Tag: robbie antonio

The 32 Most Powerful Families In The Philippines

by Town & Country Philippines, Esquire Magazine

We’ve narrowed down the city’s most respected names and selected the very best.

ABOITIZ
The family currently engaged in banking, power, and real estate among many other ventures traces its history in the Philippines to a Spaniard of Basque origin, Paulino Aboitiz, who arrived in the 1870s. He married the daughter of a well-to-do merchant a few years later, and started the rise of the Aboitiz clan in the southern Philippines, first in Leyte and later in Cebu. Starting with abaca trade, the family diversified following the claim of Paulino’s son Ramon (1887-1974) that “Any business where we can make money, we will go into.” Today, the family conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures is chaired by Jon Ramon Aboitiz while his second cousin Erramon is the president and CEO.

IMAGE Courtesy of Aboitiz Family
Ramon Aboitiz

ANTONIO
The son of a banker, Jose Antonio founded his Century Properties real estate firm in 1986, just six days before the EDSA revolution. “Perhaps nine out of 10 of the most successful and wealthiest families derived and continue to derive incomes from real estate,” he reasoned in one interview. Today Antonio and his family are among the richest in the country, worth an estimated $260 million according to Forbes magazine. With all of his sons—Jigger, Marco, Robbie, and Carlo—involved in the business, the empire of the Antonios is ever expanding. The group’s exclusive developments include the Trump Tower, Knightsbridge and Gramercy Residences, Century City Mall, as well as collaborations with Philippe Starck, Missoni Home, and Versace Home.

IMAGE Dix Perez for Town and Country
*Marco, Carlo, Jigger, and Robbie Antonio*

ARANETA
The Aranetas of the LBC group have an interesting ancestor in the form of Don Gregorio Soriano Araneta, the secretary general of Emilio Aguinaldo’s Malolos Republic who also became the first Filipino solicitor general and secretary of justice and finance. Don Antonio Araneta, one of Gregorio’s 14 children, bought LBC Aircargo from its American owners in 1950, but it was his son Carlos “Linggoy” Araneta who made the firm a household name with his idea for 24-hour delivery service (Renamed LBC Express in 1988). Today Linggoy’s children Juan Carlos, Santi, Dino, and Monica hold the reins in the family company.

IMAGE courtesy of the Araneta family
*Don Antonio Araneta with son Linggoy in Germany, 1958*

ARANETA
In 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s “Thrilla in Manila” put the country on the world’s sporting map. One of the stars of the show is still in place today, the majestic Araneta Coliseum, the crown jewel in industrialist J. Amado Araneta’s self-named Araneta Center in Cubao. This branch of Aranetas owes the start of its fortune to Juan Araneta, who founded the Ma-ao sugar refinery in Bago, City, Negros, over a century ago. The family patriarch today is Jorge Araneta, who keeps a tight watch over the Araneta Group with the help of his siblings Judy Araneta Roxas (mother of Mar Roxas) and Maria Lourdes “Baby” Araneta-Fores (mom to Chef Gaita Fores).

CAMPOS
What began with a small corner store owned by Jose Yao Campos in 1945 is now the country’s largest drug-manufacturing company. And though the founder died in 2006, Unilab is still a family run business, now helmed by his daughter Joy Campos Hess and her son, Clinton Hess. Jose’s eldest son, Butch, runs another family founded company, Nutri-Asia, and serves as vice chairman of Del Monte Philippines, while also serving as chairman of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. Jeffrey D.Y. Campos oversees the family’s vast real estate holdings through Greenfields Development, whose projects include a multi-hectare property in Mandaluyong and the joint venture with another prominent family in Santa Rosa, Ayala Greenfield Estates.

CHAN
After emigrating from Fujian Province, China, in the 1940s, Chan Lib and See Ying established the trading company Liwayway Marketing in post-war Manila. Who knew that it would lay the foundation for a multitude of successful business ventures including snack items (Oishi), lighting and bathroom fixtures (Chan C Bros), as well as a best-selling apparel brand (Bench)? The most prominent of the couple’s children are the media-shy Carlos Chan, and Nenita Chan Lim and Ben Chan, both of Suyen Corporation, the parent company of Bench and Dimensione, among other lifestyle brands. The third generation of Chans—including Carlos’s six children and Nenita’s two—are slowly filling in the big footsteps of their parents in their respective companies.

COJUANGCO
No list about Philippine families is complete without mentioning the Cojuangcos. The descendants of a Chinese immigrant, Co Yu Hwan, members of this extended family have become influential in business, politics, and society, settling first in Bulacan and then Tarlac. From the second generation, Melecio Cojuangco’s children were Jose Cojuangco Sr. (the father of Corazon Aquino and Peping Cojuangco), Antonio (the father of PLDT’s Ramon), and Eduardo Cojuangco Sr. (Danding’s father). The fifth generation Cojuangcos include President Noynoy Aquino, Tonyboy Cojuangco, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Congressman Mark Cojuangco, and Charlie Cojuangco.

CONCEPCION
Behind the continuing success of this multi-generational business family are perhaps the most prominent set of twins in Philippine society, Ronnie and Joecon Concepcion. The 84-year-old brothers born just 10 minutes apart are the sons of industrialist Jose Concepcion Sr., the founder of Concepcion Industries and co-founder of RFM Flour Mills along with Salvador and Victoria Araneta, the inlaws of Joecon. Ronnie’s side of the family includes former &C cover subject Ton Concepcion as well as current Concepcion Industries president, Jojo Concepcion. John of Selecta and Joey of Go Negosyo fame are the sons of Joecon. The twins’ sister is Mely Concepcion Hechanova, whose daughter, Renna, is vice chair of Condura.

IMAGE courtesy of the Concepcion family
*The Concepcion couples, from left: Joe and Marivic Concepcion, Paeng and Mely Hechanova, Jose and Hermina Concepcion, Ronnie and Menchu Concepcion, Rene and Susan Concepcion*

CONSUNJI
Cornflakes in the morning, then paksiw na bangus or torta for lunch—simple fare for a not-so-simple man, David Consunji of DMCI. The construction titan is the ninth richest Filipino according to Forbes magazine, but his old habits and virtues—honesty and living simply among them—die hard. While the architects behind famous buildings are better known, it was Consunji’s company that erected them: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center, Westin Philippine Plaza, and the Ayala Triangle, just to name a few. Sid, the eldest son, handles the construction firm now, with siblings Jing, Victor, Jorge, Lucy, Cristina, and Dinky also involved.

