About JAKA Group
HISTORY

The year was 1974 - the stock market was on the rise and the business sector was on an upswing. The principals of the Company, namely Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and his wife Cristina Ponce Enrile, decided that it was the perfect time to start a business that would initially handle their own personal assets and would subsequently emerge as a stable, reputable and profitable business organization. JAKA Investments Corporation (JIC) was founded on August 8, 1974 with this specific premise in mind.

JIC’s main business then was to manage real estate properties and shares of stocks in various companies. Its first office was located in ADC Building along Ayala and it has only five (5) employees including the President & CEO. Managing an asset base amounting to some Php 50 million while safeguarding and expanding its portfolio investments locally and abroad, JIC would become the holding company of all affiliate companies under the JAKA Group of Companies.

In March 1975, JAKA invested in over six (6) million shares of Republic Glass Corporation. This was followed by another major purchase of stocks in Philippine Global Communications. At the start of 1976, JAKA through its initial efforts, was able to show a 10% increase in stockholders equity and a 21% increase in total resources. Moreover the book value of each share of stock also increased from Php128.42 in 1975 to Php156.00 in 1976.

In 1977, JAKA took over the effort of rehabilitating ailing companies in wood and match manufacturing industries. With little experience in running wood and matchstick operations, JAKA took over the forestry operations of three companies, namely: the Dolores Timber Incorporated, Samar Lumber Incorporated and the Provident Tree Farms Incorporated. It also took over the matchstick business of Panomatch Company and equity ownership on the match operations of Samar Match Incorporated. The odds against success were high, but confident in its business acumen and a commitment to profitability, JAKA hoped to eventually overcome the odds and turn the companies back to black.