George T. Yang

Last updated

George T. Yang
Born (1938-09-12) September 12, 1938 (age 85)
Tondo, Manila, Philippine Commonwealth
Education De La Salle University (B.A.)
Wharton School of Finance (M.B.A.)
Occupation(s)Businessman, singer
SpouseKristine Yang
Children4
Musical career
Genres Classical, Opera
OccupationsBusinessman, diplomat, investor, singer
Labels Universal Records
Member ofKlassikal Music Foundation

George T. Yang is a Filipino businessman, investor, singer, and former and former diplomat who owns the master franchise of McDonald's in the Philippines through Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC). He is the founder of McDonald's Philippines through the company GADC and opened the first branch in Morayta in 1981, then in Cubao before expanding to 700 branches nationwide. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

George T. Yang was born on September 12, 1938 [2] [3] in Tondo, Manila. [4] He is the eldest among two sons and daughter [4] of Yang Ing Kuong. [5]

George's grandfather was an immigrant from China who would establish the United Insurance firm in the Philippines. [5]

He also had a passion for singing since he was 12 years old but would only pursue a serious career in singing much later in life. [6] Although coming from a Chinese family, him pursuing a career in singing was discouraged. [4]

Yang attended the De La Salle University where he obtained his undergraduate degree. [7] He also went to the United States to study at Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Master's in Business Administration. [8] [9]

Business career

Prior to McDonald's

Upon returning to the United States, Yang worked as an employee for two years. He worked as marketing manager for Bataan Cigarette Company while simultaneously serving as a consultant for Chinese companies in Binondo and teaching night school at the De La Salle University. [4]

He also helped his wife set up Kristine Jewelry, a jewelry company. [10]

McDonald's

In the 1970s, Yang looked to introduce the famed American hamburger franchise McDonald's across the Philippines. In 1974, he contacted McDonald's headquarters in Illinois regarding a proposal for obtaining the franchising rights to open various outlets in the Philippines. Yang's proposals were initially ignored, though he continued to remind the company regarding his business interest. In 1976, representatives of McDonald's International sent a delegation to the Philippines to conduct a feasibility study on establishing presence in the Philippine market. [11]

McDonald's International was also considering partnering with other local firms in establishing presence in the Philippines' other than Yang. Yang sold himself as a "long term partner" and volunteered to work in British Hong Kong where he networked with the business associate of the holder of the master franchise in the city and worked with uniformed crew at an outlet in Kowloon. In 1980, McDonald's decided to award the master franchise to Yang and, shortly thereafter, set up the first Philippine McDonald's in Sampaloc, Manila the following year. [11] [12]

Yang's company which would manage the master franchise is named Golden Arches Development Corporation.

His son Kenneth, would be appointed as managing director in 2003. [4] Kenneth would eventually become Golden Arches' president and CEO.

Other ventures

Aside from McDonald's Philippines, Yang also leads other companies including First Georgetown Ventures, HAVI Food Services (Philippines) and GEC Land Development Corp. [13]

Diplomatic career

Yang has also served as an honorary consul general to Eritrea. [10] [14] He was also elected as dean of the Consular Corps of the Philippines (CCP) in 2014. [15]

Music career

Yang is also a singer with classical and opera music as his main genre. He is signed under Universal Records. [13]

He had formal training at an old age. [16] He trained with Rachelle Gerodias, Raul Sunico, Raul Navarro, Lily Monteverde, and Gerard Salonga. [2] Yang decided to return to his childhood past time of singing after being forced to take part at a karaoke session with guests at a bar in the late 1990s. [4]

Jose Mari Chan, who was also his friend, convinced him to release his first CD, "Yang at Heart" in 2002. [4] The album was followed by "Forever Yang", and "The Night is Yang". He also did collaborative performances with Chan. [2]

He also did pop songs for McDonalds's television commercials and did acting roles in musicals. [16]

He also founded the Klassikal Music Foundation in 2007 which provided classical music education to youth who could not afford to pursue a college degree in music. [17] [18] [19] [20] [13]

Awards and honors

His alma mater, De La Salle University and the José Rizal University has conferred him with honorary doctorate degrees. [19]

Personal life

George Yang is married to Kristine Yang with whom he has three sons and a daughter. [19]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De La Salle University</span> Catholic research university in the Philippines

De La Salle University, also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was established by the Christian Brothers in 1911 as De La Salle College (DLSC) in Nozaleda Street, Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre Eilenbecker, FSC serving as director, and is the first De La Salle school in the Philippines. The college was granted university status on February 19, 1975, and is the oldest constituent of De La Salle Philippines (DLSP), a network of 16 educational institutions, established in 2006 replacing the De La Salle University System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Aquino</span> Filipino talk show host, actress and producer.