DELGADO
Three prominent branches of the Delgado family were at one time all part of, appropriately enough, the Delgado Brothers company. Founded by Antonio Delgado in 1946 with his brother Francisco (Don Paco) and Jose, Delbros was a pioneer in logistics, later on expanding into trading, investments, and port operations. After leaving the company, Don Paco further increased his wealth by going into shipping and real estate. Today Delbros is run by Antonio’s son Eduardo (married to Margarita Delgado of Teach for Philippines) and grandson Jose Paolo Delgado.

ELIZALDE
Another family with Basque origins, the Elizalde name has been prominent for more than 150 years, first gaining notice through Don Joaquin Elizalde, a sugar baron in Panay and Negros, whose descendants would acquire Tanduay Rhum from the Ynchausti family in the 1920s. Though the Elizalde clan sold the liquor company to Lucio Tan in the 1980s, it still has significant land holdings and one descendant, Don Joaquin’s grandson Fred Elizalde Jr., still owns majority of Manila Broadcasting Company running it with his son, Juan. Fred’s wife, Lisa Macuja, heads the prestigious ballet company Ballet Manila. Other well-known Elizaldes include Francisco Elizalde (married to Pamen Roxas) father to Patxi, Santi, and Carlos.

GOKONGWEI
The story of this family’s patriarch doesn’t quite follow the typical rags to riches arc. Riches to rags to riches would be more apt. Born to a well off Chinese family in Cebu, the family fortune was lost when John’s father died suddenly. He revealed how he got back on his feet with a speech at the 20th Ad Congress: “So, what can I do? I worked.” Now 90, Gokongwei has surrendered duties in his companies to his children. Only son Lance picks up most of the slack at Cebu Pacific and JG Summit, while eldest child Robina is the president of Robinsons Retail Holdings, which has Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Handyman, and Toys R’ Us under its wing.

GOTIANUN
Andrew Gotianun called it a day back in the 1980s, hoping to spend a life in easy retirement with his wife Mercedes. But not much later he was back in business, taking charge again of Filinvest Development Corporation, the company he founded in 1955, armed with new ideas on how to take it further. His second wind gave Filinvest enough momentum to push the Gotianuns up to 18th on the richest Filipinos list of Forbes magazine in 2015. He passed away in March 2016, with four of his children carrying the load in the company, Josephine (president and CEO), Jonathan (chairman), Andrew Jr. (director), and Michael (vice president). His wife Mercedes is chairman emeritus.

LAUREL
The family used to be a fixture in politics, but as the clan expanded, so has its realm of influence in society. Today’s generation of prominent Laurels are descendants of the nine children of José P. Laurel (1891-1959), the third President of the Philippines. Among the notables in the brood were former Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel, former Senate President Pro Tempore Sotero Laurel II, former House Speaker José Laurel Jr., and Arsenio Laurel, whom sports buffs will remember for winning the Macau Grand Prix twice. In this generation, we have the educators Bobby and Peter Laurel of Lyceum University (Manila, Laguna, and Batangas), fashion designer Rajo Laurel, stage actors Cocoy and Franco Laurel, and television personalities Patty and Denise Laurel.

IMAGE courtesy of the Laurel family
*Jose P. Laurel with Rose Laurel-Avencena, Francis Cardinal Spellman, Pacencia Laurel, Nene Laurel, and Alice Yulo Laurel*

LOPEZ
Few families have gone through the ebbs and flows of fortune like the Lopezes of Iloilo. Guiding the family through its most difficult times was Don Eugenio Lopez (1901-1975), who resurrected the family fortunes (drawn mostly from sugar) after World War II, only to lose almost everything in the dark days of martial law. Though he didn’t live to see his companies (Meralco, ABS-CBN, Manila Chronicle) returned to the family, his sons Geny (“El Capitan”), Oscar, and Manolo ushered in a new era of prosperity after the 1986 EDSA revolution. The next generation is led by Piki Lopez (First Philippine Holdings) and Gaby Lopez (ABS-CBN).

LORENZO
You don’t get to have a university sports facility named after you for no reason. Luis “Moro” Lorenzo certainly earned that right, after being a hoops star for Ateneo in the late 1940s and later as a visionary businessman. In the early 1980s he purchased and turned around a failing banana exporting company; now Lapanday Holdings is one of the largest independent producers and exporters of pineapples and bananas in the country. He passed away in 1997. From his eight children, eldest daughter Rica L. Davila is now the firm’s CEO and chair, while her younger brother Tomas is the vice chair. Outside the company, Martin found success operating numerous restaurant chains, while youngest Isa is an esteemed gallerist and artist.

IMAGE courtesy of the Lorenzo family
*Luis Lorenzo*

MADRIGAL
From humble beginnings in Albay, Don Vicente Madrigal amassed an empire built on shipping, coal, cement, and real estate to become one of the country’s wealthiest men as well as a senator in the mid 20th-century. His wife Susana was his lucky charm, as it was she who had the foresight to buy large tracts of land in Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Canlubang, and Laguna. Upon his death, Don Vicente’s wealth was equally divided among his seven children, but it was Consuelo Madrigal (1921-2008) who achieved the greatest prominence in business and social circles, especially known for her philanthropy. Paz, another daughter, also became a Philippine senator in the 1960s. The Madrigal legacy lives on through the grandchildren of Don Vicente and Susana, which include brothers Vicente II and Gerardo Madrigal, Chu-Chu Madrigal, former senator Jamby Madrigal, and Ging Gonzales-Montinola.

MONTINOLA
According to family lore, the first Montinola to reach Philippine shores was Juan Montinola, who arrived in 1781 from Malaga, Spain. By the mid-1800s, the family had already risen to prominence in Iloilo. Ruperto Montinola, the great-grandfather of former Bank of the Philippine Islands president Aurelio “Gigi” Montinola III, was even elected the province’s governor. It was Aurelio Sr., a lawyer, who established the family in Manila shortly after World War II. One of his sons, Aurelio Jr., married Lourdes Reyes, the only daughter of Nicanor Reyes, the founder of Far Eastern University. Since Gigi stepped down from BPI, he’s busied himself with being the FEU’s vice chair, sitting on the board alongside his mother, sister Gianna, and brothers Juan Miguel and Anton.

ONGPIN
The family name is virtually synonymous with Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown. On its most important avenue stands a statue of the clan’s founding patriarch, Don Roman Ongpin. A dealer in art supplies, his store El 82 was patronized by the likes of Juan Luna and Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo—but his most important contribution to society was being a supporter of the Philippine revolution. Today, his descendants still make the headlines and society news—including former Town&Country cover subjects Lisa Ongpin Periquet and Michelle Ongpin. The two are the offspring of the brothers Jaime (Jimmy), the former finance minister under Cory Aquino, and Alphaland chairman Roberto (Bobby), respectively. Another scion of the clan, Deanna Ongpin-Recto is a champion of the arts as is Jaime’s widow, Maribel.

