Mikee Romero
Michael Odylon "Mikee" Lagman Romero is a Filipino businessman, politician, philanthropist, military reservist, and sportsman. He served as the Party-list Congressman for 1-Pacman from 2016 to 2025 holding roles as Senior Deputy Speaker.
As a businessman, Romero is currently the chairman and president of Globalport 900 and owns the NorthPort Batang Pier basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. As of December 2018, his declared net worth is ₱7.858 billion. He was the Philippines' richest Congressman and one of the country's 50 richest individuals.
Romero is also a world-ranked polo player, and a Southeast Asian Games medalist.
Business career
Romero serves as chair of the Board of Globalport 900, Inc., formerly MIC Holdings Corp, since June 7, 2012. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from De La Salle University and a Master's in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management. He also holds two doctorate degrees in Business Administration and Political Economics coming from the International Academy of Management and Economics and De La Salle University.He is also chief executive officer of Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc., chair of Manila North Harbour Port, Inc., chair of Mikro-tech Capital, Inc., CEO of Pacifica, Inc. and vice chair of AirAsia Philippines.
Son of construction magnate Reghis Romero II, Romero worked in venture capital in Singapore before returning home in 2002 to seize the country's infrastructure opportunity. He converted his family's reclaimed land into Harbour Center Port Terminal, now the country's biggest bulk and breakbulk port. He listed his port assets in 2011, with a reverse takeover of listed MIC Holdings, renaming it as GlobalPort 900, Inc. He said he wants to build a 'seaport highway' across the Philippines archipelago. He also has a 65% stake in Manila North Harbour, country's biggest port, where San Miguel is a partner. Other interests include mining, hotels, a 20% stake in Air Asia Philippines and 15% in Alfred Yao's Zest Airways.
Political career
Romero was named as one of the new deputy speakers of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on August 13, 2019. During a House leadership crisis which began in late September 2020, Romero supported Lord Allan Velasco's speakership bid in accordance with the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco during the commencement of the 18th Congress. On October 2, Fredenil Castro challenged the representatives to resign if they cannot cooperate with Cayetano's leadership. Deputy Majority Leader Xavier Jesus Romualdo moved to have Castro replace Romero as a deputy speaker. The motion was approved without objections, removing Romero from the position.On October 12, a majority of House members held session at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City. After they declared the speakership vacant, Romero was one of those who nominated Velasco as speaker. Velasco was declared as the new speaker after garnering 186 votes, more than the 151 needed for a majority. However, Cayetano's side questioned the legality of the session. The next day, Velasco was formally elected in an official session held at the Batasang Pambansa while Cayetano resigned. On October 14, Romero was again elected as a deputy speaker, replacing the ousted Luis Raymund Villafuerte, a Cayetano ally.
A three-term congressman, Romero has held several leadership roles in the House of Representatives, including Senior Deputy Speaker and Political Affairs Head, Chairman of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation, and Deputy Majority Leader.
He has an extensive legislative record, having authored 148 Republic Acts and over 1,200 bills and resolutions, focusing on key areas such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, and national defense. Among his most notable legislative contributions are the Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer Program, the Magna Carta for the Poor, the Free College Tuition Law, and the Barangay Health Worker Benefits Act.
Sporting career
Playing career
Romero took up several sports with the intention of competing in the SEA Games. He was 3-dan black belter in Arnis, a national jetski champion in 2005 and was with the Philippine trap shooting team.Basketball
The De La Salle Green Archers had Romero as a player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. His basketball career ended in 1991 after sustaining an ankle injury.Romero is regarded as the “Godfather of Philippine Amateur Basketball” for his role in sustaining the Philippine Basketball League and supporting grassroots programs. As owner of the Harbour Centre basketball team, he led the franchise to seven consecutive PBL titles, producing future Philippine Basketball Association stars and national team players. He also backed various national squads and youth programs, providing vital support to amateur basketball during a period of declining sponsorship.
Polo
In polo, he is known for being the founder of the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players. The Miguel Lorenzo Romero Polo Field in Calatagan, Batangas is named after his deceased son.Romero is also a polo player taking up horse riding when he was five years old. He started training in polo in 2010 under professional polo players, mostly from Argentina. He went on to compete in polo competitions in Thailand and the United States. He competed for the Philippines at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. He competed in the 0-2 goals event with the team settling for the bronze medal.
Romero is also affiliated with the GlobalPort Polo Team as a player. GlobalPort is the first Asia-based team to ever compete in the U.S. Open Polo Championship. The team, Romero included, made their debut in the 2025 edition, where he has reached multiple milestones. In April, he rose to No. 6 in the United States Polo Association’s amateur rankings and placed No. 20 overall with 205 points, sharing the spot with 10-goaler and 2024 U.S. Open Polo Championship winner Poroto Cambiaso for the January–May Winter Polo Season. Earlier that year, the World Polo Tour ranked him No. 24 among amateur players worldwide, the highest ranking ever attained by a Southeast Asian in the global circuit.
Sports management
Romero owns a baseball team and a PBA team.Sports teams
- NorthPort Batang Pier
- Capital1 Solar Energy
- AirAsia Flying Spikers
- Manila Sharks
- AirAsia Philippine Patriots
- Harbour Centre Batang Pier/Oracle Residences Titans
Military career
As a former legislator, Romero championed the AFP Modernization Program by helping secure the acquisition of three C-130J-30 aircraft for the Philippine Airforce and to be delivered this 2026. He was then the Vice Chairman of the Bicameral Conferences and Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The AFP bestowed on him more than 20 medals and ribbons for his achievements and is an honorary Gold Wing holder.
Romero is the Chairman of the newly formed Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines, Inc., an association of reservists patterned after the National Guard Association of the United States.
Personal life
Family
Mikee Romero married Sheila Bermudez in 1992, with whom he had five children, which includes Milka Romero. His son, Miguel Lorenzo, who was a polo player like himself and a jujitsu practitioner, died in 2017 at age 22.Romero's mother, Lillibeth Romero, was the longtime partner of actor and producer Eddie Garcia, whom Mikee considers to be his stepfather.
Wealth
Romero first appeared in Forbes Philippines' 50 Richest Filipinos in 2013, when he was 40 years old, ranking 26 with an estimated net worth of approximately US $490 million. He remained on the list in 2014, ranking #33 with an estimated net worth of US $375 million.In 2016, following his election as Congressman, Romero divested most of his business interests to focus on public service and address potential conflicts of interest. He reappeared on the Forbes list in 2018, and again in 2020, ranking 46 with an estimated net worth of US $135 million.
From 2016 to 2025, during his three terms in the House of Representatives, Romero was consistently identified as the richest congressman in the Philippines, based on his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.