Manuel B. Zamora

Background

Manuel B. Zamora was born in 1942 in the Philippines. He belongs to a prominent Filipino family whose members have held public, business, and professional roles. His father, Manuel Zamora Sr., served as a Malacañang protocol officer, while his brother Ronaldo Zamora became a lawyer and legislator.

Zamora entered professional life during a period when the Philippine government was encouraging industrial development and natural-resource investment. His early work at the Program Implementation Agency connected his legal and administrative training with the economic-development environment in which Rio Tuba's nickel resources began to be developed.

Education

Zamora studied at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence, and a Bachelor of Laws degree. The University of the Philippines, founded in 1908, is the country's national university and has long combined liberal education, professional training, and public-service traditions.

He placed third in the 1961 Philippine Bar Examinations and received a University of the Philippines Certificate of Merit for Scholarship. He was also elected to the international honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma Mu, reflecting recognition of his academic performance and scholarly standing.

Career

Zamora entered the mining industry in 1969, when he became president of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation at the age of 28. Rio Tuba, incorporated in 1969 and located near Bataraza in southern Palawan, became one of the Philippines' earliest large-scale nickel operations; mining began there in the 1970s and later supplied international markets. Zamora's leadership at Rio Tuba made him one of the country's pioneer nickel executives.

He subsequently expanded his business activities through directorships and executive roles in Philippine corporations, including Philex Mining Corporation, CLSA Exchange Capital, Solid Mills, and Unisol Industries and Manufacturing. His work connected mining with investment, manufacturing, and corporate administration. He also served as chairman and president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, an industry organization representing mining companies and promoting the sector's interests and development.

Zamora founded Nickel Asia Corporation as a holding company for mining enterprises associated with the Zamora group. Nickel Asia was established in the 2000s to consolidate several nickel-mining businesses, including Rio Tuba, Taganito, Hinatuan, Cagdianao, and Dinapigue. He served as its president and chief executive officer from 2006 to 2009 and as chairman from 2008 until 2018, later becoming chairman emeritus and subsequently a board adviser. The company developed into the Philippines' largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and one of the world's major producers.

Zamora also served as vice chairman of the board of trustees of St. Luke's Medical Center. In politics, he was a chief fundraiser for Joseph Estrada's presidential campaign, a documented connection that reflected his participation in Philippine business and political networks without establishing a formal party affiliation.

Achievements

• Founded Nickel Asia Corporation and consolidated several Philippine nickel-mining enterprises under its corporate structure, helping establish the company as the country's leading producer of lateritic nickel ore.

• Became president of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation in 1969 and helped develop one of the Philippines' earliest major nickel-mining operations.

• Placed third in the 1961 Philippine Bar Examinations after completing legal education at the University of the Philippines.

Religion

Zamora is Catholic. Catholicism is the largest Christian tradition in the Philippines, where it became deeply established during the Spanish colonial period and continued to shape public institutions, family life, education, and social organizations after independence.

His religious affiliation belongs to a church organized around the sacraments, episcopal leadership, biblical teaching, and a worldwide institutional tradition. No more specific account of his personal religious practice is documented.

Membership

Zamora was a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the national organization of Philippine lawyers created under the country's legal profession framework. His election to Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma Mu at the University of the Philippines also placed him in international honor societies devoted to academic achievement and the advancement of scholarship.

• Member as a Philippine lawyer.

  Integrated Bar of the Philippines , Philippines

• Elected to the international academic honor society while at the University of the Philippines.

  Phi Kappa Phi , Philippines

• Elected to the international social-science honor society while at the University of the Philippines.

  Phi Gamma Mu , Philippines

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Zamora has described mining as a business requiring perseverance and substantial financial resources.

Interests

• Politicians

  Joseph Estrada

Connections

Zamora is the son of Manuel Zamora Sr., who served as a Malacañang protocol officer. His brother Ronaldo Zamora became a lawyer, legislator, and corporate director, including service in companies associated with the Zamora business group.

Zamora is married and has five children. His son Martin Antonio G. Zamora became a business executive and later served as president and chief executive officer of Nickel Asia Corporation, continuing the family's involvement in the company founded by Manuel Zamora.

Father:

Manuel Zamora Sr.

Served as a Malacañang protocol officer.

Son:

Martin Antonio G. Zamora

Business executive who became president and chief executive officer of Nickel Asia Corporation.

Brother:

Salvador Zamora

Businessman associated with the Zamora family enterprises.

Son:

Manuel Zamora III

Daughter:

Cecile Zamora

Daughter:

Patricia Zamora

Daughter:

Ana Zamora

References

• Forbes, Manuel Zamora Jr. profile Provides biographical information on Zamora's mining career, education, founding of Nickel Asia, political fundraising, family, and business activities.
  2026
• Nickel Asia Corporation 2019 Preliminary Information Statement Documents Zamora's citizenship, education, 1961 Bar Examination result, corporate directorships, chairman emeritus status, and leadership roles in mining and medical organizations.
  2019
• Nickel Asia Corporation, Board of Directors and Officers Provides current corporate context for Nickel Asia and identifies Martin Antonio G. Zamora's executive role.
• Esquire Philippines, Manuel Zamora Jr.: Wealth, Business Empire, and Life Outside Work Describes Zamora's education, early government work, entry into Rio Tuba mining, founding of Nickel Asia, and the development of his business interests.
  2024
• Nickel Asia Corporation, Transition Documents Zamora's departure from the chairmanship of Nickel Asia and the company's transition to a new generation of management.