ORTIGAS
The Ortigas clan’s vast landholdings comes from Francisco “Don Paco” Ortigas (1875-1935), a successful lawyer who in 1931 purchased the Hacienda de Mandaloyon from the Augustinians, in partnership with Vicente Madrigal and a few others. The 4,033-hectare property spans the cities of San Juan, Pasig, and Quezon City. If you’ve ever wondered who Julia Vargas is while driving in Ortigas Center, it is none other than Don Paco’s wife. The properties are managed today by the family’s holding firm Ortigas & Co. Limited Partnership Holdings. Among the key people in the clan are Rafael Ortigas Jr., Fernando Ortigas, Ignacio Ortigas, Francisco “Pacqui” Ortigas III, and “Ish” O. Montilla, the son of Chari Ortigas.

IMAGE courtesy of the Ortigas family
*Amalia, Julia, Carmen, Maria Asuncion, Rosario, Francisco and Eduardo Ortigas*

PADILLA
Nicanor Escobar Padilla (1851-1936) from Pangasinan started a clan noted for producing prominent doctors, lawyers, and legislators. His brood of 11 (nine from his second wife, Ysabel Bibby) included Justice Sabino Padilla, Senator Ambrosio Padilla, Congressman Benedicto Padilla, Dr. Nicanor Padilla, and Dr. Florencia P. Dualan. From the succeeding generations, we have Justice Teodoro Padilla (the father of renowned eye doctor Minguita Padilla Lopez and lawyer Sabino “Binoy” Padilla), PhilHealth President Alexander Padilla, Couples for Christ’s Francisco Padilla, NYC-based lawyer Monique Padilla Gallego, and international banker Maite Padilla Gallego.

RUFINO
A big family of real estate moguls, bankers, philanthropists, and artists, the different branches can trace their roots from the children of Macario Rufino: Ernesto, Vicente, Ester, and Rafael (their initials are where the old EVER Theater in downtown Manila got its name). The siblings developed a chain of cinemas, including the legendary Rizal theater and QUAD in partnership with the Ayalas. They also co-founded two banks. Charlie, the son of Vicente Rufino (yes, the street in Makati is named after him) and brother of Marixi Prieto, is among the most visible of the current generation, being one of the top developers in Taguig and Makati. The artist Marivic, the daughter of Rafael, is also a regular on the social circuit.

IMAGE courtesy of the Rufino family
*Ditas, Charlie, Cory, Marixi, mom Meding, Pixie, and Ma. Paz Rufino*

SY
For the eighth year running, Henry Sy is the country’s richest man, estimated to be worth $12.6 billion by Forbes Magazine. Now 92, Sy has long since transferred power in his various companies to his six children. Tessie Coson is in charge of the family’s banking interests in BDO Unibank; Elizabeth takes care of SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation. The eldest son, Henry Jr., chairs SM Prime, while Hans moved to a director role recently. Harley is in charge of the retail units Supervalue and Super Shopping Market (SM Hypermart), while Harley, the youngest, oversees the department stores division and SM Investments.

IMAGE courtesy of the Sy family
*Henry Sy*

TAN
From living in a small one-room apartment to owning vast tracts of land here and in Spain (with more than 1,500 hectares of vineyards for his brandy business alone), Andrew Tan has come a long way in a relatively short time. He became a millionaire at 27 through his appliance business, but it was his distillery (makers of Emperador Brandy) and real estate firm (Megaworld) that elevated him to megarich status. His wife Katherine is also involved in the family businesses. The couple has four children: Kevin, Kendrick, Kester, and Kara.

TAN
Over the past two years, the consolidation of El Capitan’s companies has paid off—to the tune of $4 billion. Share prices of Lucio Tan’s companies got a boost thanks to the prospect of more efficient management (eldest son Michael is in charge), making him the fourth richest in the land. At 82, Tan is still very much hands-on, known for calling business meetings with his top brass that last deep into the night. Daughter Cherry is married to Alfred Ty, son of Metrobank’s George Ty.

TANCAKTIONG
Tony Tan Caktiong’s family run company is truly bigger than ever with more Jollibee branches across the globe opening regularly. According to Forbes, it is the “fastest-growing Asian restaurant chain in the world” to date. Hey, even Anthony Bourdain gave the Aloha burger a thumbs up. Over the years, the family snapped up other fast-food restaurants including Chowking, Greenwich Pizza, and Red Ribbon, among others, all leading to a rise in Jollibee’s listed share price (and Tan’s net worth, now $3.8 billion). Part of the company since the beginning, Tan’s wife Grace leads the Jollibee Foundation, while eldest child and only son Carl Brian is the company’s business development director. His two daughters live in California.

TANTOCO
If there’s a family who knows about luxury, it’s the Tantocos. Since 1951, when Bienvenido Tantoco and his wife Gliceria Rustia opened Rustan’s (a clever portmanteau of their names) the family has provided only the best in retail shopping for discerning Filipino consumers. Even their supermarkets have a luxury touch, often having gourmet items not found in other places. With the third generation of Tantocos there has been a growing expansion, not just in the acquisition of foreign luxury brands, but notably in restaurant and retail franchising, such as with Starbucks, Golden Spoon, and Family Mart.

IMAGE courtesy of the Tantoco family
*Menchu T. Lopez, Nedy Tantoco, Gliceria Tantoco, Merl Tantoco-Pineda, and Bienvenido Tantoco*

TY
When a young George S.K. Ty ran out of money in his early 20s (he was setting up a flourmill at the time), he asked for a loan from a bank. Furious about getting denied, he vowed to put up a bank of his own. At 29 he did just that, opening Metrobank in 1962. It is still the greatest source of the Ty family’s wealth, but they have diversified by going into real estate, insurance, and power generation. Ty might be ranked higher on the list of richest Filipinos, if not for his philanthropic nature—he once donated $100 million to build a Catholic church in China and funded the building of a technical school in Laguna. Sons Arthur and Alfred now run the bulk of the family enterprises.

YAP
Known to be one of the more flamboyant of the Filipino-Chinese tycoons, Emilio Yap’s crown jewel is the Manila Hotel, which is over a century old. He passed away in 2014, but the family’s influence and power carry on, much of which still comes from the Manila Bulletin, the daily paper his family has been involved in since the 1960s. The family is also into banking (Philtrust Bank), pharmaceuticals (Euro Med Laboratories), shipping (President Lines) and education (Centro Escolar University). Emilio’s son Basilio Yap took over as chairman of both Manila Hotel and Manila Bulletin, while his grandson Emil Yap III continued to serve as vice chairman of the hotel and executive vice president of the newspaper and Enrique Yap Jr. takes the reins as the hotel’s executive vice president.

