A division of
Ayala Foundation, Inc.
Makati Avenue
Ayala Triangle
Makati City 1224
Philippines

June 21, 1924

In 1834, Casa Roxas, under the partnership of Domingo Roxas and Antonio de Ayala, established Destileria y Licoreria de Ayala y Compañia in the district of Quiapo, Manila. Initially using primitive manufacturing processes—hollow logs with bamboo tubing—the company later imported equipment from France to produce good quality drinks such as anis, rum, cognac, whiskey, and its top money maker, the gin-trademarked Ginebra San Miguel. The commercial distillation of spirits became a nationwide operation.

Under Margarita Roxas de Ayala’s leadership, the company acquired 4,000 hectares of nipa palm swamps in Hacienda San Esteban in Pampanga to procure raw materials for alcohol distillation. She also purchased nipa palm colonies in Capiz and established refining stations in the province.

The distillery also set off the growth of the country’s chemical industry. In 1878, its technical director, Anacleto del Rosario, discovered a way to neutralize the acidity and the light color obtained from tuba. The distillery in Quiapo was one of the company’s top moneymakers until it was sold to Carlos Palanca Sr. on June 21, 1924.

Source: Eduardo Lachica, Ayala, the Philippines’ Oldest Business House (Manila: Filipinas Foundation, Inc., 1984) 35-36.

Each month, this section will feature milestones in the history of the Ayala group's member companies. Ayala is the Philippines' oldest business house and, through its diverse business interests, has led the way in many vital areas of national development. Events cited here are supplied by the Ayala Memory group of the Filipinas Heritage Library, which maintains a repository of documentary and photographic records of significant events and developments for the Ayala group of companies.