Makati has been known as a haven for a string of business establishments. Thus, businessmen and business groups flock in this business district giving the city many economic opportunities.
One of the business-related groups in the city is the Makati Business Club. However, Makati Business Club is a non-stock, non-profit organization based in the area that was organized in the country as a mere forum for some constructive ideas.
Essentially, MBS is aimed at analyzing and addressing the social and economic policies that would likely affect the development of the country as a whole. Makati Business Club would often land on headlines at it is known to be active on many social issues, especially on policies that would adversely affect the public, not just the business sector.
Specifically, Makati Business Club aims to uphold the crucial role of the business sector in national development. It also wants to be consistently involved in the planning and implementation phases of certain social policies, which are not just constrained on economic policies.
To date, Makati Business Club has at least 800 chief executive officers from more than 450 corporations and companies in the Philippines. Through the years, Makati Business Club has proven itself as one of the most influential group in the country often serving as a pressure to the policies to be implemented. Makati Business Club usually address issues on labor and employment, investment policy, health, media control, and even politics in general.
The Makati Business Club was born in 1981 when Enrique Zobel decided to gather some of his friends within the business sector to tackle some issue concerning the business community. Zobel urged his friends that the business sector should be assertive enough in bringing about change in the community, and eventually in the country. However, the group made it clear that any criticism from them must be relevant and constructive, aimed for the advancement of the country. Thus, Makati Business Club was tagged as a “Forum for Constructive Ideas.”
Makati Business Club was formally launched on October 29, 1981 at Nielsen Tower in Makati City through a press conference initiated by the group.
Up to this day, the group continues to live to its principles of advocating development not just within their circle. Makati Business Club has been popular to be vocal on their stands not just on economic issues but on issues of governance as well. However, the group still holds to its initial aim that every criticism should be constructive as it should be.
Aside from helping the economy of the country through their respective businesses, members of the Makati Business Club have maintained to be guards against any form of social injustice in the country.