YUCHENGCO
After inheriting his father’s insurance business, Alfonso Yuchengco steadily built an empire of his own, getting involved in everything from banking and education (RCBC, Mapua Institute of Technology) to car dealerships and construction (Honda, EEI Corporation). Among his children, daughter Helen Y. Dee is most likely to assume the mantle of leadership in the Yuchengco businesses. “A.Y.”—as the ambassador is known in business circles—is a food and wine aficionado, and a member of the exclusive Chaine des Rotisseurs. Pastry chef Sunshine Pengson (daughter of Bella Yuchengco), is A.Y.’s granddaughter.

IMAGE courtesy of the Yuchengco family
*Alfonso Yuchengco*

ZOBEL
Enrique Zobel attained success in real estate, construction, insurance, and agriculture. Of his two surviving children, Inigo is the more visible—an astute businessman, he’s also a fixture on the polo circuit. Enzo’s daughter Mercedes (Dedes) and second wife Dee prefer to keep a low profile, and both are engaged in philanthropy. Young Zobels coming into prominence include Inigo and Maricris’s son Jake and daughters Bianca and Natalia who recently opened lifestyle special store LANAI.

ZOBEL DE AYALA
The family behind the Ayala Group of Companies (Ayala Land, BPI, Globe Telecom, Manila Water) traces its roots in the Philippines to Antonio de Ayala, who arrived in the early 1800s. The Zobel part of the name comes courtesy of Jacobo Zobel, who married Trinidad, Antonio’s daughter. The current patriarch, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, is happily retired, stepping down to devote more time to his photography hobby, most likely. His two sons, Jaime Augusto (“JAZA”) and Fernando, out of the seven children, work for the Ayala group. JAZA’s daughter Mariana, a Harvard graduate, works with Ayala Malls. His son Jaime Alfonso, also a Harvard grad, works at Globe.

IMAGE courtesy of the Zobel de Ayala family

This story originally appeared on Townandcountry.ph.

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Where Did The Richest Filipinos Go To School?

by Sasha Lim Uy, Esquire Magazine

How, where, and even why you went to college probably won’t be an indication on how your life (and bank account) will turn out, but the answers might carry some privileges. Bill Gates himself—the world’s riches man and a college dropout—regularly stresses the value of education:

“I think the value of getting a great education—that is going to college—is easy to underestimate. The most interesting jobs require a college education. The STEM related jobs are probably the most interesting although they are not for everyone. The value of staying curious—reading a lot and learning new things even after college is also underestimated.” (March 2016, Reddit AMA)

Gates constantly advocates for college education on his blog, once writing, “Although I dropped out of college and got lucky pursuing a career in software, getting a degree is a much surer path to success”; he’s also called the college dropout rate in the United States “tragic.”

It’s the same here. Though some of the Philippines’ richest individuals may not have completed their degrees, they still emphasize the value of education—if not in words, then through their actions: sending their children to topnotch institutions, providing scholarships, and donating academic facilities. Here we look at the academic histories of some of the country’s richest for inspiration:

Henry Sy Sr. ($18 billion)
Chiang Kai Shek College (high school)
Associate Arts, Commercial Studies, Far Eastern Universtiy (1950)

John Gokongwei Jr. ($6 billion)*
San Carlos University
MBA, De La Salle University (1961)
Harvard Management Program (1971)

Enrique Razon Jr. ($4.3 billion)
BS Business Administration, De La Salle University (1980)

Lucio Tan ($4.2 billion)
BS Chemical Engineering, Far Eastern University
Received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Santo Tomas under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (2003)
Received a BS Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Santo Tomas under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (2006)

Jaime Zobel de Ayala ($3.7 billion)
BA Architectural Science, Harvard University (1957)
Took the Advanced Management Program by the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in Baguio (1963)

David Consunji ($3.6 billion)
BS Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines (1947)
Consunji passed away in September 2017

George Ty ($3.6 billion)*
BS Commerce, University of Santo Tomas
Enrolled in 1955 but dropped out to focus on business
Received an honorary Humanities doctorate from the same university in 2014

Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion)
BS Chemical Engineering, University of Santo Tomas (1975)
Earned certificates from Harvard University, Asian Institute of Management, University of Michigan Business School, and Harvard Business School
Received honorary doctorates from the Far Eastern University, St. Paul University, and Southwestern University

Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion)
BS Accounting, University of the East (1974)

Ramon Ang
BS Mechanical Engineering, Far Eastern University (1981)

Manuel Villar ($1.65 billion)
BS Business Administration, University of the Philippines (1970)
Masters in Business Administration, University of the Philippines (1973)

Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion)
BSC, San Beda College

Mercedes Gotianun ($1.4 billion)
BS, University of the Philippines (1950)

Roberto Ongpin ($1.15 billion)
BS Business Administration, Ateneo de Manila University (1957)
Masters in Business Administration, Harvard University

Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.1 billion)*
Lafayette College

Dean Lao ($1 billion)
BS Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines

Ricardo Po Sr. ($980 million)*
BS Industrial Chemistry, University of Santo Tomas
Masters in Business Administration, University of Santo Tomas (2005)

Edgar Sia ($820 million)*
BS Architecture, University of San Agustin

Oscar M. Lopez ($760 million)
BA Harvard University (1951)
Masters in Public Administration, Littauer School of Public Administration, Harvard University (1955)
Received an honrary doctorate from the De La Salle University (2010)
Received an honorary doctorate from the Ateneo de Manila University (2010)
Received a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the Philippine Women’s University (2009)
Received a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of the Philippines (2012)

Carlos Chan ($620 million)*
BS Architecture, Mapua Institute of Technology

Alfredo Yao ($600 million)*
BS Chemical Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology (1962)
Received an honorary doctorate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Frederick Dy ($520 million)
BS Industrial Engineering, Cornell University

Jacinto Ng ($420 million)
BS Chemical Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology

Jose Antonio ($400 million, with his son, Robbie)
BS Commercial Science, San Beda College (1966)

Robbie Antonio ($400 million, with his father Jose)
BS Economics, Northwestern University
Masters in Business Administration, Stanford University

Michael Cosiquien ($385 million)
BS Civil Engineering, De La Salle University (1995)

Jorge Araneta ($380 million)
BS Business Administration, University of the Philippines

Edgar Saavedra ($375 million)
BS Civil Engineering, De La Salle University (1996)

Mariano Tan Jr. ($370 million)
BA Economics and Business, Lafayette College (1983)
Master of Science in Management, Hult International Business School Massachusetts (1986)

Jon Aboitiz ($350 million, with his brother Mikel)
BS Management, Santa Clara University

