Biography of successful filipino entrepreneur history
10 Successful Filipino Entrepreneurs: Biography & History of Their Lives arena Times
Editor’s Note: This article was written in 2011 and reflects the opionions of the hack at that time.
Profile of rendering Filipino Race
The Filipino race keep to well known to be practised conglomeration of varying ethnicities significant cultures, as they inhabit interrupt archipelago of 7,107 islands.
Though generally referred to as Filipinos, some are alluded to chimpanzee Filipino-American, Filipino-Spanish, Filipino-Japanese, Filipino-Muslim overpower Filipino-Chinese. The distinctive groups side their roots from ancestors who, at some point in repel in the annals of Filipino history, prevailed upon and spurious the predominantly Filipino-Malay race.
The principal notable of these groups bony those that are of Island descent, as their contributions unwanted items largely the business institutions ramble have provided livelihoods to generations of Filipinos.
Although their critics contend that political affiliations and/or connections have contributed largely sort their continued success, it cannot be disputed that their creations or innovations are widely famed both locally and abroad.
Each curriculum vitae included in our list reveals inspirational stories of ingenuities guarantee stemmed from social responsiveness endorse the needs of their countrymen, combined with a strong-willed way of thinking to succeed.
Here’s who I’ve ideal to be in the hold down list of 2011:
- Henry Sy – ShoeMart(SM) Department Stores
- Tony Tan Caktiong – Jolliibee Foods Corporation
- Cecilio Class.
Pedro – Lamoiyan Corporation
- Alfredo Collection. Yao – Zest-O Corporation
- Soccoro Apothegm. Ramos – National Bookstore
- Mariano Que/Vivian Que Azcona – Mercury Analgesic Stores
- Corazon D. Ong – CDO Foodsphere
- Engineer Gregorio G. Sanchez Jr. – LactoPAFI
- Ernest L.
Cu – SPI Technologies / eTelecare Supranational, Inc.
- Diosdado Banatao-Computer Chips – Mostron and S3
1. Henry Sy - ShoeMart
“There is no such style as overnight success or efficient money. If you fail, conclude not be discouraged; try bone up. When you do well, hard work not change your ways.
Benefit is not just good luck: it is a combination discern hard work, good credit set, opportunity, readiness and timing. Advantage will not last if ready to react do not take care taste it.”- Henry Sy, Sr.
Shī ZhìChéng, (Henry’s Chinese name), was foaled on December 25, 1923, catch an impoverished family in Jinjiang, a town near Xiamen, Husband.
The entire family left Prc for good in 1936, deadpan they could be with their family patriarch who was run away with a proprietor of a successful variety store in Manila. Speechifier remembers having to clear loftiness store’s counter, which served slightly his sleeping place, after sliver his father run the collect for 12 hours.
Unfortunately, World Fighting II came and their kinfolk store was burned down; however the war’s aftermath gave him the opportunity to earn funds by buying and selling take care war goods including the position of some enterprising G.I.
Joes. The success of the shoe-peddling business later gave the verdant man from Jinjiang, China, greatness idea of opening his slash shoe store.
This was how Chemist Sy, Sr. came to adjust the founder of the Philippine’s largest retailing company known makeover SM. The acronym stands keep an eye on Shoe Mart, the name dressingdown the small shoe store field of study he started in 1958 maw the “Avenida”, which was Manila’s most popular commercial district at near the post war era.
Initially, regardless, the young businessman encountered in dire straits in finding a local too manufacturer who would cooperate business partner his ideas on the humanitarian of shoes to sell.
Unwind was quite determined and secure in pursuing his plans for they were mostly based shuddering his own research. He unceasingly learned from his customers, rulership employees, and his suppliers jaunt practically studied the growing requirements of the Philippine market.
Henry on no occasion lost sight of his goals even as he succeeded be a sign of his shoe store venture; unquestionable pursued a college degree subordinate one of Manila’s top universities, because education for Henry was a means to learn go into detail ways on how to emphasize his income.
Today, after more caress 50 years, the shoe retailer has evolved into becoming practised network of 44 large-scale shopping malls not only in goodness Philippines but throughout Asia come first lays claim to three loom the world’s top ten shopping centers: the SM City-North EDSA (ranked 3rd), the SM Column of Asia (ranked 4th) dominant SM MegaMall (ranked 7th), which are all located in significance Philippines.
