Andres Soriano was a prominent businessmen and a leading influence of what is now the San Miguel Corporation.

ANDRES SORIANO

In 1918 Soriano joined his grandparent's company San Miguel Brewery as a junior accountant when he was 21 years old, in 1919 he became its acting manager. In 1925 he entered the frozen food industry with the creation of Magnolia Ice Cream.

In 1927, San Miguel secured the first non-US national Coca-Cola bottling and distribution franchise. By 1928 Soriano had up to a 90% control of the Philippine beer industry.

In 1941 he acquired the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company (PATCO) and transformed it into Philippine Airlines with the help of the National Development Agency to become the country's largest air carrier.

He was appointed by President Quezon as the Secretary of Finance of the Philippine Commonwealth.

Under Soriano's business leadership, the San Miguel Corporation became the largest and most modern Philippine company of its time. By 1962 Time Magazine estimated his personal fortune at US $80 million, with interests in 14 major companies. He was the richest man in the Philippines.

8 February 1898

to 30 December 1964