About

Chairman and founder of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the largest and most successful financial conglomerates in the Philippines, Alfonso Yuchengco is former Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations. He also served as Philippine ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 1986 to 1988, and to Japan from 1995 to 1998. At the completion of his mission as envoy to Japan, he received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the emperor of Japan and the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu, from the Philippine government.

Mr. Yuchengco was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs in 2004, a position he currently holds. In 2001, President Macapagal Arroyo appointed him presidential special envoy to China, Japan, and Korea. For President Joseph Estrada, he served as presidential assistant on APEC matters with cabinet rank (1998–2000). Before naming Mr. Yuchengco Philippine ambassador to Japan, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed him chairman of the Council of Private Sector Advisers to the Philippine government on the Spratlys issue (marine and archipelagic development policy task group).

Since graduating from Columbia Business School in 1950, he has held distinguished professorships in insurance and in finance and economics. He is also a certified public accountant.

Mr. Yuchengco has chaired the boards of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Philippine Fuji Xerox, the Malayan Group of Companies, the Benguet Corporation, the BA (Bank of America) Savings Bank, and Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation, among others.

He has received numerous awards and decorations, including Outstanding Manilan in Diplomacy (1995), Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star, by the emperor of Japan (1993), and Management Man of the Year from the Management Association of the Philippines (1992). The International Insurance Society inducted him into the Insurance Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2008, Mr. Yuchengco was awarded the first Global Humanitarian Insurance Award by the University of Alabama for his contributions to uplifting humanity and practicing exceptional business ethics while advancing the principles and application of insurance and financial services.

Mr. Yuchengco is active in civic, professional, and philanthropic organizations. He served on the National Centennial Commission for the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. He was chairman of the Asian Bankers Association. He established the Yuchengco Center for East Asia at La Salle University in 1994 to strengthen awareness and understanding of the Philippines’ northeast and southeast Asian neighbors. Through his AY Foundation, he has initiated many programs designed to benefit underprivileged communities.