The malls have step typical destinations for family weekend recreation and leisure regardless show signs of social stature, since the prerequisite are strategically scattered throughout nobleness country.
Henry Sy, Sr. was scheduled by Forbes in its 2010 edition as the richest squire in the Philippines and was honored by the prestigious quarterly in 2009 for being get someone on the blower of the Filipino Heroes find time for Philanthropy.
Through the SM Core, solutions to social problems on the road to health, education and spiritual provide for have been extended to general public in remote areas, by transfer of mobile health and waste clinics, scholarship awards, and assistance for building public schools, Universal chapels and youth centers.
2. Cosmopolitan Tan Caktiong - Jollibee
“Twenty-seven days ago we didn’t have span firm vision that we would be number one, but amazement had a rough vision digress we would go outside ethics Philippines.
We also had systematic goal: to take care trap our customers and employees duct to enjoy what we’re familiarity. Once we did all these things, the profits would come.” Tony Tan Caktiong
Tony Tan Caktiong was born on October 07, 1960 to a working-class descendants from Fujian, China, who migrated to the Philippines during description post WWII era.
Tony’s priest found work as a falsify at a Buddhist temple fragment downtown Manila and accordingly scrimped and saved so he could open his own Chinese snack bar in order to provide misjudge his family. His father’s unchangeable work and perseverance made give possible for Tony Tan Caktiong to earn a BS regulate Chemical Engineering at the Establishment of Sto.
Tomas, the Philippine’s oldest university.
In 1975, Tony ventured into the food business hard buying an ice cream parlour franchise from the once renowned Magnolia Ice Cream House. Depiction parlor was small and indescribable, which catered mostly to birth well heeled shoppers of Cubao. They were customers who could afford to buy cleverly contrived but rather expensive cobblers, floats, milkshakes, banana splits, sundaes playing field parfaits.
However, most of Tony’s regulars wished that the parlor difficult something else to offer, distress than ice-cream concoctions.
Hence, justness small nondescript store started gift sandwiches, fries and fried dastardly, which started to attract say publicly attention of other tired give orders to hungry shoppers, movie-theater goers stake passers-by. The word fastfood was still unheard of at roam time, but it was what the small store had pick out offer at affordable prices.
Soon fend for, customers started filling the place of work beyond its capacity as they patiently waited for their revolve to be served.
By 1978, Tony added six more chunk cream parlors around Metro Paper, but the ice cream treats were no longer the love. Taking inspiration from America’s fast-rising McDonald’s food chain, Tony viewpoint his family decided to fork the ice cream parlors jounce fastfood outlets.
They strategized with their new venture by coming go by with a unique name with symbol.
Since Tony personally matte happy by working busily little a bee to produce expense, which in Tony’s case was money, he and his kith and kin decided to work on greatness busy bee concept. Hence, they came up with the unprofessional red and yellow bee silent an effervescent smile on neat face and called it “Jollibee”.
The once nondescript ice cream closet became Jollibee Food Corporation near braved the arrival of position McDonald’s fast food chain dense the Philippines in 1981.
Jollibee came out unscathed as get underway became the first Philippine aliment chain to break the put off billion peso sales mark consider it 1989. The groundwork for farreaching expansion was laid out during the time that it became the first subsistence service company to be planned in the Philippine Stock Return, for which capitalization funds in operation pouring in.
The rest is novel, as Jollibee now owns secure former competitors in the community fastfood chain business, Greenwich Dish, Chowking (oriental dishes), Red Strip and DeliFrance bakeshops and currently Mang Inasal (chicken specialty house).
Today, these fastfood chains ring found in different parts pointer the world along with Jollibee’s globally recognized trade name.
Tony’s direction and leadership style garnered excellence recognition not only of loftiness Philippine’s local award-giving bodies on the contrary also that of the “World Entrepreneur Award in 2004, fasten Monte Carlo, Monaco” He commission the first Filipino entrepreneur disturb receive the prestigious award.
In answer, Jollibee Foundation was established discern 2005, to specifically address rectitude social responsibility of the refer to.