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino, professionally known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipino television host, actress and producer. She notably starred as Princess Intan in the acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians and is a recipient of 42 PMPC Star Awards for Television, 10 Golden Screen Awards and a FAMAS Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Tan Caktiong</span> Filipino entrepreneur (born 1953)

Tony Tan Caktiong, is a Filipino businessman and investor. He is the founder and chairman of Jollibee Foods Corporation, and the co-chairman of DoubleDragon Properties. Forbes listed him as the fifth richest person in the Philippines in 2023, with the estimated net worth of USD$3.2 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhills (mixed-use development)</span> Shopping mall in Metro Manila, Philippines

Greenhills, formerly and still commonly known as the Greenhills Shopping Center, is a 16-hectare (0.16 km2) mixed-use shopping, residential, and leisure development located in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gian Magdangal</span> Filipino actor and singer

Giancarlo "Gian" Alzate Magdangal, is a Filipino singer, performer, theater and television actor. He is a former boy band member of 17:28. he rose to prominence as one of the runners-up of Philippine Idol in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington SyCip</span> Filipino-American accountant

Washington Z. SyCip, PLH BOLk RNO1kl was a Chinese-Filipino-American accountant. He was the founder of the accounting firm EY SGV & Company and the Asian Institute of Management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Tan</span> Filipino businessman

Andrew Lim Tan is a Chinese-born Filipino business magnate and investor. His conglomerate companies Alliance Global Group, Inc. and Megaworld Corporation presides a wide extension of business interests in real estate, liquor, casinos, high-technology, resorts, and restaurants. In 2011, Forbes magazine rated him fourth on the list of the "Philippines 40 richest" with an estimated net worth of $2 billion. As of May 2018, Forbes magazine ranks him as the 10th-wealthiest person in the Philippines, with his net worth of US$2.6 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gec Chia</span> Filipino basketball player

George Christian T. Chia, better known as Gec Chia, is a Filipino business executive and former professional basketball player.

<i>The Voice of the Philippines</i> Philippine reality television singing competition

The Voice of the Philippines is a Philippine reality television singing competition on ABS-CBN. It is based on the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland, which was originally created by Dutch television producer John de Mol as part of The Voice franchise. Toni Gonzaga has been hosting the show since the first season; on the other hand, Luis Manzano, who had crossed over from The Voice Kids, had hosted the show since the second season. Both are accompanied by Robi Domingo and Alex Gonzaga who serves as the show's V-Reporters or the social media and backstage correspondents. Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo Mañalac, Lea Salonga, and apl.de.ap serve as the four coaches and the judging panel of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enrique K. Razon</span> Filipino billionaire

Enrique Anselmo Klar Razon Jr. is a Filipino billionaire and the chairman and CEO of the Manila-listed company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), the Philippine port-handling giant. He is also Chairman of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., developer of Solaire Resort and Casino, a US$1.2 billion integrated resort complex in the Philippines’ Entertainment City and Manila Water, the private concessionaire of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System that serves the more than 7 million population of the East Zone of Metro Manila and the Rizal Province. ICT, BLOOM, MWC and APX are listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Alliance Global Group, Inc., styled on its logo as AllianceGlobal and also known as Alliance Global, Inc. (AGI), is a large holding company with business activities spanning the food and beverage industry, gambling, and real estate development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerphil Flores</span> Musical artist

Gerphil Geraldine Flores is a German-Filipino classical crossover singer. In 2015, she joined the inaugural season of Asia's Got Talent, where she finished as second runner-up. A soprano, she was dubbed "Asia's Golden Girl."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte</span> Philippine presidential administration from 2016 to 2022

Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldest to be elected. He won the election amid growing frustration with post-EDSA governance that favored elites over ordinary Filipinos. His tenure ended on June 30, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfonso Cusi</span> Filipino businessman, civil servant and politician

Alfonso "Al" Gaba Cusi is a Filipino businessman from Naujan, Oriental Mindoro who served as the 14th Secretary of Energy under the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2022. He is also the president of PDP–Laban and served in the Arroyo Administration as head of government air and sea transportation agencies from 2001 to 2010. He was the vice chair of PDP–Laban until July 2021, before being elected as its president amid the dispute within the ruling party with the rival faction led by Senators Koko Pimentel and Manny Pacquiao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonald's Philippines</span> Philippines division of McDonalds

