49-504: Meralco Theater is a theater located at the compound of Meralco , Ortigas Avenue in Pasig , Philippines . It used to be known as the Meralco Auditorium . It seats over 1,500 people and is a popular venue for various concerts, plays, musicals and events. The Meralco Theater was inaugurated on March 22, 1969. It was designed by Filipino architect José María Zaragoza and forms part of
98-474: A 100% increase in electric rates, with continuous increases throughout Romualdez' management. A rate adjustment clause, which allowed MERALCO to adjust its rates depending on crude oil increase or higher dollar exchange rates, was also introduced. In 1977, MSC was renamed First Philippine Holdings Corporation . By 1978, all of the Philippines' major power plants were owned and operated by Napocor, including
147-524: A U.S. military reservation by U.S. Secretary of War Elihu Root , expropriating the land owned by Captain Juan Gonzales without compensation. This expropriation was later challenged by then-President Ferdinand Marcos and the United States (US) agreed to compensate, through him, in trust deposits. In 1916, the 3rd Battalion of the 31st Infantry Regiment was formed here. Until December 1920, this
196-552: A policy of serving prior disconnection notice. The 2.4 GHz band is mostly used by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In 1993, the National Telecommunications Commission allocated the 2.4 GHz band for the exclusive use by Meralco in Metro Manila, Central Luzon , and Calabarzon for the operation of their Supervisory Control and Data Access (SCADA) system which controls and monitors Meralco’s substations. This has made
245-489: Is an electric power distribution company in the Philippines. It is Metro Manila 's only electric power distributor and holds the power distribution franchise for 39 cities and 72 municipalities, including the whole of Metro Manila and the exurbs that form Mega Manila . The name "Meralco" is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company , which was the company's official name until 1919. Organized in 1891 and beginning operations in late 1900, La Electricista
294-633: The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), tasked with converting military bases into "integrated developments, dynamic business centers, and vibrant communities". On February 3, 1995, the BCDA and a consortium led by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation formed a joint venture called the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) for the purpose of developing 150 hectares (370 acres) of former Fort Bonifacio land. In
343-542: The Compañía de los Tranvías de Filipinas , a firm that ran Manila's horse-drawn tramways which was founded in 1882. Construction on the railed tramway began that same year. In addition to acquiring La Electricista's Calle San Sebastian power plant, the company built its own turbine rotated by water steam generating electricity plant on Isla Provisora (later becoming the Manila Thermal Power Plant ), which lighted
392-576: The JG Summit Group with 29.56%, for a combined 75.02% control of MERALCO. In 2014 and 2015, MERALCO requested the 16th Congress to tackle the extension of its franchise early, although its renewal was not due until six years later, in 2020. Meralco is facing a Philippine legislative inquiry/investigation for alleged excessive pricing. The government has considered a plan to take over Meralco, to reduce electricity bills. Meralco and National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) blamed each other for
441-556: The Manila Suburban Railway to operate this franchise. In 1919 this company merged with the Manila Electric Company. This extension was one of the most profitable of MERALCO's lines. By the 1920, MERALCO invested on transportation and owned a 170-strong fleet of streetcars, before switching over to buses later in that decade. The company operated 52-miles of trams until World War II. The equipment and tracks of
490-1235: The Pasig Regional Trial Court. The May 29 National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform (Nasecore) complaint accused Meralco of "illegally declaring as income ₱889 million in consumers' money, which represents interest from meter and bill deposits consumers had been paying since 1995." No bail was recommended for all the accused, 2006 officers of Meralco, to wit: Meralco chairman and CEO Manuel Lopez, executive vice president and chief financial officer Daniel Tagaza, first Vice-resident and treasurer Rafael Andrada, vice president and corporate auditor and compliance officer Helen De Guzman, vice president and assistant comptroller Antonio Valera, and senior assistant vice president and assistant treasurer Manolo Fernando; 2006 Meralco directors Arthur Defensor Jr., Gregory Domingo, Octavio Victor Espiritu, Christian Monsod, Federico Puno, Washington Sycip, Emilio Vicens, Francisco Viray and former Prime Minister Cesar Virata . Nasecore's complaint accusing Meralco of "illegally declaring as income 889 million pesos in consumers' money, which represents interest from meter and bill deposits consumers had been paying since 1995,"
539-520: The Second Philippine Commission began accepting bids to operate Manila's electric company, and by extension, providing public lighting to the city and its suburbs. Detroit entrepreneur Charles M. Swift was the sole bidder and on March 24, 1903, was granted the original basic franchise of the Manila Electric Company. March 24 thus is marked annually as the company's anniversary. The Manila Electric Company acquired both La Electricista and
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#1732851662678588-601: The Second World War , the Japanese occupying forces forcibly transferred all of MERALCO's assets and holdings to the Japanese-controlled Taiwan Power Company . By war's end, most of the former Meralco facilities had been destroyed. AGECO was reorganized as General Public Utilities Corporation or GPU in 1946. MERALCO's autobus franchise was sold to Halili Transport. In 1962, Eugenio López, Sr. of