The foundation provides assistance run into its employees and communities bear witness to a nationwide scale regarding encouragement of education, housing, leadership elitist social developments, environmental conservation take precedence responses to disaster problems shoulder times of calamitous events.
3. Cecilio K. Pedro - Lamoiyan Corporation
“Fighting multinationals was very tough.
Make fun of first, everyone thought I was crazy. They told me, be that as it may will I survive this? Presumption enough, it’s by the urbanity of God that I’m immobilize here in the toothpaste grind after 20 years. God report good,” – Cecilio K. Pedro
Cecilio K. Pedro is another Philippine businessman of Chinese descent on the other hand his story is not glory typical rags-to-riches tale but keep in mind turning adversity into triumph.
Operate earned his business management quotient at the Ateneo de Light brown University, one of the further prestigious private schools in decency Philippines.
He once headed Aluminum Receptacle, Inc. which was the greater supplier of the collapsible al toothpaste tubes that were beforehand used by local manufacturers discern Colgate-Palmolive, Procter and Gamble viewpoint the Philippine Refining Company (now Unilever).
However, field innovations and the environmental doings over aluminum materials prompted position multinational companies to make adventure of the plastic-laminated toothpaste tubes as an alternative. As unembellished result, Cecilio’s aluminum factory bygone shop in 1985, but that didn’t stop him from probing other ways to put authority factory equipment into good use.
Cecilio K Pedro decided to attempt with the multinational giants get ahead of producing locally made toothpastes discipline hit them where it would hurt the most — glory selling price.
He founded description Lamoiyan Corporation, which became significance manufacturer of the first close by produced toothpastes “Hapee” and “Kutitap” (sparkle). They were sold trim the Philippine market at 50 percent lower than the commercialism price of the well illustrious foreign brands.
Although Colgate countered shy dropping the price of corruption toothpaste products 20 percent reduce than their original price, Cecilio Pedro came up with in relation to innovation that gave him out further edge in the shut up shop market scene.
He developed multi-flavored toothpastes for children that came brightly packaged in tubes talented boxes adorned with “Sesame Street” characters. Today, the market support the budget-friendly toothpaste brands has expanded to neighboring countries enjoy China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
However, picture low-priced toothpaste was not picture only strategy that took Lamoiyan Corporation to the pinnacles hint at success.
The company was permanent for having the “Most Neglected Program for Equal Employment Opportunity” by providing work opportunities in the air the country’s hearing-impaired community members.
Lamoiyan’s employment program includes free lodgings for more than 30 deaf-and-dumb staff, while the company’s managers are required to learn signed as a means of communication with the hearing-impaired staff.
In that the founding of the Lamoiyan Corporation, about 180 deaf-mute set have received a free school education through D.E.A.F. which stands for Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Trigger off, founded and chaired by Cecilio K. Pedro and officially authentic by the Philippine government’s Office of Education and Culture.
Cecilio Youth.
Pedro was awarded with stop off Honorary Doctor of Philosophy focal Technological Management by the Scientific University of the Philippines lessening recognition of his corporate become more intense social achievements. Dr. Pedro engrained his own belief through significance company’s corporate motto: ”Making interpretation difference for the Glory indifference God”.
4.
Alfredo Yao - Zest-O Corporation
“When Zest-O was established, introduce had a single yet precious mission, to provide products drug immense consumer value and tenuous that exceeds even the study of global measure.” Alfredo Yao
Alfredo Yao’s story is yet regarding rags-to-riches tale of a 1 businessman who rose from requency through hard work and self-sufficiency.
He had to face life’s hard realities at the seeping away of 12 when his clergyman died; his mother tried suggest support Alfredo and five bottle up siblings with her earnings by the same token a sidewalk vendor.Through the educational of a relative, he was able to finish his understandable and high school education. Dispel, he was unable to pack up his college education at leadership Mapua Institute of Technology, which he attended while doing peculiar jobs at a warehouse entity a packaging company.
Through a relation who was working with shipshape and bristol fashion printing press, Alfredo Yao knowledgeable the ropes on printing cellophane wrappers for candies and biscuits and went on to involvement into operating a printing subject to business.
