Filipino Entrepreneurs

Could this article could be worth millions and perhaps billions of dollars? 

If you could compile a list of the Top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs, learn about how they started and what they have created, at the end of this exercise, you’ll uncover common traits and secrets that’s helped them create the lifestyle and income they have.

The combined information of these Filipino Entrepreneurs would be worth billions. That information would be useful wouldn’t it?

If so, then let’s get started.

After living in the Philippines for over 2 years, I’ve come to appreciate the Filipino people, their culture and lifestyle. Along the way, I’ve continually been exposed to many successful Filipino Entrepreneurs who have made a big difference to the Philippines and to the world as well.

The reason why I wrote this article is to give my opinion and awareness of who I believe are the top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs. Does an entrepreneur making 2 million more famous than someone making 1 million? Of course not.

If the top 10 list of Filipino Entrepreneurs was based upon numbers and their net worth, then I would change the title of this article to “Top 10 Richest Filipino Entrepreneurs”.

This list is about the Filipino Entrepreneurs who influence Filipino locals, their culture and their way of life in a particular way.

Here is some of the criteria that I’ve used to rank the top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs

• They have built successful companies with a net worth of millions of dollars. Some have made it to the billions.
• They have fought against all odds in creating whatever success they have.
• They have gone after the lifestyle they want.
• They have put Philippines on the map.
• They inspire more Filipinos to become entrepreneurs.
• Being a foreigner living the Philippines, which entrepreneurs have I been exposed to repeatedly. In other words they have great marketing skills.
• They became famous and recognised worldwide not just in the Philippines.
• Gives spirit to the Filipino people.
• And other mysterious things.

This article is my own personal study of Entrepreneurship in the Philippines.

Here we go.

The Top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs

By the way, this list is ranked in no particular order, age, net worth or achievements.

1. Henry Sy – SM Malls

Henry Sy

Henry Sy is a Chinese Filipino entrepreneur and founder of SM Group. You’ll be hard pressed to not find an SM Mall around the Philippines. Henry Sy started building his own small business called “Shoe Mart” and eventually turned it into a major corporate identity. Henry Sy inspires many people that you can start small and grow it into a massive empire.

2. Manny Pacquio – Champion Boxer

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquio is a famous professional champion boxer and now politician. He won six world titles and is the the first in eighth division world champion category. Manny Pacquio had to drop out of school due to extreme poverty and at the age of 14 started boxing. Manny Pacquio is one of the best icons known in the world today.

3. Tony Tan Caktiong – Jollibee

Tony Tan Caktiong

Feeling hungry? Try Jollibee. Tony Tan Caktion started an ice cream parlor in 1975 and then founded Jollibee in 1978. He took on the fast food giant Mc Donalds and expanded his restaurant chain all over the Phililippines. The big bee standing infront of Jollibee is a reminder of no matter who you are, you can still take on the big boys in the industry.

4. Charice – Singer

Charice

Charice is a Filipino singer who shot to fame using YouTube. She started off with a talent for singing (doesn’t all Filipinos have this talent?) and eventually turned her passion for singing into a world wide phenomenon. Charice is a great story of how you can use what you have, put it in front of as many people as possible online and eventually achieve success.

5. Anne Curtis – Actress / Model / Singer

Anne Curtis

Anne Curtis is a professional actress, model and singer of the Philippines. Half Filipino and Australian, her popularity has grown immensely over the years. One of the most interesting things about Anne Curtis is that she commands “Front of Mind” awareness. Ask any Filipino who you think of when you think of a female celebrity? It’s Anne Curtis. Anne Curtis inspires many Filipinos to go for their dreams. Fine then, i’ll admit it, she’s pretty

6. John Gokongwei – Cebu Pacific

John Gokongwei

John Gokongwei is the founder of Cebu Pacific, a Filipino airline company started in 2005. Cebu Pacific is one of the most recognised airline companies in the Philippines. John Gokongwei is a great rags to riches story of how he started entrepreneurship out of poverty. He also is a active philantrophist and donates millions to various charities around the Philippines.

7. Jaime Augusto Zobel – Ayala Malls

Jaime Augusto Zobel

Jaime Zobel is the founder of Ayala Corporation is a best known for his malls in Greenbelt and other locations. If you ever visit one of his Ayala Malls, you’ll notice that his architecture carries a unique design that’s reflective on his creative abilities. Jaime Zobel is a reminder of great design and architecture.

8. Rob Schneider – Actor

Rob Schneider

Rob Schneider is a funny guy and famous for appearing in many movies along side Adam Sadler. He does stand up comedy and features in films such as Duece Bigalow, The Hot Chick and Grown Ups. Rob Scheneider puts Philppines on the map through his movies and comedy roles.

9. Apl De Ap – Singer

Apl De Ap

Apl De Ap rose to fame through his career singing with the Black Eyed Peas. His famous song “BeBot” is completely sung in Tagalog and features Filipino people around the globe. Apl De Ap is a reminder of how you can make it in the music industry through the right contacts and associations.

10. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr – San Migel

Eduardo Cojuangco Jr

Feel like a beer? Try San Mig! Eduardo Conjuangco Jr is the founder of San Migel Corporation and produces one of the most trusted food and beverages in the Philippines. Locals love drinking San Migel beers and enjoy Eduardo’s creation on a regular basis, sometimes too much. Eduardo Conjuangco is a reminder of how you can have more fun the Philippines.

So there’s my list, the top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs. Of course, there’s many more people who would easily make this list, however it would take forever for you to read the entire list.

After my study of these successful Filipino Entrepreneurs, I have discovered a common characteristic behind these people.

The 6 Secrets of Success of Filipino Entrepreneurs

1. They all loved what they are doing.

These Filipino entrepreneurs all enjoyed what they were doing. They never did anything they hated or anything they didn’t want to do. Their careers was built around what they enjoyed and had a natural talent for.

2. They didn’t need a qualified and formal education to become successful. 

Some of these Filipino Entrepreneurs didn’t have any education at all. They dropped out of school and somehow created success from it.

3. They all failed.

Before they “arrived” to success, they all previously failed in whatever they did to get there. This is an extremely common pattern. Everyone fails on their way to success.

4. They worked hard.

None of them took the easy route to get where they were today. They all worked long into the night on their craft, their business and their careers. They paid the price for success.

5. They all had dedication and persistence. 

Along their journey, they all continually kept working towards their goal of being successful in their field. They never gave up after their first attempt, they just kept on going for many years.

6. It took time. 

Lots of it. These Filipino Entrepreneurs shows that you can’t achieve success over night, it takes hard work, dedication and continual improvement to get where they were. They all focused on their careers and made it successful.

So there you have it, my list of top 10 Filipino Entrepreneurs and their 6 secrets of success.

Please send me your thoughts or suggestions.

If you liked this article, please share it with your friends and together we can all learn from Filipino Entrepreneurs and succeed in our careers.

To your success.

Khoa Bui

(no I’m not Filipino)

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