Rafael M. Alunan III

Rafael M. Alunan III is Vice-Chairman of Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. and President of the Philippine Taekwondo Association; and sits on the boards of APC Holdings Inc. and the Spirit of EDSA Foundation. He is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Manila; past Chairman of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association; past Chairman of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations (PCFR); and is Senior Adviser to Kaltimex Energy Philippines.

Mr. Alunan is an Eminent Fellow of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP); Senior Fellow of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; and Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA). He is a member of PCFR, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Maritime League, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles of the Philippines. He organized the One Philippines Party List; co-authored the book “Silver Linings”; and produced the documentary “Tagaligtas”.

Mr. Alunan obtained a double degree in Business Administration and History-Political Science from De La Salle University; attended Ateneo de Manila University’s Master in Business Administration-Senior Executive Program; obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a certificate in “Leaders in Development” Executive Education from Harvard Kennedy School of Government; and graduated from the Philippine Army’s Command and General Staff College Operations Course.

He holds the rank of Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (PA Reserves). He commanded the 131st Infantry Division (Standby Reserve) and the 9th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve) of the Philippine Army. He is an adopted member of Philippine Military Academy Marangal Class of 1974, PC-Special Action Force, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and First Scout Ranger Regiment.

Mr. Alunan served in the Cabinets of Presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos as Secretary of Tourism and Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, respectively. He was married to Elizabeth Jalbuena (+), has 5 children and 12 grandchildren.