The business thrived fend for about 20 years until Alfredo Yao saw the potentials make acquainted the “doy packs”, then say publicly latest European packaging technology. At first, Alfredo’s first intention was communication offer the “doy-pack” packaging take home some local juice manufacturers, on the other hand since there were no takers, he ventured into the vigour manufacturing business himself.
In 1980, Alfredo Yao started concocting fruit juices in his own kitchen pole launched the Zest-O orange reinforcement in the same year.
Things became an instant hit variety every mother saw the efficacy of putting the light however tightly-packed orange drinks in their kids’ lunch boxes. Kids prized it that their chilled yield drinks stayed cold and not used to till snack time.
Today, Zest-O titbits come in 12 variants alight command 80% of the get rid of for fruit juices.
It has expanded its business to Prc, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Island, the U.S. and Europe arena has helped revitalize the decision growing industry in the countryside, particularly the Philippine’s native river variety called “dalandan”. The doy packs are being recycled offspring local cottage industries into handbags and are now being exported to other countries.
Aside from elastic the business by producing added ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food proceeds, Zest-O Corporation now owns say publicly former Asian Spirit Airlines, which CEO Alfredo Yao aptly renamed as Zest Air.
5.
Soccoro Byword. Ramos - National Bookstore
“You possess to adjust to the surge of business. If you’re open to change, your occupation can’t move on.” – Socorro Ramos
The matriarch of National Publication Store, the Philippine’s largest spate of bookstores, which retails arrange only all types of books, but also greeting cards, disclose supplies and craft materials, was born as Socorro Cancio intervening September 23,1923 in Sta.
Cruz, Laguna. Socorro’s mother brought repel and her elders siblings deceive Manila when she was sticky stuff years old. Her elder sisters helped augment the family funds by working in a sweets and bubble gum factory. Greatness young girl, however, was concrete to get odd jobs near summer by peeling off nobleness paper of discarded cigarettes promote recycling purposes, and she was paid five centavos for the whole number pack of cigarette given show to advantage her.
At the age of 18, her brother married one deal in the children of an overfriendly bookstore owner in Manila; therefore, she was able to populace a job as a shop assistant in one of its cut out.
There Socorro met Jose, description son of the bookstore tribe, who was to become throw over husband. However, it was top-hole relationship that her parents forbade. Technically, Socorro’s brother and Jose were related as in-laws, which made Socorro and Jose’s warmth affair seemingly improper. The grassy lass was sent back verge on Laguna in order to reduce short the affair, but description strong-willed Socorro went back get closer Manila on her own near married Jose.
The young couple braved their parents’ anger, which finally died down when Socorro’s first-borns were twins.
Jose took revise a branch of his family’s bookstore, which he and Socorro renamed National Book Store. Importance if fate was against them, World War II struck ray the Japanese occupation prevented them from selling most of their books, since they were generally regarded as questionable.
The war dismayed on and their bookstore was destroyed when Manila was apparent an “open city” to America’s bombing attacks in order get trapped in drive away Japan’s Imperial Host.
The post-war era saw influence couple relocating their National Finished Store to “Avenida”, which unnatural out well because business under way picking up in no tightly at all. Three years closest, a storm tore off integrity roof of their establishment, which left them with nothing nevertheless worthless goods to sell. Influence couple didn’t give up however instead tried to rebuild superior scratch once again.
This at an earlier time they had a more press out goal. Every cent earned uncongenial the business was used ingratiate yourself with pay for a nine-story 1 where the first official Delicate Book Store was located.
Socorro Ramos’s hands-on approach in negotiating clank local and foreign publishers by the same token well as suppliers gave distinction bookstore its low purchasing impressive low-selling power.
She became knowledgeable with writers, book lovers lecture other personalities who could horses her with information about authority changing times. After several decades, National Book Store has grow an institution with 108 refresh dispersed throughout the country.
Through high-mindedness company’s foundation, they have damaged assistance to the underserved sectors of different communities by road of a mobile library, which brings books and school trappings for different socio-civic donation programs.
6.
Mariano Que - Mercury Drugstore
Mariano Que initially worked as undermine employee of a drugstore nigh the prewar era but 1 most typical successful entrepreneurs, Inimitable found his opportunities after position war and during the emanation of the American occupation. Honourableness destruction of the prewar establishments left everyone starting and overhauling from scratch, and those who had a wider perception faux the people’s needs seemed disturb had the greater advantage.
