Long before San Miguel Corporation gained a monopoly of the country’s beer industry, there was Halili Beer that gave the former a run for its money.

Popular in the 1960’s, Halili Beer was manufactured by the F.F.

Halili Enterprises, a company established by former Bulacan Governor Fortunato Halili.

The company, whose brewery was built along Balintawak in Quezon City, also owned other products and business ventures including Mission Beverages, Goody Rootbeer, and the Halili Transit.

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Depending on who you ask, Halili beer and beverages fizzled out either because of a strategic acquisition or lack of leadership.

It is said that when Gov. Halili was afflicted with infantile paralysis, no one from his sons took over the business, hence the death of the brand.

Another version tells about San Miguel Brewery being threatened by Halili Beer, leading the former to buy out stocks of the latter.

Whatever the real story was, it ended in favor of San Miguel who would eventually regain monopoly of the local beer market.

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