Mikel Aboitiz ($350 million, with his brother Jon)
BS Business Administration, Gonzaga University

Manuel Zamora ($280 million)
BS University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines Law School
Ranked 3rd on the Bar in 1961

Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. ($240 million)
BS Business Administration, University of Southern California

Vivian Que Azcona ($230 million)
BS Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas (1977)
Management Program, Asian Institute of Management (1978)

Eric Recto ($225 million)
BS Industrial Engineering, University of the Philippines
Masters in Business Administration, Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University

Jose Ma. Concepcion ($220 million)
BS Business Management, De La Salle University

Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. ($190 million)
BCS Jose Rizal College (1941)

Felipe Gozon ($170 million)

Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines
Master of Law, Yale University
Ranked 13th on the Bar in 1962

Menardo R. Jimenez ($165 million)
BS Commerce, Far Eastern University
BS Accounting, Far Eastern University

Walter William Brown ($160 million)
BS Physical Science, University of the Philippines (1959)
BS Geology, University of the Philippines (1960)
Master of Science in Geology, Stanford University (1963)
Doctorate in Geology, Major in Geo-Chemistry (1965)

Gilberto Duavit ($155 million)
AB Philosophy, University of the Philippines

Eusebio Tanco ($150 million)
AB Economics, Ateneo de Manila University
Master of Science in Economics and Political Science, London School of Economics

Juliette Romualdez ($145 million)
BS Education, Maryknoll College

Michael Romero ($135 million)
BS Management, De La Salle University
Masters in Business Management, Asian Institute of Management
Doctorate in Business Administration, De La Salle University (2006)
Doctorate in Political Economics (2008)

Erramon Aboitiz ($130 million)
BS Business Administration Major in Accounting and Finance, Gonzaga University

Luis Virata ($125 million)
AB Economics, Trinity College, Cambridge University
Master of Arts in Economics, Trinity College, Cambridge University (1976)
Masters in Business Administration, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (1979)

Philip Ang ($120 million)
Business Administration, Oregon University
Masters in Business Administration, University of Denver

*Dropped out/ did not graduate

—

Technological Transformation In Real Estate

by Amor Maclang, Business Mirror

TODAY, I start a series on technological transformation in real estate from construction and marketing operations.

Technology either elicits fear or awe, and the success of legacy businesses as real estate depends on their ability to pivot fast.

Customer unfriendly construction process

A universal life landmark that bears utmost importance is the day that one decides to get his or her own house. The question that remains is how to move forward, especially with the intimidating process usually attached to buying a home or building one from the ground up.

Enter prefab technology. The term “prefab” didn’t always sit particularly well with consumers. The word has been synonymous with dull nondescript houses lined up in a singular block. French architect Jean Prouve pioneered prefab housing technology back in 1940, working his magic on crafting demountable houses for those that lost their homes in World War II. But the industry has evolved dramatically since then, giving birth to unhampered creativity. Thankfully, these prior troubles have been addressed by Revolution Precrafted Properties. An innovative enterprise that specializes in the business of prefabricated homes, Revolution makes your dream house an actuality while keeping your worries at bay. Their prefab homes and transportable pavilions bring the concept up a notch with collaborations with over 61 of the world’s well-esteemed architects, designers and industry-leading creatives coming together for every stylishly sustainable piece.

Time is on your side

Revolution’s prefab creations greatly simplify the process for homebuyers and developers alike. Its edge not only lies on its world-class designer aesthetic but also on its functionality and efficacy over traditional builds. Robbie Antonio, founder

and CEO of the brand, elaborated further, “The term prefab refers to off-site or factory-assembled building components often sized in modular dimensions. A prefabricated building has innate advantages when it comes to consistency of quality, fit, finish, and over-all cost benefits”. The lengthy time-consuming old-fashioned mechanisms of paperwork, sourcing reliable contractors and supplier and picking out every single detail from floorings to fixtures are immediately eliminated. In its place are low-maintenance homes that breed high quality and saves time like no other—so much that you can easily move in to the house of your dreams in just about 90 days upon placing your order.

Rest assured, the quick and easy pace does not sacrifice a prefab’s integrity. It’s certainly not a thing to be worried about in Revolution’s case. Their creations go through a prototype stage, where all components and processes for the build are tested, improved upon and certified.

Furthermore, these pieces are code compliant with all seismic, wind and other environmental load and site-specific factors that could affect its performance. The production process is as meticulous as it gets, it begins with extensive shop drawings based on the concept plans provided by the consultant or designer. These shop drawings are then adapted for compliance with local and national codes where the houses will be built. Once the shop drawings, materials and specifications are approved, the house is built in an indoor facility where sections that can be modularized are assembled. The kinds of machines we use are matched to the material and design at hand, and are usually sourced locally. A kit of parts catalogue is then generated to enable dismantling, packaging, transport and reconstruction.

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The cutting-edge design built on advanced technology is set to change the standard of living. It democratizes the ultra-chic architecture arena and brings designer homes more accessible to a broader market. At a range of 50 square meters (sq m) to 250 sq m with components that could fit in a shipping container, its transportable feature becomes a core appeal. Each borderless piece transcends time and space, conveniently movable to wherever you are, and breaking free from location and construction complaints. Perhaps, the best part of every Revolution home is its versatility. There’s a wide range of precrafted designs suited for any area, function and preference.

E-commerce for real estate

Purchasing each unit is also a breeze with Revolution Precrafted site’s user-friendly interface. Each unit comes with a hefty preview of the structure, as well as a complete specifications list of every home. It also comes with a profile of the designer involved in the project, with a description or anecdote of each specified prefab home to boot. E-commerce gives you an option to buy or build, depending on your role as homebuyer or developer. Structures are delivered to your doorstep ideally three months from the initial order, all ready for assembly. The price of each designer home begins at roughly P1.5 million excluding shipping, installation and land cost.

Creative collaboration

Revolution precrafted’s roster of internationally celebrated talents is some of the world’s greatest creative geniuses in their respective fields. You’ve got big shot architects, such as Philip Johnson and Allan Ritchie, the likes of the late Zaha Hadid and Patrick Schumacher, and renowned artists like David Salle and Francisco Clemente. Even music and fashion icons like Lenny Kravitz and Daphne Guiness are part of the incredible lineup. Recently, Budji Layug and Royal Pineda, the country’s lead advocates of modern Filipino architecture and design have joined the roster of game changers. The growing list is of collaborations, bound to be bigger and better in the coming years—an exciting feat to anticipate.

