Philips' partnership with the Filipino people dates back to 1920 when it first established its business of selling lighting products and short wave radio sets in the local market.
In 1956, spurred by the growing economy, Philips established its corporate presence in the country with the opening of Philips Electronics and Lighting, Inc. at the Trade and Commerce Bldg. in Binondo, Manila -- the premier business center during that era.
Three years later, Philips Electronics and Lighting, Inc. (PEL) and the Philippine Glass Bulbs, Inc. began making Philips lamps and glass bulbs locally in a plant located in Las Piñas.
Inspired by the desire to cover almost every facet of Filipino life, Philips began diversifying its product range when it organized the PEL Commercial Section in 1960. The Commercial Section began to market and distribute not only lighting products but also audio and video systems, domestic and personal care products, medical systems and data hardware products.
In order to monitor each product range, Philips set up the following divisions: Philips Lighting, Philips Consumer Electronics, Philips Consumer Communications, Philips Domestic Appliance and Personal Care, Philips Medical Systems, Philips Semiconductors, Origin and some business electronics activities to oversee the company's various commercial projects.
Today, Philips is one of the biggest business organizations in the Philippines, employing some 6,000 Filipinos directly, excluding several thousand others working as suppliers and subcontractors for the company. Its operations in the Philippines includes two semiconductor plants in Laguna, a consumer electronics facility in Las Piñas together with its commercial office in Makati City.
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