ Club report by Drinks International Magazine.
Its case was clear: Tanduay sold 23.8-million case liters last year, a couple million past its competitors Bacardi (19.7 million) and Captain Morgan (11.5 million).
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“Even while we’re entering new markets, we have always remained true to our Filipino heritage and craftsmanship,” Tanduay international business development manager Roy Kristoffer Sumang said.
“This recognition is the result of the collective effort of our different teams and the trust of our consumers around the world,” he added.
Overall, Tanduay was the sixth top-selling spirits brand in the world. Still a good win, if you ask us! —Meg J. Adonis
MOA gets 34.5M visitors
Like the rest of us, SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s flagship Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex had a pretty busy first quarter.
But unlike us, MOA actually had to host big-time events that drew 34.5-million visitors to the 67-hectare space, up by 15 percent.
“We are seeing sustained momentum toward experience-driven consumption so we are aligning our event strategy to capture that demand,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in a statement on Wednesday.
Indeed, we’ve all gone to the MOA complex at least once during this quarter.
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For its part, SM Prime said the main attractions were the return of the Philippine International Pyromusical Competition, major sporting events like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball games, and high-profile concerts.
If you were one of the fans tearfully singing to Indonesian singer-songwriter NIKI’s “Backburner” or blissfully grooving to Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” you were 100-percent part of the headcount. —Meg J. Adonis
Semirara, Nickel Asia win big
Semirara Mining and Power Corp. and Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) reaped back-to-back honors from regional business publication FinanceAsia.
Consunji-led Semirara Mining was named the gold winner at the 25th Asia’s Best Companies Poll hosted by FinanceAsia during the latter’s awards night held in Hong Kong.
It was ranked the highest in the Best Managed – Basic Materials category in the Philippines, which evaluates the corporate behavior and performance of Asian peers over the past 12 months.
“This highlights our strong dedication to exemplary corporate governance, transparency, and accountability—fundamental principles to our role as a responsible partner in nation-building,” Semirara Mining President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Maria Cristina Gotianun said.
Mining company NAC received a second silver citation in the Best Managed – Basic Materials category, marking its second recognition in that same category. It previously won a gold award.
“This is inspiring because it comes at the midst of our transformation from being the largest nickel mining operation in the Philippines to becoming a natural resources operator not only in the Philippines, but also in our region,” NAC SVP for Sustainability, Risk, Corporate Affairs and Communications Jose Bayani Baylon said.
NAC became the first and only company in the country with interests in mining to win the category in 2023.
Founded in 1996, FinanceAsia is the region’s premier capital markets publication that provides news, analysis, and insights into the financial markets across Asia.
Congratulations are in order for Semirara Mining and NAC! — Jordeene B. Lagare
