We help Filipinos discover technology.

Our story began in 1995 as a distributor of well-known global brands such as Logitech and Canon.

In 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis unraveled, causing our distribution business to be short-lived. We had to streamline operations and redirect our efforts towards a more resilient business model—retailing. We then merged with former affiliate Columbia Computer International Corporation. And within 18 months, we have opened 60 new branches around Metro Manila and in key cities such as Cebu and Davao.

Fast forward a few years, we have built a market-leading brand and established a massive store network nationwide—becoming the largest retailer of IT products in the country today.

We now operate over 200 stores, offering a wide and up-to-date product assortment and serving thousands of people every day. Our collection of store brands includes Octagon, Micro Valley, Gadget King, and Octagon Mobile. We also carry a growing portfolio of exclusive branded products such as Silvertec, Delta Force, Imperio, Akawa, Norgicool, and JW Concept.

Additionally, our products are available on our website and in popular e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, and Pick-a-roo.

Everything we know so far, is founded on our good relationship with our suppliers. As a trusted partner of many, we are proud of the recognition we have received over the years including being named Top Distributor, Dealer of the Year, Retail Partner of the Year, and Top National Sales by our long-standing suppliers such Acer, Asus, Epson, HP, Seagate, and more.

The world is changing. And we are responding to it. This is an exciting time for Upson.

Explore our business here

Mission

To be the leading provider of IT products in the Philippines, manned by a competent workforce, resulting to the attainment of high profitability and sustainability

Vision

To be the front-runner in providing the latest IT products in the Philippines, leading the country towards technological advancement while achieving profitable and sustainable growth

Values

Unity – We grow and succeed together with a spirit of teamwork and excellence.

Integrity – We work and run our business that is rooted in trust.

Commitment – We go beyond to help Filipinos discover technology.

AT THE HEART OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS LEADERSHIP.

Meet our leaders who are collectively creating a culture that drives the long-term success of our company.

Lawrence O. Lee

Lawrence O. Lee is our Chairman and was our President from 2012 to 2021. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with 35 years of retail experience and is concurrently the Chairman of Upson Realty and Development Corporation, Director of Silvertec Global Philippines, Inc. and President Lamp Light International Corporation, and Director of Transway Hotels Group Corp. Mr. Lawrence Lee completed his Bachelor of Science degree major in Biology from the University of Santo Tomas.

Arlene Louisa T. Sy

Arlene Louisa T. Sy is our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Ms. Sy has been with the Company since 1995, serving various senior roles across product and category management, marketing and procurement planning, store management operations, and project management. Ms. Sy received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Computer Hardware Specialization) degree from De La Salle University.

Rolando O. Raval Jr.

Rolando O. Raval, Jr. is our Chief Operations Officer and Director. Engr. Raval joined our Company in 2002 and has served as our COO since 2006. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of our business and for developing work processes and tools for customer service excellence and for risk management. Mr. Raval completed his Bachelor of Science Major in Civil Engineering degree from the Ateneo De Davao University. He also holds a post-graduate diploma in Research and Development Management from the University of the Philippines.

Marcos A. Legaspi

Marcos A. Legaspi is our Chief Finance Officer and Director. Prior to joining us in 2020, his 40-year career in finance included serving as CFO, management consultant, and external auditor across companies in the retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, real estate, and technology industries. He was also an auditor at Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV) earlier in his career. Mr. Legaspi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce with a Major in Accounting from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Anita Lim

Anita Lim was appointed as the Treasurer of our Company in 2007. Prior to this, she was with Upson Int’l Import and Export. Ms. Lim also served as an executive director of our Company. Ms. Lim has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Centro Escolar University.

Dennis F. Uy

Dennis F. Uy has been our Corporate Secretary since 2012. He is also the Corporate Secretary of Silvertec Global Philippines Inc. Mr. Uy was a Manager for Maximax Office Automation from 1987 to 1995, Sales Executive for Automatic Center from 1985 to 1986, and Manager for Shikaina Drug Store from 1984 to 1985. Mr. Uy graduated from the Philippine School of Business Administration with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing.

Ricardo A. Lee

Ricardo A. Lee is a Director and was our Chairman from 1995 to 2021. Mr. Lee, together with Mr. William Lim, the founders, organized and incorporated Proton Microsystems, Inc. in 1995. Currently, Mr. Lee is involved in other business undertakings and serves as Director of Transway Hotels Group Corp., Director of Silvertec Global Philippines, Inc., and Director Lamp Light International Corporation, as well as Director of Upson Realty and Development Corporation. Mr. Lee has been an entrepreneur for the past 40 years.

