Hired by Homegrown: Top Filipino Companies to Apply to

Finding a great job with an ideal employer is never easy, but among the best places to start are the top local companies whose brands are familiar and their success well documented

Save for putting up and/or running a business, many professionals, at one point or another, consider working for a well-known company. This is because regardless of the industry, there is usually plenty of benefit to working for an employer with a widely known brand that is also often reputed to be among the most successful.

For one, most major companies these days involved or invested in a myriad of industries and this, coupled with having typically large operations, all but ensures that there are somehow opportunities for about anyone from almost any profession. Then there is a matter many of these companies usually having copious amounts of funding and/or revenue compared to their more modest counterparts which, while not a guarantee, allows its employees to earn substantial salaries and receive excellent benefits.

There are a number of these types of organizations in the Philippines that, while already distinguished for being among the top companies in the world, are also proudly home-grown. They had been founded locally, and continue to grow and expand their business with mostly, if not all, locally hired personel.

Key contributors to the economy, homegrown companies play an integral role in the overall growth of the country, and the following are some of the top-most which you presently offer career opportunities which you may want to consider.

Ayala Corporation

Initially formed by Domingo Róxas and Antonio de Ayala as a distillery, what is now known as the Ayala Corporation serves as the publicly listed holding company for the diversified interests of the Ayala Group.

Apart from being one of the largest holding companies in the Philippines, Ayala Corporation is also among the longest existing overall, as it continues to operate for over 180 years and counting. In 2019, the company was ranked 1,236 in Forbes’ 17th annual Global 2000, being one of only six companies from the Philippines to make the list.

The group’s large portfolio includes a number of diverse business interests, that of which professionals can also seek career opportunities in. Among these are leadership in real estate, telecommunications, water infrastructure, financial services, electronics, automotive, business process outsourcing, power generation, transport infrastructure, and education.

See all opportunities with the Ayala Group of Companies listed on Kalibrr

BDO Unibank

The highest-ranked local company on the aforementioned 17th Global 2000 list at rank 1,018, Banco de Oro or BDO is considered among the largest banks in the world, with subsidiaries involved in leasing and financing, investment and private banking, insurance and stock brokerage.

In terms of total assets, loans, deposits, and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition, it is indeed the largest in the Philippines; and, according to the London-based financial publication The Banker, it ranks 235th out of the Top 1000 Banks in the World.

As of 2018, it has the largest distribution network among banks in the country, with over 1,200 operating branches and over 4,000 automated teller machines nationwide. BDO also has a Hong Kong branch, and 24 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

See all opportunities with BDO listed on Kalibrr

SM Investments Corporation

While BDO was the highest ranking local company in the 17th Global 2000, its parent company, SM Investments, was not far behind at 1,092. Along with these the Philippine conglomerate had also been ranked among Forbes’ top 2000 Best Regarded Companies and World’s Best Employers lists.

Apart from banking, the Philippine conglomerate also has interests in shopping mall development and management, retail, real estate development, and tourism.The company is widely known as the leader in the local retail industry, and at present, it owns and operates 208 stores nationwide.

The company was founded by Henry Sy in 1958, initially operating as a small shoe store called ShoeMart (SM) in Carriedo, Manila. It has since grown to feature multiple subsidiaries, allowing for professionals to establish careers in different industries through the company.

See all opportunities with SM on Kalibrr

JG Summit

Another large conglomerate in the Philippines, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. has business interests in air transportation, banking, food manufacturing, hotels, petrochemicals, power generation, publishing, real estate and property development, and telecommunications.

Among its more popular subsidiaries are Robinsons Land which, apart from being behind all its residential and commercial real estate projects, is behind its Robinsons Malls retail and lifestyle chain. JG Summit is also the conglomerate which owns and operates PLDT, Summit Media, and Cebu Pacific.

JG Summit was among the local companies which ranked in Forbes’ 17th Global 200 list, coming in at 1,720. One of its subsidiaries, Robinsons Land Corporation, was also named among the Top 10 Developers in the Philippines by the BCI Media Group earlier in 2019.

See all opportunities with JG Summit on Kalibrr

Metrobank

Established in 1962, the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company grew to eventually open its first international branch in Taiwan in as early as 1970. The bank was granted a universal banking license in 1962, and has since entered numerous ventures and completed several acquisitions which has resulted in the creation of several affiliates and subsidiaries.

Considered the second largest bank in the Philippines, Metrobank’s is primarily known for its diverse offering of financial services, from consumer and business banking to insurance. The company was 1,639 in Forbes’ 17th Global 2000 list, and was also recognized as The Best Managed Bank in the Philippines at the Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards 2019.

Among Metrobank’s most popular subsidiaries are the Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corporation and the Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, evidence of the company’s success, influence, and opportunities it continues to offer, in varying industries.

See all opportunities with Metrobank on Kalibrr

Ready to be hired by homegrown? Sign up at Kalibrr and be connected to thousands of employers today! 

Kalibrr is a technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, the company continues to attract the best talent from all over, with over 2 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients, and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

For application help and additional professional advice, follow Kalibrr on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.