The Mondejar Heritage
The origins of the Mondejar Group rest in a long family tradition of enterprise, stewardship, and public life. Before its present-day institutions emerged, the Echavez-Mondejar family was associated with substantial estates and agricultural plantations. This heritage of land stewardship, responsibility, and civic standing formed the foundation upon which later generations established enduring enterprises in publishing, travel, security, education, technology, the arts, and philanthropy. In contemporary form, this legacy continues through Mondejar Estates, reflecting the family’s enduring relationship with land stewardship and property development in the Philippines and abroad.
Publishing and Intellectual Life
The family’s formal institutional legacy began in the post-war period, when Ret. Col. Manuel P. Mondejar established Mondejar Printing Press in 1945. The press became known for printing Congressional Records and other national publications, establishing the family’s lasting association with publishing, public discourse, and institutional life in the Philippines.
Beyond publishing, 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, reflecting the national recognition of the enterprise.
This publishing tradition was extended in 1960 through the establishment of Mondejar Bookstore, which broadened 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 with the establishment of 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. He later expanded the family’s publishing activities through offset printing, the printing of government materials, and related publishing services.
In 1995, he further broadened these initiatives with the establishment of Lucita Publishing House in Manila.
In 2019, Dr. Bernadette Mondejar Schlueter contributed to this publishing lineage through initiatives supporting Waray cultural projects, including the Maya series of children’s books, and through her newspaper columns promoting language and cultural heritage.
Today, this legacy continues through Mondejar Publishing, led by Minerva Mondejar Steiner, whose publications include The Gentle World of AI and works on Baybayin, bringing together cultural preservation, literacy, and contemporary knowledge.
Travel and International Connection
In 1950, the establishment of the Mondejar Airline Ticketing Office placed 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, a concept devoted to bespoke cultural journeys and curated old-world experiences, including itineraries from Manila to London.
Security and Protective Services
From 1965 onwards, the family expanded into professional security services through Bonded Security Guards and Central Intelligence Services, which provided 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, reinforcing the family’s role in the security sector.
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 buildings and secure environments.
Education and Institutional Development
In 1990, JE Mondejar Computer College was founded by Jose Rene E. Mondejar Sr. in Tacloban City as one of the pioneering institutions in the region devoted to computer and technology education. It remains an important part of the family’s educational legacy and its commitment to widening access to practical and future-oriented learning.
Its international extension in Switzerland continues through the Mondejar Institute, founded by Minerva Mondejar Steiner, which serves as a global platform for research, workshops, and education in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Hospitality and Social Life
In 1990, during a period of wider institutional development within the family’s enterprises, Don Tipo Functions was established and became known as a social and cultural venue for community gatherings, receptions, and ballroom events. It became particularly recognised as a pioneer venue for ballroom dancing and social functions in the region, reflecting the family’s role not only in enterprise but also in the social and cultural life of the community.
Today, this tradition of organising gatherings, cultural programmes, and public events continues through Mondejar Events, serving both government and private sectors. Mondejar Residences supports this activity by providing residential and hospitality facilities connected to Mondejar Events.
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.
These ventures 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 in organising exhibitions and participating in selected art fairs and 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, including assistance during natural disasters and typhoons.
Together with Mondejar Foundation, it 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 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 legacy that brings together publishing, travel, security services, education, technology, the arts, hospitality and events, water solutions, estates, and philanthropy.
More than a collection of ventures, it reflects a continuing tradition of institution-building, cultural engagement, and public contribution, shaped across generations in the Philippines and carried forward internationally.
Today the Mondejar Group brings together several institutional pillars:
Knowledge: JE Mondejar Computer College, Mondejar Institute, Mondejar Publishing,
Culture: Mondejar Gallery, Mondejar Events, Mondejar Travels, Mondejar Residences
Innovation: Mondejar Technologies, Mondejar Security
Sustainability: Mondejar Waters, Mondejar Estates
Philanthropy: Mondejar Foundation