Keeps getting better

Katrina Ponce Enrile, the only daughter of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former ambassador Cristina Castañer, has gone a long way, from being a fashionista teenager, to running a fashion business, to being a mother of four, up to her present status as president and CEO of their family business, JAKA Investments Corp.

Having turned 52 last April 17, Katrina still looks fresh and young and still manages to make heads turn. Still a fashionista, her wardrobe consists of creations of both international and local designers. She hardly wears makeup and is very much into exercise and diet.

Admitting to having mellowed and becoming more patient and mature, Katrina says she did learn from her mistakes and that all these have made her into the person that she is right now – a good parent and a better person.

Here are excerpts from the interview with JAKA’s chief executive:

• How did JAKA Investments Corp start?

JAKA Investments Corp. (JIC) was established on August 8, 1974, as an investment management company to safeguard and manage the Enrile family’s investments portfolio. JIC is the mother company that started the JAKA Group.

The JAKA Group is a local conglomerate with diverse business interests and capabilities in the fields of Food Manufacturing & Services; Product Distribution, Marketing & Logistics; Forest Plantation Management; Safety Match Manufacturing; Property Management and Development; Information Technology Services; Security Services; and Financial Services. The direction of the JAKA Group, whether to manage existing assets or to create new ventures, is managed by JIC’s capable team of experienced professionals.

• What was the reason for putting up the business?

JAKA Investments Corp. (JIC) was started as a private firm to manage the existing assets and portfolios of the Enrile family, and a pool of select clients. With the knowledge and experience gained by the JIC team, the business took off for expansion into what is now known as the JAKA Group.  

• How is the business doing at the moment?

The JAKA Group is thriving, and wherever it focused on, it’s made itself known. JAKA Equities Corporation (JEC) is still going strong, being the highest revenue earner with safety matches distributed locally, as well as some parts in Asia. We also have JAKA Distribution Inc. (JDI), becoming a powerhouse in the logistics and distribution front, providing a stronghold for start-up businesses, both local and foreign, which are vying to make a breakthrough into the local market. JDI has made upgrades and improvements of recent so that they could tailor-fit services for the customers, and is now shifting into becoming a more organic company, developing and marketing home-grown products.

In the local food industry, we have Delimondo making a mark and becoming popular among young professionals who are looking for convenient ways to have gourmet meals despite their busy schedules. We also have our property development division, the JAKA Property Development and Management Corporation (JPDMC), coming up with flagship projects: the Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club (STGCC), a residential golf and lifestyle club located in a prime area in Tagaytay. Together with Sta. Lucia, we are eyeing to create more residential and commercial development projects. 

There is a lot of room for improvement, and each of our divisions is in the process of looking into their performance from the past years and known potentials, and researching on how to set themselves up for growth.

• How did it perform in 2011 compared to 2010? Has there been business growth? How much year-on-year?

Based on our figures, the company’s overall performance was significantly well in terms of pre-tax income of 55.22 percent - more than half of our earnings from 2010. We also got an increase in revenues of 4.56 percent. There were definitely improvements in group performance and it shows just how the JAKA Group has the potential to grow and thrive in the industry. We are really optimistic about the coming years.

• What are your plans to improve (or sustain) the business growth you had last year?  

We are very excited about projects lined up for our Property Development and Food Sector. Our property arm, JAKA Property Development and Management Corp. is currently planning more joint ventures with Sta. Lucia Realty Corporation. We are developing properties in Natipuan and Dasmarinas, Cavite.

• Which among the Group’s business endeavors is the most lucrative in terms of revenues? What do you think is the reason for that? 

We’ve identified our Lights and Woods Division as the most lucrative in terms of revenue. Under this division, JAKA Equities Corp. dominates in the industry of safety match production and distribution in the Philippines. Brands like Guitar, Royal and EMI, to name a few, are well-known and highly-trusted names in Filipino households for generations.

• Has your taste in music changed or do you still consider the ‘80s music the best of all time?

I would consider myself more of a “discotheque baby” than a Madonna fan; she was the biggest thing at that time, but my real love was the music I grew up to, the ‘70s and the ‘80s swinging disco music for obvious reasons — I love to dance! Today, my choice of music is not very specific, but I cannot relate to heavy metal; I listen to R&B, pop, Motown, Broadway, disco or what is referred to as “club” music these days — the music my children like.

• What is the biggest misconception that people have of you, if any?

That I am a spoiled brat and the daughter of a rich and powerful politician; I suppose that goes with the territory. Seriously speaking though, there seems to be this image of me, of someone who is alienated and unable to relate to the lives, sufferings and aspirations of the masses. What most people don’t know is that I have been actively involved in helping the constituents and ordinary citizens of Cagayan Province (my father’s province) especially during calamities and this is a personal and lifetime mission. As director of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, I have been closely working with the Cagayan townsfolk to meet their needs and solve their problems.

• Is your parenting style similar to your parents? What is the most important lesson your parents taught you and what is the first and most important lesson you have taught your children?

My parents had a distinctive style of raising us and I, too, have my own, but we share the belief that the fabric woven into our parenting roles must contain the same Christian values and traditions that have defined the Castañer-Ponce Enrile family members for generations. I became a mother at a very young age and it is a challenge to raise four children in varying stages of their lives, but I have managed to instill in them the importance of treating their fellowmen with respect and dignity, to be sensitive to their individual plights and circumstance and to be God-fearing at all times.

• How do you spend your weekends, vacation or your free time?

My weekends are pretty laidback. They consist mostly of movie dates or dining out with my family. Our vacation plans pretty much involve visiting friends and relatives who live abroad, this is our way to bond together. We also do touristy stuff like seeing new places or famous attractions, but one priority during our travel is to savor the food and exotic dishes of the places we visit. This, in part, has contributed to expanding my knowledge in putting up several restaurants and catering businesses.

• What makes you angry?

Betrayal of any kind.

• What makes you happy?

My family and friends, the ability to laugh at myself, great conversations, seeing a smile on someone’s face, good food, my orchid garden and my 14 adorable dogs.

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