SMC Is Now RSA's Brand

In a span of about 25 years, Ramon S. Ang, or RSA, has truly reshaped San Miguel Corp. as his brand.

- MARIANNE GO

The Soriano family will still be remembered as an integral part of the history of SMC, when Andres Soriano joined the company in 1918, then known as La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel, which was actually founded in 1890 by Enrique Ma. Barreto de Ycaza.

In the same way, Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. will remain a key figure in SMC's long history after gaining control of the company in 1983, and he was instrumental in formally bringing in RSA into the firm in 1999 as vice chairman, although RSA had long been a trusted associate of Danding.

RSA eventually gained control of the then food conglomerate in 2012 after acquiring the shares of Danding.

However, it was under RSA's bold leadership that SMC evolved from a food and beverage company to a more expansive group that now includes vital infrastructure projects such as major tollways, airports, railways, real estate and energy through Petron Corp. and SMC Global Power.

RSA's two major airport projects—the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the still-under-construction Bulacan International Airport—and his tollway projects—the NAIAX, SLEX and TPLEX—will probably be his major legacy to the country long after he is gone. SMC also operates the Caticlan Airport in Panay Island.

RSA's leadership of SMC has elevated him to the rarefied rank of taipan and among the trusted circle of business leaders that President Marcos turns to for advice on matters of the economic sector.

Thus, there is no denying that RSA has truly made SMC his brand—one that is remarkably showing strong growth and profits.