Oscar Hilado: Legacy of purpose, principles
The Philippine business community and civil society are mourning the loss of Phinma Corp. chair emeritus Oscar Hilado, an influential industry leader, education champion and staunch tennis patron who spent a lifetime guiding some of the country’s top corporations and helping the underprivileged.
Hilado, who would have turned 88 on Nov. 8, was a certified public accountant who began his career as the executive assistant of Phinma founder, Ambassador Ramon del Rosario Sr.
In the last six decades, he rose through the ranks to become one of Phinma’s most esteemed leaders.
He had served on the board of Phinma and other companies within the group since 1969.
Before rising to chair emeritus, he chaired the Phinma board from 2003 to 2021.
He also sat on the board of other big companies like A. Soriano Corp., Philex Mining Corp., Smart Communications Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Rockwell Land Corp., Seven Seas Resort and Leisure Inc., Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., Beacon Venture Holdings Inc. and United Pulp and Paper Company Inc.
Conglomerate Phinma says in its tribute: “Through his stellar financial sense and business acumen, Mr. Hilado steered the Group through challenging times and into new frontiers. More importantly, Mr. Hilado’s unwavering commitment to making lives better has uplifted countless Filipinos and made a significant, long-lasting impact in the business community and civic society.”
Rockwell Land Corp. likewise paid tribute to Hilado, who served as director from 2015 to 2025 and Audit Committee chair from 2015 to 2024.
“Mr. Hilado was one of the first individuals who believed in the Rockwell promise. As chair of the board for Phinma Corp. since 2003, he built their headquarters in Rockwell Center, Makati. This move was instrumental in establishing our pioneer community and helped pave the way for what it has become,” it says.
Former SGV & Co. chair and ex-Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima says Hilado’s legacy “will continue to inspire generations.”
He recalls meeting Hilado about 40 years ago when he was the SGV auditor for the Phinma group.
“He was eloquent, the gentlest of men, yet sharp with an eye for numbers, details and always the bigger picture. His influence on the corporate world was far greater than his physical footprint,” Purisima says.
“Among the things I admired was how he treated everyone regardless of status in life or rank in the corporate hierarchy, with the same respect, kindness and the brightest of smiles.”
Purisima wasn’t surprised when in 1991, Hilado bagged the prestigious “Management Man of the Year” award from the Management Association of the Philippines.
He later on also received the Outstanding Fulbright Award for Business Management.
“Under his leadership, Phinma grew into a diversified group spanning education, construction materials, property and hospitality, always anchored on the mission of making lives better,” he adds.
Sports benefactor
Hilado also gave back beyond the boardroom, Purisima notes.
“A lifelong tennis fan, he was one of the strongest supporters of Philippine tennis player development, sponsoring tournaments and helping young talents gain competitive exposure,” Purisima says.
“On a personal note, I will always treasure our lighthearted exchanges whenever (Roger)Federer played (Rafael) Nadal; he, the steadfast Federer fan, and I, the Nadal supporter.”
As Phinma chair, Hilado organized the Phinma J60 International Junior Tennis Championships.
The tournament served as an important stepping stone for Filipina tennis star Alex Eala when she won it as a 13-year-old in 2018.
Last July 12, Eala—fresh from her recent Eastbourne Open finals appearance and Wimbledon debut—graced the 2025 J60 Phinma International Juniors Tennis Tournament Main Draw ceremony at the Manila Polo Club Upper Tennis Courts.
Hilado thanked Eala for her inspirational message to the junior tennis players.
“Mr. Hilado’s decades-long investment in Philippine tennis both at a personal and corporate executive level reflects a strong belief in the sport as a means to uplift the lives of young, underprivileged players,” says Phinma.
The Philippine Tennis Academy, which is chaired by Hilado, says, “Thank you for all you’ve done for Philippine tennis in general and our kids in particular.”
Education champion
Hilado was a founding member of the Philippine Business for Education (PBed), an advocacy group that drives conversations on key and systemic education reforms through innovative interventions and policy research.
“His legacy leaves a lasting impact not only in the industry that he served but also in the many lives he’s touched through initiatives that opened countless opportunities for Filipino youth,” PBed says.
The De La Salle Brothers, administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and students also celebrate Hilado as “a beloved benefactor to the Lasallian community.”
“His generosity leaves behind a legacy of compassion and service that will continue to inspire generations to come,” says De La Salle University.
Describing him as a lifelong Green Archer, Purisima recalls that Hilado received honorary doctorates from De La Salle University and the University of St. La Salle.
These are recognitions that “reflected not just his brilliance but the values he lived by,” Purisima notes.
