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Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala is the chair and CEO of the 175-year-old Ayala Corporation. He has been in our Readers’ Bloc since 2006 when this blog started..

Jaime at 15, Worth School, England. Standing, second from the left. He was the number 7 on their 15s team.

Jaime’s list for 2010:

The Passage by Justin Cronin
A military experiment gone wrong leads to a post-apocalyptic world where only the fittest survive. It is an epic of sorts and as much a story of survival as it is about the dangers of unfettered science. What kept me riveted was its cinematic sweep and its surprisingly engaging prose. Part thriller, part adventure but with well-written characters. It keeps you fascinated from beginning to end. However, expect much carnage as hunter and prey twist and turn throughout.

Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt
I am a Tony Judt fan so I keep bringing up his books every year. This is philosophical non fiction at its best. Sadly Judt passed away this year from a terribly debilitating disease.

The best way to describe this book is to quote from his own article in the New York Review of Books, which sets the premise of his thoughts: “Something is profoundly wrong with the way we live today. For thirty years we have made a virtue out of the pursuit of material self-interest: indeed, this very pursuit now constitutes whatever remains of our sense of collective purpose. We know what things cost but have no idea what they are worth. We no longer ask of a judicial ruling or a legislative act: Is it good? Is it fair? Is it just? Is it right? Will it help bring about a better society or a better world? Those used to be the political questions, even if they invited no easy answers. We must learn once again to pose them.”

A remarkable intellectual with a profound ability to reinvent conventional wisdom on a whole range of philosophical and historical topics. In addition, and not unimportantly, he writes beautifully.

The Sugar King of Havana by Julian Rathbone
Rathbone is an English journalist who writes for the Financial Times. He is part-Cuban hence his interest in Cuban history. I was attracted to this biography of Julio Lobo, who exerted almost monopolistic control of the global sugar industry in the 1960s and 70s. He intertwines this history of Lobo with that of pre- and post-Castro Cuba; as one might imagine, there are interesting parallels with Philippine economic and social history. To make matters more interesting, Julio Lobo had dealings with the sugar industry in the Philippines under Marcos and was a partner of Benedicto (for those that remember the sugar industry at that time).

Cuba makes a fascinating backdrop for any story. Add to that Lobo’s unique personality and entrepreneurial flair and you have an interesting read. When Castro came to power Lobo represented everything that Castro wanted to dismantle. However, Castro respected his business acumen so much that he offered him the post of Minister of Sugar in Cuba, while taking away all the assets he had built up, except for the first mill he had built. An interesting proposition. Lobo left the meeting saying that he “would think about it”, and promptly packed his bags and left for the US. There he worked hard to rebuild everything he had lost. Entrepreneurship at its boldest, coupled with the clash of communism and capitalism in a country that has fascinated writers for decades.

Jaime biking somewhere remote.

Terra Incognita by Sara Wheeler
Wheeler likes to write about far-off places that were once of interest only to explorers. Here she focuses on Antartica: its history, physical make-up and those who explored and “discovered” it. It is a personal narrative that mixes history with current travel. I am a sucker for hidden corners of the world. She takes you on a beautiful ride to a place few can ever hope to visit.

The Network by Jason Elliot
The author is a journalist with extensive knowledge of Afghanistan. He has used his experience to weave an interesting novel of an army officer put to work under British Intelligence in post-Taliban Afghanistan. It is a thriller with the usual mix of covert intelligence, special operations training and spy craft. Well-written and an entertaining read for those that like these types of books. You learn a fair amount about the troubles in the Middle East (and how the British Secret Service works).

Jaime accepting an Asian Business Leader award from CNBC

Jaime is also responsible for the rugbification of this site. (But not the clothing optional option for the rugby players; that’s my contribution entirely.) If you have any complaints, send them to JAZA, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Avenue. However if you’d like to thank Jaime for introducing us to rugby and our fabulous Volcanoes, for supporting the team, and for his general Jaime-ness, post a message in Comments and we’ll send it on. (Then maybe he’ll send us to cover the A5N Division 1 tournament in Korea next year. Wheeeee!)

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And we’re covering the Volcanoes at the A5N Division 1 tournament in Korea May 31 to June 4, 2011! Thanks to Globe and our favorite rugby-playing motorcycle-riding, book-reading, The Wire-watching corporate overlord. Now back to my Rugby for Dummies.