Viva la Cerveza San Miguel

As the local business sector bids farewell to Señor Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, one of the most influential figures in our country, I can’t help but revisit our history to see where it all began.

La Fabrica de Cerveza San Miguel, today’s San Miguel Corp., was founded in 1890 by a group of Spaniards under a Spanish Charter which officially permitted the brewing of beer in the Philippines. It was also the first brewery in Southeast Asia. San Miguel beer was so loved by its customers that it won its first award at the Exposicion Regional de Filipinas and was recognized as a product with highest quality.

Then and now, and as Filipinos, we can proudly say the Philippines has one of the best beers in the world. Being part Spanish, I always loved how San Miguel beer became a great conversation piece in both professional and leisure trips. It even reached a point where my Spanish colleagues and I would debate on whether Cerveza San Miguel was a Spanish brand or a Filipino brand. This debate became very common as the goal was to understand the historical connection.

But as we say it in Spanish, “todo empezó en Manila.” Since 1890, San Miguel Corp. has transformed itself from a beverage, food and packaging business into a diversified conglomerate that involves business in fuel and oil, energy, infrastructure and real estate industries.

While our historical connections revolve around a world class beverage, such connections also signify stability and progress especially in such difficult times. We need institutions that invest much on social responsibility and this is the very same vision that San Miguel Corp. holds at heart. While we look at our future in the midst of crisis, we must at the very core delve deep into the pillars that have over time kept us strong.

Heritage has much to do with national progress and making these possibilities within reach for every Filipino is vital. This to date we see in Señor Ramon Ang who in adversity continues his plight for a better Philippines. There’s so much one can reflect on with a nice cold bottle of beer and for cerveza San Miguel, I see more than just our heritage... I see the spirit of what is to come for a better nation.

After all, opportunities are found even in the deepest, darkest moments in life. We’re all in this together as we keep saying. Perhaps, our happy hour moments could start with this reflection... a conversation piece that could spark many solutions to our challenges. Who knows what some of us might come up with and becoming part of national progress should be one of them.