Prefab home is just the beginning of this construction revolution. More collectible thoughtfully designed properties are under way, whether it’s a residential, hospitality or entertainment development. To look forward to are its limited-edition offerings of adaptive amenity spaces, modular hotels, transposable restaurants, prefabricated condominiums, pop-up retail and customizable glamping that represent trends in tourism, specialty retail and hospitality.

prefab homes real estate Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

An ‘Out-Of-The-Box’ Solution For Manila’s Housing Woes

by Amor Maclang, Business Mirror

WITH the advent of green building and opting for better sustainable materials in our business districts, the landscape of home building begs to follow suit. This brings about the question: What kind of homes and structures should we be building today?

According to The Cities Alliance, the Philippines has been building and modernizing so rapidly that it now ranks among the highest in urbanization in the world. This is quite obvious, what with towering infrastructures, endless constructions and worsening traffic all becoming “parts of the norm” nowadays.

Filipinos in the Metro are constantly looking for residences within the urban areas, opting for condominium units and, thus, prompting even more vertical developments to be built as we speak. This leaning toward the “vertical lifestyle” is evidenced in the Residential Real Estate Price Index (RREPI) showing that majority of home loans were used to acquire condominium units. However, these structures are built in such redundant succession that the quality of building suffers along with sustainability, while rent and sale prices continue to increase.

As residential congestion rises and calamity and pollution continue to ravage the urban areas, there has been a slow resurgence in the advocacy of prefabricated homes. Revived in the local and international scene, the quickly built, durable, completely indoor-manufactured modular home has now made a welcome return.

Modular homes, created in “modules” of prefabricated materials to create quick and sustainable structures, are stereotypically pegged as square blocks that are functional, yet aesthetically, inferior to more complicated built houses and premium units. That led to a lack of interest in the market and modular homes were put in the real-estate backburner.

The mention of modular homes oft brings to mind either images of simple block-like houses or Minecraft, but in reality, these “square homes” can be the industrial innovation that our country needs to continue progressing in an economically and ecologically sustainable setting.

Recently, the prefab trend has begun to trickle back into the mainstream, with designers finding ways to make gorgeous modular homes that feel premium yet maintain their affordable and sustainably effective nature. With the quicker building time (you can have a finished home in less than 60 days), affordable building, sustainable materials and their strong resistance to various natural disasters, it’s not a hard decision to opt for modular.

A testament to the creative beauty that can be generated off this structure, Filipino real-estate developer Robbie Antonio launched “Revolution Pre-crafted Properties,” a project that gathered 39 architects from different countries to create premium modular homes (at a fraction of the usual high-end mansion prices). These were designed to look like customized art pieces that are liveable and ready to be shipped anywhere in the world within three months.

Many designers across the market are also using green materials that help preserve the environment around them, while also maximizing the space they occupy. Popular firms, like Hoek, Pugh + Scarpa Architects and Workshop/apd, have already used the recyclable platforms to create sturdy and beautiful homes that are LEED-approved.

Not only are these cost-efficient modules noted to be more energy efficient once built, they are also built to withstand floods, typhoons, hurricanes and earthquakes. These are the factors that make modular homes an even more enticing trend to jump into for the Philippines.

Mods in the PHL market

Not to be left behind, the Philippines is also beginning to make strides toward modular living spaces. With companies like Smarthouse Prefab, VAZBuilt and Revolution Properties, the Philippines is already equipped with the ability to choose modular homes now.

A standout project that made headlines is the “Waffle House,” engineered by Filipino company Solid and Insulated Poured Concrete Construction Corp. (Solidcon Construction). A modular home made with reinforced concrete and grade-40 metal, the P200,000 structure is said to have the ability to hold its ground against rough calamities while also being easily disassembled for easy relocation.

According to Solidcon, “this technology was conceptualized as a practical solution to address the growing concerns on mass housing, over-population and land-value appreciation, to name a few, at the most cost and time efficient way possible.”

As the modular home trend makes its way into the Philippine market, we may finally have the solution to our nation’s housing problems right before us. A quick and durable solution to our polluted and calamity-stricken areas has presented itself through the real-estate innovations of late, and like most gifts we receive, it seems to all come in a “box.”

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Related Links: About Robbie Antonio, Contact

prefab homes Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

Robbie Antonio Joins Forbes Billionaires List

by Bilyonaryo

Achieving the “unicorn” status for his real estate startup revolution Precrafted, Robbie Antonio has pole-vaulted his way to Forbes’ list of top billionaires around the globe.

Robbie, who is the youngest of the batch, joins his father Jose E.B. Antonio, chairman of Century Properties The father-and-son duo is now on the 28th spot with a combined net worth of $400 million, more than doubling the $195-million figure of the elder Antonio in last year?s list.

Talk about not just following his father?s path and making his mark but breaking barriers all the way. Congratulations, Robbie!

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Related Links: About Robbie Antonio, Contact

billionaire forbes 2017 Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

Hollywood Glam Meets High Street Living

by Philippine Daily Inquirer

Revolution has teamed up with some of Hollywood’s best to design one-of-a-kind structures .

The movers and shakers of the real estate industry over the past couple of decades have predominantly been architects and designers, whose wealth of experience has borne iconic structures.

Recently design and art has begun to intersect with other disciplines. Art, design, architecture, and fashion are all means for self-expression, fashion being the closest and most personal of them all.

It does not come as a surprise that celebrities, musicians, style and fashion icons, gravitate towards expressing their craft through different mediums—from furniture to product design, interior design, as well as architecture.

These people are among those whom Revolution Precrafted is collaborating with.

Founded by Robbie Antonio, Revolution Precrafted plays a role in the emergence of this new breed of designers and starchitects, by acting as a platform for artistic collaboration.

“We are very particular about choosing the brands that we work with, and this has been one of the most exciting aspects of the business. Searching for, collaborating with, and producing structures designed by the best minds in the world, is what drives us at the company,” Antonio said.

To date, Revolution has gathered over 61 of the world’s leading architects and designers to design one-of-a-kind structures exclusively for Revolution. Belonging to this formidable lineup of industry thought leaders are creatives from Hollywood’s glitterati and fashion icons.

Kravitz Design

Kravitz Design Inc. was founded by legendary music icon Lenny Kravitz. Focusing on residential, commercial, and product design, the firm touts a portfolio of noteworthy ventures.

Working with Revolution allowed him to channel his vibe into a house that is sensual and tough at the same time.

The Instrumental Home, a collaboration between his firm and Marmol Radziner, carries a smooth and masculine design. The dark grey finish and modern cabin-esque walls of the facade continues into the interiors creating a sinewy silhouette, while the overall monolith shape of the single-storey structure evokes a muscular allure.

STÆRK&CHRISTENSEN

Design duo Camilla Stærk and Helena Christensen are the brains behind STÆRK&CHRISTENSEN, a New York-based studio with a reputation for holistic work across the fields of fashion, interior design, furniture, photography, and film.