William Lim

William Lim has been a director of our Company since 1995. He was also our Treasurer from 1995 to 2007. Mr. Lim is also a director of Upson Realty and Development Corporation. Mr. Lim received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering major in Civil Engineering from the University of Mindanao. Mr. Lim has been an entrepreneur for the past 40 years.

Anthony Thomas C. Roxas, Jr.

Anthony Thomas C. Roxas, Jr. is an Executive Director of our Company and has been a financial advisor to key members of the Board since 2016. He brings with him 23 years of banking experience in Investment Banking and Corporate Banking with First Metro Investment Corporation and Metrobank. He is concurrently Finance Director in ME Sicat Construction Inc., Finance Executive Director of Orion Group International and Quantity Solutions Inc. He served as Finance Executive Director to HMR Philippines as well as Senior Management Advisor to Tapa King Inc from 2016 to 2018. His undergraduate studies in Economics are from the University of Sto. Tomas while his graduate studies are from the Asian Institute of Management and the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Chun Bing G. Uy

Chun Bing G. Uy is an Independent Director of the Company since 2022. Mr. Uy is concurrently a Consultant and Senior Advisor of Corporate Banking Group of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. He was previously the Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head of the Corporate Banking Group (1997-2012) primarily responsible for all the corporate lending activities of the bank covering the conglomerates, local corporates, Japanese and global locators, SME and the Chinese banking segment. In addition, he is also the Chairman/Director of Nippon Express Phils Corporation, the Chairman/Director and President of FBIA Insurance Agency, a Director of Luisita Industrial Park Corporation and an Executive Director of Strategic Equities Corporation (formerly Kim Eng Securities, Inc). He was also a past director of RCBC Savings Bank Corporation (2015-2016), an Independent Director of Discovery World Corporation (2015-2018) and an Independent Director of Liwayway (Global) Company, Ltd., a company to be listed in the HK Stock Exchange covering the operations of Liwayway Oishi in China and Vietnam (2019-2021). Mr. Uy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering, Cum Laude, in Ateneo de Manila University.

Raul M. Leopando

Raul M. Leopando is a Director of the Company. Mr. Leopando has been in Investment Banking for 46 years. Mr. Leopando is the Chairman of the Board of RCBC Securities Corporation, Vice Chairman of the Board of RCBC Bankard Services Inc., Consultant to the Chairman of RCBC and YGC, Director of RCBC Capital, Director of Maibarara Geothermal Energy Inc., Director of Petrogreen Energy Corporation, and Director of Seafront Resources Corporation. He was a Senior Project Officer at First Metro Investment Corporation then later joined the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines as a Project Analyst and Manager. Mr. Leopando also worked for the Philippine Pacific Capital Corporation (PPCC) where he rose from the ranks to become PPCC’s President and CEO. Mr. Leopando was concurrently the Chairman of the Board of RCBC Securities Corporation until December 31, 2010. He was a three-term President of the Investment Houses Association of the Philippines. Mr. Leopando also served as the Vice Chairman of the Capital Market Development Committee of FINEX and of the Capital Market Development Council. He was also formerly a member of the Board of several listed companies, such as Polar Mining Corp, Fil Hispano Ceramics Corp., Roxas Holdings Inc., Charter Land, Paxy,s Corp., Petro Energy Corporation, and Marcventures. Mr. Leopando was the only Filipino accepted to attend the rigid full time International Stock and Bond Underwriting and Trading Course administered by the Nomura Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan.

Jose Vicente C. Bengzon III

Jose Vicente C. Bengzon III has been an Independent Director of our Company since 2022. Mr. Bengzon is concurrently the Chairman of Vitarich Corporation, the President the Chief Executive Officer of Torres Trading Company, Inc., the Vice Chairman, Executive Committee of Commtrend Construction Corporation, a Director of Inception Technology Phils., Corp., a Senior Adviser and Executive Committee and Audit Committee Member of Malayan Savings Bank. Prior to his election as an Independent Director of the Company, he held various key positions for both public and private organizations, such as, Chief Privatization Officer (rank of Undersecretary) for the Department of Finance, Rep of the Philippines, Privatization and Management Office, and Financial Planning and Project Manager for Reuters America, among others.

About us