McDonald's Philippines, known locally and colloquially as McDo, is the master franchise of the multinational fast food chain McDonald's in the Philippines. The master franchise is held by the Golden Arches Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Uy</span> Filipino businessman and diplomat

Dennis Ang Uy is a Filipino businessman and diplomat. Uy is the founder of Udenna Corporation, which has stakes in various businesses including Phoenix Petroleum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arcovia City</span> Mixed-use development in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines

Arcovia City is a mixed-use development in Ugong, Pasig, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is a 12.3-hectare (30-acre) riverside township located by the Marikina River east of Ortigas Center being developed by the Megaworld Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy</span> Controversy regarding the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN in 2020

The renewal of the congressional franchise of the Philippine media network ABS-CBN to continue broadcasting is a dispute between the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the media conglomerate arising on the terms and conditions of the franchise renewal agreement. Amid the controversy, the Congress of the Philippines, country's legislature, was unable to renew the franchise before its expiration date. The congressional franchise expired on May 4, 2020, as the Philippines was dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. The next day, exercising constitutional powers, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) then issued a cease-and-desist order demanding ABS-CBN to cease all of its free TV and radio broadcasting immediately. ABS-CBN complied with the government order and shut down all of its radio stations and free television channels later that day. On June 30, 2020, the NTC released two alias cease-and-desist orders against ABS-CBN TV Plus and Sky Direct.

<i>Idol Philippines</i> Filipino TV series or program

Idol Philippines is a Philippine reality singing television competition broadcast by Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5. As part of the Idol franchise created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, the show aims to discover new solo singing talents, with the winner determined by weekly singing challenges and the viewing public. This is the third iteration of the Idol franchise in the Philippines, after Philippine Idol in 2006 by ABC 5 and Pinoy Idol in 2008 by GMA Network. It aired from April 21, 2019, to September 18, 2022, replacing World of Dance Philippines and was replaced by Everybody, Sing!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharmally scandal</span>

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. became involved in a scandal over allegations of overpriced medical supplies it supplied to the government for the latter's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate of the Philippines launched an investigation into the matter and uncovered other issues, such as the supplied face shields' alleged substandard quality and how the company was able to secure a billions of pesos worth contract despite being founded only in 2019 with a small paid-up capital.

References

  1. ↑ "George T. Yang, the man behind the Golden Arches in the Philippines". September 12, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Custodio, Arlo (September 11, 2021). "The singing tycoon is an iconic man in leadership". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "As told by George T. Yang: lessons from a business tycoon". Business World. December 10, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "With The Son Running The Show, Dad Can Sing- And Stay Forever Yang". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 7, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Flores, Wilson Lee (December 4, 2011). "George Yang's success tip: Be honest,persevere and work really hard". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ Hila, Antonio C. (February 4, 2013). "McDo's George Yang: Singing his way to business success–literally". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Berjaya Philippines Inc. | George T. Yang". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Vergara, Mary Elizabeth (September 11, 2021). "Lessons from a visionary tycoon". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Sering, Tara FT (December 4, 2011). "The journey of George Yang". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Enriquez, Marge (October 10, 2012). "George Yang: 'I'm known as the McDonald's guy'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Matejowsky, Ty (December 20, 2017). "Of Burges and Bees : McGeorge Yang". Fast Food Globalization in the Provincial Philippines. Lexington Books. pp. 35–41. ISBN   978-0739139905 . Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Dr. George T. Yang: Powering the Golden Arches since 1981". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 12, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 Abunda, Boy (December 10, 2017). "The music on George Yang's mind". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ Mananquil, Millet M. (April 24, 2021). "What is the best thing that happened to us during the pandemic?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ "McDonald's George Yang awards outgoing Consul Steven Chapman". The Philippine Star. March 3, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. 1 2 Regalado, Cherrie (September 6, 2019). "McDonald's Big Cheese George Yang Talks About That Ad With Jose Mari Chan". Esquire. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  17. ↑ "McDonald's PH founder honored by JRU". ABS-CBN News. September 29, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  18. ↑ Lo, Ricky (November 17, 2018). "By George, he nailed it!". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 Lo, Ricky (September 9, 2017). "Yang at heart". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  20. ↑ "George Yang presents 'Klassikal' scholars anew". The Manila Times. October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  21. ↑ Liabres, Aprylle (December 10, 2007). "The singing tycoon". Khaleej Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.