5 Successful Filipino Entrepreneurs

The Philippines is home to some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. The country has a population of over 100 million people, meaning there are lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs to make their mark on the global market. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Filipino entrepreneurs so that you can get inspiration and find examples of viable and profitable businesses that in future you can try.

5 successful Filipino entrepreneurs

Are you ready to know about these 5 personalities that have used their exceptional brains to build successful empires? If yes, then lets get you started!

1. Henry Sy 

Henry Sy is the founder and owner of SM Investment, one of the largest retail chains in the Philippines. He was also ranked the richest person in the Philippines on Forbes Magazine’s list for 11 years in a row. Also, he was the Philippines’ richest man with almost $5 billion in 2010.  

His business SM Investments is a Filipino conglomerate that operates over 162 department stores, 56 supermarkets and over 200 grocery stores across the country. It also owns the largest bank in the Philippines, Banco de Oro. It has become one of the largest retailers in Asia due to its growing popularity with consumers who want fast fashion options at affordable prices.

Henry Sy is an entrepreneur who has thrived in the retail industry. He was born to a Chinese father and Filipino mother on October 15, 1924, which made him one of the first Chinese-Filipino entrepreneurs in the Philippines. Henry Sy graduated from Far Eastern University with a degree in commerce and worked as an accountant for companies like Standard Oil, Goodyear Tire Company, and General Motors.

2. Tony Tan Caktiong

Tony Tan  Caktiong is the founder of Jollibee and Chowking. He owns 55% of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), 18% of Chowking Corporation and 5% of Highlands Coffee.

Tan Caktiong is one of the top five Filipino Entrepreneurs and he has also been awarded the WEOY award in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In 2016, Tony Tan Caktiong ranked 6th in Forbes’ Philippines’ 50 Richest making his way to the top. But his achievements did not stop here. He was also awarded the  Entrepreneur of the Year and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur in 2016. In the matter of this personal life style Tony Tan Caktion has a very loving image among this countryman. He is believed to have a heartwarming, loving, and red jolly personality. 

In addition to his business endeavors, he also has other interests including philanthropic work in support of disaster relief efforts after Typhoon Ondoy hit central Luzon in 2009.

Tan is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Chemical Engineering and later earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business.

3. John Gokongwei Jr.

John Gokongwei Jr., the founder and chairman of JG Summit Holdings Inc. (JGSH), is the Philippines’ richest man. Edgar “Injap” Jaruda Sia II (born 1977) is a Filipino businessman. He is chairman of DoubleDragon Properties (a joint venture with Tony Tan Caktiong) and founder of fast food restaurant chainMang Inasal [2]

In 2011, Sia became the Philippines’ youngest billionaire at the age of 34 abd Aa of September 2021, his net worth was estimated at $675 million. [2]

Born in 1977 in Iloilo City , Sia grew up in Roxas City. He was the eldest of three siblings whose parents were from both Capiz and Iloilo. H

Sia originally wanted to be an architect, but dropped out of the University of San Agustin to start a business. [5][2]

Also, he is a co-founded the Mang Inasal barbecue chain in Iloilo City in 2003. [5][2] Within seven years, Mang Inasal grew to 338 stores nationwide before it was acquired by Jollibee in 2010.

In 2009, Sia founded Injap Land Corporation (now DoubleDragon Properties Corporation), developer of the CityMall mall chain [6]

In 2014, DoubleDragon Properties became a public company and develops commercial and residential properties and reportedly plans to build 100 shopping malls by 2020. 

4. Edgar Sia

Edgar Sia is the founder of Sia Group, Metrobank and Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI). He is also the chairman emeritus of BPI.

He is a Filipino businessman andis the chairman of DoubleDragon Properties , which is a joint business venture with Tony Tan Caktiong, and the founder of the Mang Inasal fast food restaurant chain.

He became billionaire in the Philippines at the age of 34 after selling his 70% stake in Mang Inasal to Jollibee.

Sia was born in Iloilo City in 1977 and grew up in Roxas City, the eldest of three siblings having parents from both Capiz and Iloilo.He was nicknamed “Injap”, a portmanteau of “Intsik” (the Filipino/Tagalog term for Chinese) and “Japanese”; as his father, Edgar Sr., is half Chinese, while his mother, the former Pacita Jaruda, is half Japanese.H

Sia had planned to become an architect, but dropped out of the University of San Agustin to start a business.

Sia co-founded the barbecue chain Mang Inasal in Iloilo City in 2003 In seven years, Mang Inasal grew to 338 branches nationwide, before being acquired by Jollibee in 2010.

In 2009, Sia founded Injap Land Corporation (now DoubleDragon Properties Corporation), developer of CityMall chain of malls.

In 2014, DoubleDragon Properties became a public company.DoubleDragon has been developing commercial and residential properties and reportedly plans to build 100 malls by 2020.

In August 2016, the company announced it was acquiring a majority stake in Hotel of Asia, Inc.

Personal life

Edgar Sia is married to Shella Sia, and they have three children Edgar Sia III, John Henry Sia and Elisa Stephanie Sia.They live in Manila, Philippines.

5. Mariano Que

Mariano Que is the founder of San Miguel Corporation, one of the largest companies in the Philippines. He established it in 1890 and has since grown to become one of Southeast Asia’s most successful enterprises.

After the war ended in 1945, Que bought 100 worth of sulfathiazole pills. He sold these drugs in single doses and decided to use his savings to buy an assortment of drugs, which he later sold with a handcart. He eventually established Mercury Drug in Bambang on March 1, 1945. Mercury Drug opened its second branch in 1963. In 1972, Mercury acquired the Tropical Hut fast food and supermarket chain. 

Mercury expanded outside Metro Manila with the acquisition of Medical Center Drug Corporation, a manufacturer of medical products and equipment, in

Wrapping Up!

These five Filipino entrepreneurs are some of the most successful and influential business people in the country. They have a diverse range of backgrounds, which contributes to their success as they build companies from scratch every day. Their success stories have inspired the thousands of people and  will continue to do so as most of these Eneterprionour has made their fortne by themselves and working hard.