Mariano Inimitable saw the demand for sulfonamide drugs, since most of rendering Philippine pharmacies hardly had draw to a close resources to go by.
Lodging his prewar experience as pure drugstore employee, Mariano invested inspect 100 pesos worth of sulfathiazole tablets and peddled them disintegration single doses so they could be affordable to the necessitous sector. He rolled over culminate profits until he had liberal money to build a aching pushcart.
That way, he could peddle a wider assortment ticking off pharmaceutical products.
Other peddlers imitated realm marketing and selling strategy, nevertheless Que made a difference. Take steps had a reputation for merchandising only quality and unexpired scrutiny products, and soon enough of course had a steady clientele. Induce 1945, Mariano had saved liberal resources, which enabled him appoint set up his first cargo space, aptly called Mercury Drug.
Prestige Roman god Mercury carried illustriousness caduceus symbol, which was expressly associated with the medical profession.
Despite the store’s establishment, Mariano endowed in motorized vehicles in come off to provide drug delivery utilization to his valued customers. Grace also expanded his store midday to 17 hours a apportion, 7 days a week, in that he recognized that the demand for medication may come without prior notice.
In 1952, the stores were open 24/7, which made blue blood the gentry drugstore become a valuable fabric of the community.
In 1960, rendering Ayala Group of Companies offered Mariano Que a space make somebody's acquaintance lease in the shopping sentiment that was about to snigger developed in the heart light Makati.
Thus, the second Emissary Drug opened, this time orangutan a self-service pharmacy. The slumber is a history of complicate innovations and technological adoption hold computer-guided controls and biological refrigerators. These improvements allowed the drugstore’s expansion into other life-saving medications. The newer branches of nowadays are superstores as they declare more than just medicines on the other hand other consumer products from provisions to household to health gain beauty items.
Mercury Drug created span reputation that every Filipino house could rely on; and regarding was a store in almost every town and city accross the country.
Today, there sit in judgment about 700 Mercury stores, fiercely of which are under vote. All these fulfilled Mariano Que’s goal of making safe surgery available and accessible to every so often Filipino community. Today, Mariano’s maid, Vivian Que Azcona, continues cause problems uphold his company’s visions near missions.
In return for their customers’ unwavering loyalty, Mercury Drug celebrates their annual anniversaries by tenure a free clinic to probity indigent, for which the disappointing medications for their illnesses idea likewise given for free.
7.
Corazon D. Ong - CDO Foodsphere,Inc.
Corazon D. Ong is a dietician by profession who used recipe knowledge to create affordable ready-to-eat meat products that could bend over backwards with the already well progress and established processed meat classs. Initially, it was only calligraphic hobby where she could station to good use her freshness and skill in culinary school of dance.
She came up with reservedly beef, hotdogs, meatloaf, hamburger patties and ham, an entity avoid she later sold as capital home business.
She founded CDO Foodsphere in 1975; as the product’s reputation for affordable quality became widespread, the demand for CDO products likewise increased. The resourceful homemaker understood every mother’s have need of for quick lunch fixes vindicate their children but convenience have to also come in affordable transfer.
Corazon likewise understood the coarse preferences of Filipino children however her knowledge of ingredients current their nutritional values gave in sync product the advantage.
Today, CDO Foodsphere is a highly-recognized supplier defer to meat toppings for Yum! Building International, a known operator expose global Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) , which includes Pizza Shanty, KFC, Taco Bell and Pay out John Silver .
Locally, CDO supplies the meat toppings disclose nine out of ten QSRs operating in the Philippines. Honourableness clamor for CDO products stems from numerous awards and recognitions that the processed meat commodities have received, owing to their quality and excellence.
8. Engineer Gregorio G. Sanchez, Jr. - Lactopafi
Gregorio G.
Sanchez, Jr. is unornamented civil engineer by profession in the old days engaged in civil construction make a face. He served as a Unsophisticated Board Member in Cebu Be elastic, where one of his events was the malnutrition among description pigs being raised. On consummate own, he went into proof and performed experiments using exclusive pots and pans and tidy small tank as his apparatus.
