CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — Limketkai Sons Inc, the Mindanao-based conglomerate behind the iconic Limketkai Mall, has named Bonita Limketkai and Cindy Limketkai to its top leadership posts, marking a transformational shift for one of the region’s most recognized family enterprises.
Bonita Limketkai now serves as chair of Limketkai & Sons Inc., while Cindy Limketkai assumes the role of president.
Breaking the mold
The appointments represent a departure from a family tradition where leadership historically passed to male heirs.
Bonita shares, “The family has chosen a path forward. They recognize that progress will come through diversity and innovation.”
A philosophy and business school graduate who founded and built ventures across Toronto, Shanghai, and New York before returning home, Bonita brings an entrepreneurial edge to the role. Cindy, shaped by careers in analytics and global strategy, anchors the partnership with a data-driven approach. A graduate of Management Honors at Ateneo de Manila University, followed by an MBA at Columbia Business School in New York, Cindy began her career at McKinsey & Company, working on strategy and transformation projects across Asia.
“I naturally look at data to guide decisions,” Cindy said. “But I’ve learned that execution depends on people.”
Complementary forces
The cousins-in-law describe their dynamic as vision meets precision.
“I create the vision and strategy. Cindy implements,” Bonita explained. “We discourse, but working together seems natural, effortless, yet fun. We’re both complementary in our skill sets, hold the same high standards for quality and execution, and also share similar values on faith and community service.”
Cindy put it simply: “Bonita and I recognize in each other, hard work and grit. I started as a cashier at my lolo’s department store. I learnt retail from the ground up. While Bonita, as a student overseas, worked minimum wage in construction and F&B, doing manual work like painting, dishwashing, and mopping floors. She prides herself on being an exceptional toilet cleaner.”
Reimagining the mall
Since taking the helm, very quickly, Bonita and Cindy have disrupted the industry with their bold and progressive moves, carrying on the reputation of Limketkai as a first mover in a space that has become saturated, cluttered, and noisy.
Central to their agenda is the transformation of Limketkai Mall from retail destination to community hub, what Cindy calls a “true third space.”
“We have to define what that means,” she said. “A place where people choose to spend time.”
Bonita frames the mission in personal terms: “I’m a mother at heart. I made the center my new home—to clean, repair, and prepare for guests to stay.”
Ketkai, as most locals endearingly call it, has seen the most developments since they’ve taken over, paving the way for fiscal growth and dynamic brand expansion. New brands have made their way to the mall, a modern dining hall has debuted, and a focus on food and recreation is at the center of it all.
A Community-Centered Vision
Both leaders emphasize that the family’s businesses exist to serve the region that supported it.
“We aim to elevate the quality of life for Kagayanons by supporting local entrepreneurs, pioneering innovative products and services,” Bonita said. “We want to raise the bar on how we better serve our people—our employees, our customers, our community, our city.”
“Our family’s 100-year-old story started with our grandfather’s entrepreneurship, and it grew with both our fathers’ drive and perseverance. We are building on this by committing to uphold our grandmother’s teachings to love and serve God, family, and community.”
“Our family business has soul. We know who we are, our purpose, and what we mean to Kagayanons.”