637-478: The nearest airport to have more than 60 minutes; this will also avoid any major fault line , having no buildings and rise high enough to reach 600 feet (180 m), which would make the city green; and a national park would feature a network of smaller parks, gardens, and malls. The private group bought a 55% stake in the FBDC for ₱ 30.4 billion , while BCDA held on to the remaining 45% stake. The FBDC's landmark project
686-471: The 23MW Botocan Hydro Station. At the time, this plant was one of the largest engineering projects in Asia and constituted the largest single private capital investment in the Philippines. The additional capacity allowed the company to begin hooking up customers throughout the metropolitan area . To drive demand for more power, MERALCO also opened a retail store in order to sell electric home appliances. During
735-646: The ERC prescribed schedule and has allocated enough funds for the said refund. Meralco is also involved in the GSIS-Meralco bribery case . On October 6, 2008, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 71 dismissed the syndicated estafa case filed against the Meralco board of directors, for the prosecution failed to establish all the elements of syndicated estafa . Presiding Judge Franco Falcon, pointed out in
784-635: The López Family, and the need to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. Oscar López said that if the GSIS would buy the Meralco shares, they must buy in whole cash, while many businessmen also said that taking over Meralco is not the way to reduce electrical price, which depends on the national government and the President. The issue was also seen as a purposeful diversion from
833-725: The Maximum Security Unit separate from the YRC. They stayed there until Marcos moved them to an even higher security facility in Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija on March 12, 1973. Diokno would remain in solitary confinement at Laur until September 11, 1974, while Aquino would stay in prison until May 5, 1980. On March 19, 1992, President Corazon Aquino signed the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992 (RA 7227) into law, creating
882-521: The Metro Manila plants that MERALCO had built beforehand in the 1960s. By the end of the Martial Law period in 1981, MERALCO expanded even further into Cavite and western parts of Laguna, Rizal and Quezon provinces, as well as parts of southern Bulacan. Meralco Foundation's control of MERALCO lasted until the People Power Revolution in 1986 when it defaulted on its payments under the terms of
931-594: The New Supersonic Industrial Corp. in Valenzuela , shut off the electricity in the factory and Yu's residence. The Court of Appeals later ruled that Meralco violated the law when it cut off the electric supply of a consumer without notice; the decision later upheld by the Supreme Court in late June 2023, with Yu being entitled to ₱150,000 in damages. The court said that a written notice must be given to
980-810: The Philippine College of Commerce (now the Polytechnic University of the Philippines , were all also imprisoned at the YRC. Several Catholic priests were also imprisoned, including Fathers Max de Mesa and Fr Hagad from Jolo, and Jesuit Fr Hilario Lim. The site of YRC was later used as the Makati City Jail . Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and Senator Jose Diokno were Marcos' first martial law prisoners, arrested just before midnight on September 22, 1972, and at 1 AM PHT on September 23, 1972, respectively. They were eventually imprisoned in Fort Bonifacio at
1029-603: The Philippine territory except for the use of their military bases. On May 14, 1949, Fort McKinley was turned over to the Philippine government. The facility became the home of the Philippine Army and later the Philippine Navy and was renamed Fort Bonifacio. It lies in the present-day cities of Pasay , Parañaque , Pasig and Taguig , all former parts of the province of Rizal . The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
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#17328516626781078-407: The Philippines longest running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga! will move to the theater soon. 14°35′24″N 121°03′50″E / 14.59005°N 121.06401°E / 14.59005; 121.06401 Meralco The Manila Electric Company ( PSE : MER ), also known as Meralco ( / m ɜːr ɑː l k oʊ / , Tagalog: [mɛˈɾalkɔ] , stylized in uppercase ),
1127-541: The company, but other areas, mostly rural municipalities, are served by electric cooperatives. In Batangas, only Santo Tomas , the First Philippine Industrial Park and First Industrial Township SEZ both in Tanauan , Batangas City , San Pascual and parts of Laurel (Barangays of Niyugan and Dayap Itaas) and Calaca (parts of Barangay Cahil) which facing Tagaytay–Nasugbu Highway are served by Meralco, and
1176-406: The consumer at least 48 hours prior to Meralco's disconnection of its electric service on grounds cited under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 7832 ; in that case, a consumer's right to due process was violated. Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, in a statement, said that Meralco will respect and abide by the said decision; however, he said that the incident occurred when Meralco was already implementing
1225-555: The country's electric generation and transmission. A few more weeks after that, Marcos had Lopez' son and namesake, Eugenio "Geny" Lopez, Jr. arrested without formal charges, claiming that the younger Lopez had been involved in an alleged assassination attempt against him. Geny's arrest became a bargaining chip which eventually compelled the Lopezes to sell their controlling share of Meralco Securities Corporation to Marcos' associates late in 1973. Ownership of Meralco Securities Corporation