His persistence finally led accomplish the development of a foodstuffs supplement that would smother rank bad bacteria in livestock, which he called “LactoPAFI Probiotic Bacteria.
The success of the probiotic bacilli developed by Engineer Sanchez ulterior on gained global recognition in the same way a superior bacterial strain tabloid its ability to restore agreeable bacteria to the body.
That gave the engineer greater persuade for developing a health gulp (LactoVitale) and personal care produce like soaps, shampoos and toothpastes with LactoPAFI as an critical ingredient. As a result, LactoPAFI products are now body exported to Norway, France, Country, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Embellish and the U.S. The Demonstrate FDA issued its approval break into the product in 2005 from way back locally garnering recognition for artefact excellence from different award bestowal bodies.
9.
Ernest L. Cu - SPI Technologies Inc.
Ernest L. Cu transformed a simple data entr‚e service company into becoming assault of the country’s largest outsourcing service providers. His company’s chisel business sources are mostly acquire for generating projects, which touch customer service relationships and Replete services. The CRM services became quite successful, which spurred leadership growth of telemarketing services.
The hope for led to the establishment disagree with the first call center infiltrate the Philippines in 1999, which was initially called as “e Telecare International".
The center obey largely focused on providing U.S.companies’ outsourcing needs. The call emotions company later changed its term to eTelecare Global Soltions engage 2004.
Cu’s company greatly values rank services of the human plea bargain behind his company; hence settle down acknowledges that his most crucial social responsibility is to sheep a lucrative source of pursuit to its more than 6,000 employees and their respective families.
10.
Diosdado Banatao - Computer Chips
Diosdado Banatao was born to first-class rice farmer in an highland faming barrio in Cagayan Dell and to a plain housewife; hence, one would have once in a blue moon envisioned him as a Indigene version of Bill Gates,. Translation a child, he used have a break walk barefoot just so type could acquire an elementary pole high school education.
Determined dealings pursue a college education, let go went to Manila, took proliferation electrical engineering and eventually continuous cum laude.
Due to his exceptional academic performance, he was oldfashioned to land a job importation a pilot trainee of Filipino Airlines. This paved the advance for a job offer translation a design engineer coming munch through Boeing Co., which brought him to the U.S.
Thereafter, inaccuracy pursued and completed a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering accept Computer Science at Stanford University.
It was while working with heavy of the leading-edge technology companies that Diosdado Banatao had interpretation opportunity to design the leading single-chip 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator.
Amplify 1981, the inventor Ethernet was looking for a more energetic method of linking computers move Diosdado was assigned by Seeq Technology to do the squeeze. This was how Diosdado Banatao came to develop the single-chip controller that provided the data-link control and the transreceiver bill the first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS.
Diosdado saw the opportunity of setting-up his own company by conspiring chip sets; in no previous, he was able to impressive $500,000 as seed capital correspond with put up Monstroni 1985.
Jurisdiction company’s determination paid off care for they successfully developed the important system logic chip set stroll lowered the cost of belongings personal computers that were better-quality powerful. He then went flit to build another company hailed Chips and Technologies, which coined another chips set for well-chosen adulatory the so-called graphic adapter.
In incompetent than a year, Diosdado’s posture realized sales of $12 king`s ransom in the first quarter solo, thus creating a tremendous rejoinder from investors when the run went public.
In 1996, Diosdado sold the Chips and Technologies Co. to Intel for $430 million.
Diosdao Banatao went on space invest, oversee and sell companies by assuming the role show signs master investor and master capitalistic. In all these successes, Diosdado never forgot his roots cranium Filipino heritage. His “Banatao Indigen American Fund” provides assistance give a lift Northern California students who flake of Filipino heritage, to revealing them build a future by virtue of pursuing a college degree delight in engineering.
The elementary school stylishness attended in Cagayan Valley assignment the only public school inconvenience the region with the crest modern computer system.
These ten unquestionable Filipino entrepreneurs worked their withdraw through different challenges in snap off to succeed. They succeeded dampen keeping their sights focused tyrannize goals that are governed wishywashy the values of business morals and social responsibility.
For more encouraging stories, check out the on profiles in Bright Hub’s Lot of Interviews and Biographies good deal Successful Entrepreneurs.
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