Legacy

The origins of the Mondejar Group are rooted in a long tradition of enterprise, stewardship, and public life, shaped by the convergence of the Echavez-Mondejar and Polison-Dublas families.

Across generations, both lineages have been associated with substantial estates and agricultural enterprise, with a wide range of cultivated resources supported by long-established trading activity. 

This enduring relationship with land, cultivation, and trade reflects not only scale but continuity, remaining active in the present day through ongoing business-to-business operations.

This tradition also extended into education, where agricultural knowledge was not only practiced but taught through structured courses and learning programmes that supported practical training and community development.

Media and Intellectual Life

The formal institutional legacy began in 1945, when Ret. Col. Manuel P. Mondejar established Mondejar Printing Press. What began as a publishing enterprise evolved into a broader engagement with media, public discourse, and intellectual life in the Philippines.

The press became known for printing Congressional Records and other national publications, establishing the family’s early role in shaping information, communication, and institutional narratives in the Philippines.

Beyond printing, he was active in journalism as a writer for The Philippine Herald and as publisher of The Midweek Reporter and EVAA News. He was also known as a speechwriter to former Philippine presidents and other dignitaries, reflecting his participation in national discourse and public affairs.

He authored Leyte Firsts and Thoughts That Inspire for All Occasions and later served as national president of the Press Alliance of the Philippines. In the 1950s, the company’s building was inaugurated by President Ramon Magsaysay, while its offset printing machinery was inaugurated by Senator Gil J. Puyat.

This publishing tradition expanded in 1960 through Mondejar Bookstore, broadening the family’s involvement from printing into bookselling and literary circulation.

In 1970, Jose Rene E. Mondejar Sr. carried the publishing legacy into a new generation through JE Mondejar Press in Tacloban City. Recognised as a pioneer printing press in Eastern Visayas, it strengthened the family’s role in regional print culture and institutional publishing.

He also served as publisher of Option Newspaper and Scope Newsmagazine in Eastern Visayas. At the age of sixteen, he published Book of Nudes, recognised as the first songbook with guitar chords in the Philippines.

In 1995, he further broadened these initiatives through Lucita Publishing House in Manila. 

In 2019, Dr. Bernadette Mondejar Schlueter contributed to this lineage through Waray cultural projects, including the Maya series of children’s books, and through newspaper columns promoting language and cultural heritage.

Today, this legacy continues through Mondejar Media, reflecting an expanded presence across storytelling, education, cultural preservation, and contemporary knowledge platforms, including emerging forms of digital and artificial intelligence-driven content. What began in print has evolved into a broader media and intellectual ecosystem grounded in narrative, education, and public engagement.

Travel and International Connection

In 1950, the establishment of the Mondejar Airline Ticketing Office positioned the family among the early participants in the Philippines’ expanding commercial aviation and travel sector.

It reflected an early engagement with mobility, international connection, and service. Today, this legacy continues through Mondejar Travels, devoted to bespoke cultural journeys and curated old-world experiences.

Security and Protective Services

From 1965 onwards, the family expanded into professional security services through Bonded Security Guards and Central Intelligence Services, providing protection for financial institutions, businesses, and public infrastructure.

During the 1970s, these responsibilities reportedly included major banks and significant national infrastructure, including the San Juanico Bridge in Leyte.

In 1980, Jose Rene E. Mondejar Sr. further strengthened this legacy through the founding of All-Star Security Agency.

Today, this tradition evolves through Mondejar Security, a forward-looking concept integrating humanoid robotics and autonomous roving technologies for the protection and intelligent monitoring of secure environments.

Education and Institutional Development

In 1990, JE Mondejar Computer College was founded by Jose Rene E. Mondejar Sr. and Lucita D. Mondejar in Tacloban City as one of the pioneering institutions in the region devoted to computer and technology education.

It remains a central part of the family’s educational legacy and its commitment to widening access to practical and future-oriented learning.

This educational tradition extends not only into science and technology, but also into cultural knowledge systems. Through initiatives such as the Baybayin Institute, the family contributes to the preservation and teaching of indigenous Philippine scripts and heritage, reflecting a broader commitment to identity, language, and cultural continuity.

Its international extension in Switzerland continues through the Mondejar Institute, founded by Minerva Mondejar Steiner, which serves as a platform for research, workshops, and education in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Hospitality and Social Life

Alongside institutional growth, the family cultivated a strong role in social and cultural life.

In 1990, Don Tipo Function Hall & Catering Services was established and became known as a venue for community gatherings, receptions, and ballroom events. It was particularly recognised as a pioneer venue for ballroom dancing and refined social functions in the region.

In 2008, D’Circle Bar and Restaurant opened in Tacloban, extending this tradition into contemporary hospitality through live local bands and a vibrant social atmosphere.

In 2015, Once Upon a Time in Boracay Cinema Club & Bar opened as the first outdoor cinema and bar in Boracay, establishing a distinctive cultural venue within one of the Philippines’ most internationally recognised destinations. It attracted both local and international audiences, commissioned works from artists, became a gathering point for creatives, and screened independent films by Filipino directors.

This presence in Boracay reflects the Group’s engagement with internationally connected cultural environments, where hospitality, creative expression, and global interaction converge.

Today, this tradition continues through Mondejar Events, Mondejar Travels, and Mondejar Residences, extending the Group’s role in curating refined social, cultural, and hospitality experiences across both local and international settings, including destinations such as Boracay.

Technology and International Enterprise

In 2003, the Zurich-based ventures TEPS and MIN Solutions were established by Lord Joseph Tipo Mondejar and Minerva Mondejar Steiner, extending the family’s activities into international technology services.

These ventures facilitated outsourcing projects from Europe to the Philippines, creating professional pathways for graduates of JE Mondejar Computer College and strengthening the connection between education, technical practice, and global employment.

They later evolved into Mondejar Technologies, reflecting the family’s continued engagement with innovation and international enterprise.

Arts and Cultural Engagement

In 2007, Mondejar Gallery was established in Zurich by Minerva Mondejar Steiner, opening a new chapter in the family’s cultural life through exhibitions, artistic collaborations, and international dialogue in the arts.

Inspired in part by several family art collections, the gallery reflects an ongoing engagement with culture, heritage, and collecting. It remains active through exhibitions and selected international cultural platforms, including Osaka World Expo and Photo Schweiz.

Philanthropy and Social Commitment

In 2014, the M. Mondejar Steiner Foundation was established by Minerva Mondejar Steiner, giving formal expression to the family’s long-standing commitment to education, cultural preservation, humanitarian response, disaster relief, and community support.

Together with Mondejar Foundation, this work continues the family’s philanthropic tradition across generations and communities.

Clean Water Initiative

Moon Water, founded by Jose Rene E. Mondejar Sr., was introduced to help ensure the distribution of clean drinking water for students, faculty, and staff of JE Mondejar Computer College.

Today, this initiative forms part of Mondejar Waters, dedicated to clean water distribution and responsible water solutions.

Present Day

Today, Mondejar Group represents a multi-generational ecosystem that brings together agriculture, media, travel, security services, education, technology, the arts, hospitality and events, water solutions, estates, and philanthropy.

More than a portfolio of institutions and enterprises, it embodies a continuing tradition of institutional stewardship, cultural engagement, and public contribution, shaped across generations in the Philippines and carried forward internationally, with its agricultural heritage remaining active through cultivation, resource stewardship, and business-to-business export activities.