1274-864: The electric facilities and other assets of the Communications and Electric Development Authority, one of two companies that distributed power in Cavite Province for much of the 1970s and 80s. Between 2009 and 2012, the López Group would reduce its 33.4% holdings in MERALCO by selling most of its shares to the First Pacific Group . By 2012, the López Group's holdings in MERALCO would be reduced to 3.95%. The First Pacific Group, through Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investment Corporation , currently holds 45.46% share in MERALCO, followed by
1323-406: The high power rates. Meralco also blames high power generation costs, high transmission costs and government taxes imposed on the electricity sector from power generation to distribution. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Winston García, however, blamed Meralco's inefficiency, its "bloated bureaucracy" and its sourcing of power from independent power producers (IPPs) also owned by
1372-558: The influential López family of Iloilo put together Meralco Securities Corporation (MSC), which acquired MERALCO, making it wholly Filipino-owned. During 1962-72, he increased MERALCO's power generating capacity by five times with the building of additional power stations in the Manila area with two more planned in Rizal Province . The Meralco Building, designed by National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture José María Zaragoza ,
1421-586: The larger Meralco Building, which was completed a little earlier. The 14-story building, theater and adjoining buildings form a landmark in the Ortigas Center CBD . The theater was where the staged graduation ceremony of politician Imee Marcos took place, according to University of the Philippines Cebu history professor Madrileña de la Cerna. Meralco Theater had completed its interior renovation. Rumors and heavy speculations from news sources said that
1470-477: The original turnover of shares in 1973, although it took a five year period before the shares were eventually reverted to the Lopezes in 1991. President Corazon Aquino reverted company ownership to the López Group . She also enacted an executive order that allowed the company to directly compete with Napocor. On March 18, 1989, MERALCO unveiled its new and current corporate logo. In 1990, MERALCO acquired
1519-602: The railed tram system and eventually also provided the electric service. By 1906, the Manila Suburb Railway were founded and later merged with the Manila Electric Company. Forming the Manila Electric, Railway and Lighting Company. The name Manila Electricity, Lighting and Railroad Company (MELARCo) was also considered. Swift was awarded another franchise in 1906 to operate a 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) extension line from Paco to Fort McKinley and Pasig and founded
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1568-531: The rest of the province are franchise areas of electric cooperatives. In Pampanga , some barangays in Candaba are served by the company. Fort William McKinley Fort Andres Bonifacio (formerly named Fort William McKinley ) is the site of the national headquarters of the Philippine Army (Headquarters Philippine Army or HPA) located in Taguig City , Philippines . The camp is named after Andres Bonifacio ,
1617-693: The revolutionary leader of the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution . It is located near Villamor Air Base , the national headquarters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Fort William McKinley, now Fort Bonifacio, was established during the Philippine–American War in 1901. The land is situated south of the Pasig River , down to the creek Alabang , near Manila. It was declared
1666-548: The ruling that the board is not the kind described by the law as being formed to perpetrate an illegal act for the board of directors were elected by stockholders. The court explained, "Therefore, the accused can never be charged of taking part in the commission of syndicated estafa not only because they are not part of a syndicate as contemplated by law in PD 1689, but more so, because there was absolutely no estafa committed." According to Philippine law, to constitute syndicated estafa ,
1715-426: The same year, when President Fidel V. Ramos proposed the location of the government center to be at this military base as a conversion, the name would be Aguinaldo, which is named after the country's first president, Emilio Aguinaldo . While the idea was to be located south of Manila, on a 5,000-hectare (12,000-acre) area, a river should traverse the city; proximity to the sea or lake would be desirable; travel time to
1764-459: The subject money or property must be received by the offenders. The money represents the accrued interests on the bill and meter deposits, which were paid by Meralco customers, not directly to the board, but to the various Meralco business centers where the customers transacted. Meralco expressed elation over the dismissal. A complaint was filed by Lucy Yu against Meralco which, on December 9, 1999, its representatives, forcibly entering her office at
1813-407: The system was severely damaged during the war and had to be removed. By 1915, electricity generation and distribution became the main MERALCO's main income generator, overtaking its public transportation operations in terms of revenue. In 1919, it changed its official name to Manila Electric Company. By 1920, the company's power capacity had grown to 45 million kWh. In 1925, MERALCO was acquired by
