COVER STORY
By Mayan G. Sangil Co-Editor In Chief, Philippine Retailing Magazine PRA Deputy Secretary General
For decades, Philippine retail has been shaped by companies built on vision, resilience, and an enduring understanding of the Filipino consumer. From department stores and fashion brands to lifestyle concepts that have become part of everyday life, many of the country’ s most recognized retail organizations were built by leaders who transformed commerce into culture, and businesses into lasting legacies.
Today, as the Philippine Retailers Association( PRA) marks its 50th anniversary, the industry finds itself at another important turning point, shaped not only by disruption, but by transition.
Across long-standing retail organizations, a new generation of leaders is beginning to step forward. Raised in an era shaped by digital transformation, evolving consumer behavior, and rapidly shifting market expectations, they carry with them a different perspective on leadership and retail itself. Yet despite the changing landscape, they remain deeply grounded in the values and foundations laid by the generations before them.
For Michael Huang, Vice President for Store Development and Expansions at Rustan Commercial Corporation; Jamille Thai-Lee, Head of the Engineering & Procurement Department at Primer Group of Companies; and Bryan Liu, Vice President for Strategy & Operations at Golden ABC, Inc., shaping the future of retail is not simply about modernization or innovation. It is about understanding how legacy and progress can move together, and how businesses remain meaningful in a world where consumers continue to change faster than ever before.
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