The marriage of Stærk and Christensen’s individual styles and interests gave birth to an aesthetic rooted in a Danish design heritage and mid-century modern sensibility, mixed with gothic, mythical themes as well as the haunting glamour of old Hollywood.

Soon, Revolution will be launching a home, a spa pavilion, and fitness structure crafted by the veritable design duo.

Daphne Guinness

The British heiress is possibly one of the fashion and style world’s most inventive characters. She has been thought of as unique, enigmatic, and a true maverick. But Daphne’s unique perception of beauty and her skill for creatively expressing it is seen second to none.

Daphne dabbles in various artistic pursuits such as fashion, music, film, and even perfumery. Her curiosity and eye for beauty eventually led her to venture into architecture.

The Skin House is a “fashion” house that reflects the style of Daphne Guinness. The façade is composed of a series of fixed and collapsible metal panels. When the panels are closed, the house assumes the form of a metal box. When opened, the “sculpture” transforms into a house: doors and windows are revealed behind the panels.

Daphne’s house reflects her style: modern and classic. The polished concrete floor, red elements, and golden spiral staircase create vibrant interiors that match neoclassical design and modern finishes.

christensen guinness kravitz Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio staerk

Innovators, Rebels, and Rogues Among The Youngest Forbes Billionaires

by Esquire Philippines

The release of the Forbes Philippines’ 50 Richest list always makes the headlines, even if there are few surprises. This year, for example, SM mogul Henry Sy tops the list for the tenth time in a row, followed—again—by John Gokongwei and Enrique Razon.

It’s a different story when you look at the younger billionaires on the list. This is where you find new names and a few interesting stories. With more or less self-made fortunes, the under-45 tycoons here have earned their places on the list through lots of hard work, some smarts, luck—and sometimes a little bit of cunning.

EDGAR SIA, 40 (Double Dragon Properties), ranked #21 with US$840M

At 40, Injap Sia is both the youngest on the Forbes list and also the highest-ranking among the under-45 set. More importantly, his fortune is entirely self-made: the young entrepreneur was only 26 when he opened the first Mang Inasal store, which he sold to Jollibee Foods Corp. for a total of Php5 Billion. Though he no longer qualifies as a dollar billionaire as of this year (he was listed at #17 with US$1.2B in 2016), it’s still a big improvement from the #34 spot he held in 2015. The surge was attributed to the rapid growth and expansion of Double Dragon Properties, a real estate development company that he owns alongside partners like Jollibee founder Tony Tan Caktiong.

ROBBIE ANTONIO, 40 (Century Properties), ranked #28 with US$400M (together with his father, Jose Antonio)

After landing on the cover of our July 2017 issue, Robbie Antonio joins his father, Jose Antonio, on the Forbes list, coming in at #28. It’s the family-owned Century Properties that earns them their position on the list, but Robbie’s own startup, Revolution Precrafted Ltd., gets special mention. The maker of prefabricated luxury homes is currently valued at US$256M, after launching in 2015.

MICHAEL COSIQUIEN, 43, and EDGAR SAAVEDRA, 42 (Megawide Construction), ranked #29 with US$385M and #31 with US$375M, respectively

Michael Cosiquien and Edgar Saavedra were only in their early 20s, just out of college, when the pair founded their own company in 1997. It was tantamount to “on-the-job training for us,” Cosiquien told Inside Business with Coco Alcuaz in 2014. Both civil engineers, it took courage to have put up Megawide Construction then, since the economy was in the depths of the Asian financial crisis. It wasn’t until around 2007 that the company began to really take off, after having bagged major projects from SMDC. Today, Megawide has expanded from their core business, and now has interests in the Mactan Cebu International Airport and even in power generation—the company owns three solar power projects that together supply about 100 megawatts to the national power grid.

MICHAEL ROMERO, 44 (GlobalPort 900), ranked #47 with US$135M

One of the most colorful characters on the list, Michael Romero has certainly had his ups and downs over the past year. Romero was elected to Congress as the 1-Pacman Party List representative in May 2016; months later, a court ordered his arrest over charges of embezzlement from the family-owned company Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc. Even before that, Forbes reports that Romero’s holding company, GlobalPort 900, “was delisted from the Philippine Stock Exchange and trading suspended in May 2014 in what he described then as a temporary software mix-up.” Romero is currently in hiding, with his whereabouts unknown since the warrant for his arrest was issued in January 2017.

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Related Links: About Robbie Antonio, Contact

forbes Forbes 50 Richest Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

Pre Crafted Designer Homes Make Living In Works Of Art A Reality

by Bianca Salonga, Forbes

Three bedroom pre-crafted home by Tom Dixon
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Robbie Antonio, founder and CEO of Revolution Precrafted, speaks the language of art and design. As a real estate mogul, he has spearheaded projects all over the country in collaboration with design greats like Philippe Starck, Versace, Missoni and Armani, just to name a few.

His home, which also happens to be the first to be build by Priztker prized architect Koolhaas in the Philippines, served as a take off point for the founding of his passion project Revolution Precrafted. Like any other work of art, his residence is referred to as Stealth. The dark structure resembling boxes stacked one over the other houses an impressive collection of commissioned artworks ranging from Damien Hirst to Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami. Curiosity about his home inspired him to come up with a new proposition to building homes–one that would disrupt the industry. “I thought, what if I did this for a lot of people? Why not channel this curiosity for people to obtain but in a more expeditious way?”

Interiors of a Tom Dixon designed pre crafted home
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

The idea was ambitious to say the least: collaborate with the world’s greatest architects, designers and style icons to design homes. Getting these design icons on-board was just the tip of the iceberg. Finding the technology to make this possible and affordable to a larger market was another story. It was at this juncture that that concept of producing prefabrication homes came into play. “The technology was a means to an end,” the art enthusiast said.

A one bedroom pavilion by Kravitz Design
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

A modular glass house by Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

It was in 2015 when Revolution Precrafted was launched and the company has since then enlisted the world’s top design names and collectives to create prefabricated homes. One of the challenges, Robbie admits, is finding middle ground where function and aesthetic meet. It is one thing to create a home that is beautiful and another to produce and sell one that is practical, functional and reasonably priced. “Fabrication of mockups is the longest and hardest. There are technicalities and a lot of adjustments.” One model can take up to six months to create to make consideration and compromises for a comfortably, liveable home.