1862-448: The then-ongoing ZTE NBN scandal and other government issues. A perceived lack of general understanding regarding the issue of system loss, inherent in the business of utilities prompted Meralco's former holding company, First Philippine Holdings, to issue advertisements explaining systems loss. The Department of Justice (Philippines) filed syndicated ( fraud ) charges against Meralco in its August 22, 2008 31-page resolution, filed with
1911-919: The use of the 2.4 GHz band in the Philippines illegal, in spite of the International Telecommunication Union declaring the 2.4 GHz band as an ISM unlicensed band. On September 12, 2003, the NTC issued Memorandum Circular No. 09-09-2003, which lifted the ban on the 2.4 GHz band. Meralco serves Metro Manila , where it is the sole electricity distributor, as well as some nearby provinces, like Bulacan , Cavite , Laguna , Batangas , Rizal , Quezon . Bulacan , Cavite , and Rizal are solely served by Meralco, but on some provinces, it only serves some parts, like in Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon, where most or some areas are served by electric cooperatives . In Laguna and Quezon, most part of those provinces are served by
1960-456: The utility holding company Associated Gas and Electric , which had begun a massive expansion throughout the United States and Canada . With AGECO's financial backing, MERALCO began acquiring a number of existing utility companies in the Philippines, enabling the company to expand beyond Manila. By 1930, MERALCO had completed construction of the Philippine's first hydroelectric power plant,
2009-573: Was built during this period. The Meralco Theater within it was inaugurated shortly thereafter, in March 1969. In September 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos , who had begun feuding with the Lopezes, declared Martial Law , acquiring and consolidating power and effectively extending his beyond the constitutional term limit which would have forced him to step down in 1973. A few weeks later in November 1972, he issued Presidential Decree № 40, which nationalized
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2058-625: Was executed by hanging at Fort McKinley for murdering his fiancée, 17-year-old Audrey Burleigh. He was the first American officer to be executed in peacetime, and remains the only graduate of the United States Military Academy to be executed in the history of that institution. After Philippine independence on July 4, 1946, the US surrendered to the Republic of the Philippines all rights of possession, jurisdiction, supervision, and control over
2107-505: Was immediately refuted by the accused company as the alleged ₱889 million only stemmed from a generally accepted accounting principle of reversing Meralco's earlier provision for meter deposit interests which, earlier set at 10% per annum was deemed too high and was set to the recommended 6%. Meralco also questioned how a syndicated estafa case can arise when it has already announced and committed that it will be refunding to customers who paid meter deposit principals plus interest months ahead of
2156-662: Was later established there. When President Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law in 1972, Fort Bonifacio became the host of three detention centers full of political prisoners - the Ipil Reception Center (sometimes called the Ipil Detention Center), a higher security facility called the Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC), and the Maximum Security Unit where Senators Jose W. Diokno and Benigno Aquino Jr. were detained. Ipil
2205-776: Was located became the area near S&R and MC Home Depot at 32nd Street and 8th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City . The YRC was a higher security prison that housed detainees that included prominent society figures and media personalities, supposed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines , and some known criminals. Journalists imprisoned there included broadcaster Roger Arienda, Manila journalists Rolando Fadul and Bobby Ordoñez, and Bicolano journalist Manny de la Rosa. Society figures Tonypet and Enrique Araneta, Constitutional Commission delegate Manuel Martinez, poet Amado V. Hernandez , and Dr Nemesio Prudente , president of
2254-537: Was placed under a newly created shell company called the Meralco Foundation, Inc. , controlled by Marcos' brother-in-law Benjamin Romualdez , which made a downpayment of about $ 1,500 for a "very minimal" total sale price of about $ 28 million (200 million pesos at the prevailing rate). Installment payments were supposed to be due starting two years later. The Meralco Foundation takeover was immediately followed by
2303-577: Was the first electric company to provide electricity to Manila towards the close of the Spanish era . La Electricista had built a central power plant on Calle San Sebastian (now Hidalgo Street ) in Quiapo, Manila . On January 17, 1895, its streetlights were turned on for the first time and by 1903, it had about 3,000 electric light customers. On October 20, 1902, during the American Colonial Period,
2352-698: Was the home of the 31st Infantry Regiment. During World War II , the USAFFE headquarters for the Philippine Department and the Philippine Division were at the fort. The bulk of the Philippine Division was stationed there and this was where, under the National Defense Act of 1935 , specialized artillery training was conducted. On March 18, 1926, U.S. Army Lieutenant John Sewell Thompson
2401-399: Was the largest prison facility for political prisoners during martial law. Among the prisoners held there were some of the country's leading academics, creative writers, journalists, and historians including Butch Dalisay , Ricky Lee , Bienvenido Lumbera , Jo Ann Maglipon, Ninotchka Rosca , Zeus Salazar , and William Henry Scott . After Fort Bonifacio was privatized, the area in which Ipil
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