Asked how the conglomerate he heads plans to give back to society in 2025, Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin Tan said they will invest in the education and training of manpower—a way of empowering people by equipping them with skills needed not only in their employment, but also in life upliftment. Now, that is really a payback in the long term. Education and training empower people for life.
The conglomerate, with diversified interests in food and beverage industry, tourism and hospitality, real estate development, gaming and entertainment, employs tens of thousands. Tan said his group is putting up a training academy to teach skills, needed particularly in the hospitality or service industry.
Tan revealed this in the annual holiday lunch he hosts for editors, which is always casual and where the talk turns off the cuff. Around the lunch table at the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, when his turn came to talk about the year just past, Tan said that for 2024 he was thankful for family, their health, the business expansion and growth, and the growing opportunities to help the Philippine population in various areas of business.
It should be interesting to note, for instance, the contribution of the conglomerate to Philippine arts and culture.
Eastwood City in Quezon City, one of the first lifestyle developments of the group, is the newest home of Repertory Philippines, the country’s pioneering theater group. Right at the entrance to Eastwood City is the huge signage announcing the Rep at Eastwood Theater, making it apparent how the city development welcomes the theater institution, and how it announces to the visitors and residents of this massive development the special place of theater arts in the Eastwood lifestyle.
Now running at the Rep at Eastwood Theater is the original musical Jepoy and The Magic Circle mounted by Rep Theater for Young Audiences under veteran actress and director Joy Virata. Based on the short story by Gilda Cordero Fernando and written by Rody Vera, it has a cast led by Pinky Marquez and Noel Comia.
At the opening of Rep at Eastwood Theater last October, Tan announced his company’s vision to make the Philippines the Broadway of Asia. “We are actually building a place called West Side City in the Bay Area,” Tan cited the project in the reclamation development along Roxas Blvd.
“We want to create a district that will be able to put the Philippines on the map in terms of performing arts, musicals and theater.”
Hamburger, lobster at Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill
Also at the holiday lunch, Tan sounded triumphant talking about the partnership with Gordon Ramsay that was clinched the year before. The Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill has been drawing a consistent clientele since it opened last year. Tan revealed how the people behind Gordon Ramsay restaurant chain already have the Philippines on their radar because the Filipino netizens rank high in engagement among their clientele in the world.
Gordon Ramsay himself will visit Metro Manila later this month and meet the press.
Asked about what he looks forward to in 2025, Tan hoped for peace and stability, and bigger investments and higher growth.