Eden by Marcel Wanders
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

An artistic render of a pre crafted home by Ronald Ventura
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Exteriors of a home designed by Daphne Guinness
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Interiors of a Daphne Guinness designed home
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

A fashionphile’s dream bedroom turned into reality by Daphne Guinness
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Daphne Guinness breathes her own brand of style into the design of her homes for Revolution… [+]
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

The homes and pavilions now included in the collection of Revolution Prefabricated is a clear indication of how Robbie has turned vision into reality. He offers insight on this new approach to building homes. “It’s also creating desire. When someone desires something so much, there is no price limit. You will go for it. What is art? It is a piece of canvas that one is willing to pay a fortune for. It’s the same concept. I want to create a desire so palatable that you need to have it.”

A pre-crafted home by award winning architect Ed Calma
PHOTOS COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Minimalist design by Ed Calma for the living space
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

A fully functional kitchen for an Ed Calma designed home
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

Sweet dreams inside in the private chambers designed by Ed Calma
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVOLUTION PRECRAFTED

forbes prefab homes Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

Building Boom Leads To Soaring Net Worths For Some In Philippines

by Grace Chung, Forbes

This story is part of Forbes’ reporting on the Philippines’ 50 Richest 2017. See full coverage here.

Filipino tycoons with interests in construction and property development saw their net worths increase this year. (Photo credit: NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

The fortunes of 17 tycoons rose this year and accounted for nearly half of the cumulative $74 billion total of the country’s 50 richest. The gainers hailed from a wide range of sectors, from finance and media to food & beverage and logistics. But most represented were those whose interests relied heavily in property development and construction.

Below we’ve spotlighted three gainers from those sectors, as well as a debut listee, who enjoyed a particularly robust year.

The mega builders: Michael Cosiquien and Edgar Saavedra

The cofounders of the $342 million (2016 sales) infrastructure company Megawide saw their fortunes rise by more than 45%, buoyed by a 30% uptick in the stock. This makes Cosiquien and Saavedra the 29th and 31st richest people in the Philippines, respectively.

The 20-year-old company, which is handling construction of schools, the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the country’s first intermodal transportation hub, reported a rise in construction and airport revenues over the past year.

Megawide is the largest private airport operator in the Philippines. In 2014, it won a 25-year contract for Mactan Cebu in partnership with Indian infrastructure giant GMR. It’s building a second terminal there and readying a bid for its first overseas project, in western India.

The company also operates three solar power projects, supplying 100 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

The dynamic duo: Jose and Robbie Antonio

Robbie and Jose Antonio
COURTESY OF THE ANTONIO FAMILY

Robbie joins his father on the ranking this year at No. 28 thanks to his Revolution Prefabricated, a maker of factory-built luxury homes in Asia and the West that cost an average of $70,000 and $120,000, respectively.

In its first funding round in March the company raised $15.4 million from Silicon Valley VC firm 500 Startups and other angel investors, putting Revo’s valuation north of $250 million. To cater to the regional Southeast Asian market, Robbie says he’s working on affordable homes that would run $25,000 to $30,000 per unit.

The family’s flagship Century Properties, founded by Jose 30 years ago, is a developer of high-end real estate and has licensing deals with Forbes Media, Donald Trump, Giorgio Armani and Paris Hilton. It saw $130 million in revenue last year.

Last November, President Duterte named Jose as special envoy of trade to the U.S.

The newcomer: Eusebio Tanco

STI Education founder Eusebio Tanco
INQUIRER

Shares in Eusebio Tanco’s key asset, STI Education Systems, soared 136% over the past year thanks to an expanding demand for courses in fields such as information and communication technology, and business and management. He lands on our list of the Philippines’ 50 Richest for the first time at No. 45.

The company, now with 77 schools spanning the Philippines, is breaking ground on a 10-acre property for a new campus in Davao, which is slated to open during the summer of 2018. Holding company Tanco Group also has interests in shipping, property, energy and financial services.

The debut listee studied economics at Ateneo de Manila University and got a master’s degree at London School of Economics. He started as a stockbroker.

With Sean Kilachand and Anu Raghunathan

Forbes 50 Richest jose antonio Revolution Precrafted robbie antonio

FIAC Brings Back Design

by Katrina Kufrer, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

The French Modern and contemporary art fair put its design showcase on hold in 2009, but fair director Jennifer Flay tells us how the time has come to bring design back into the fold

The 44th edition of FIAC (19-22 October) is featuring a return to programming it initiated in 2004 and put on hold in 2009: design. While only halted due to spatial constraints of the historic Grand Palais building on the Champs Elysees – due to undergo renovations from 2020-24 to update the useable amount of space – Flay indicates that the public has long been ready to see design alongside contemporary art.

Five Paris-based design galleries – Jousse Entreprise, kreo, Laffanour Galerie Downtown Paris, Eric Philippe and Patrick Seguin – are set to rub shoulders with 192 art galleries. “There is a shared sense of looking for beauty, for new ideas, a new way to look at the world and live in it,” says Flay. “Eventually when looking at art, you will also think about the table you sit on, the lamp you light… there are many people who start with objects and move to art. It’s a very natural dialogue.”

Flay elaborates on the continuous discussions she has had with numerous design dealers since 2009, when pressures on both sides caused a temporary exhibition halt. “In 2004 design blossomed, from few events there were at least five a year that these dealers were participating in that put them under pressure to produce material for each,” she explains. For FIAC, “There was already a lot of pressure on the art galleries in terms of the limited space, and for design, you need space to properly show the forms.”

In an effort to continue collaborating with the field until another solution could be found, FIAC launched an architectural satellite project in 2010 in Esplanade de Feuillants at the Jardin des Tuileries where architectural design and innovation were showcased. While not a full fledged design programme, Flay does remark that this helped compensate for the lack of design booths at the main fair grounds and helped continue to nurture a non-art related line of programming. However, following the design scene’s evolution, “It became urgent to bring it back,” Flay asserts.

While initial ideas involved a separate, additional venue, many of the design dealers preferred to return to the original Grand Palais location. “I am very happy to be back at FIAC this year,” says François Laffanour. “Jennifer Flay was the first to gather design and contemporary art in an international fair a few years ago and we were part of the adventure.” Laffanour confirms that contemporary art and design are closely linked, and that the two fields share many collectors. The public will have to wait and see the face-lifted space in which the design dealers will exhibit, but Laffanour shares that they will be bringing pieces by the “Masters of Modernity: Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret, and more recent works by Ron Arad, Vassilakis Takis and Ettore Sottsass.”

In the meanwhile, Flay says FIAC will continue its architectural project, highlighting that this year will see six special designs including an early Jean Prouvé pavilion from 1944, a mediation on dwelling by Hans-Walter Mueller, and a Jean Nouvel house. “I’m looking to the future,” Flay says. “It’s something very exciting that we can explore.”

FIAC will run 19-22 October at the Grand Palais, Paris. For more information visit fiac.com

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