The Philippines’ influential business families

The Philippines’ business world is dominated by a handful of influential business families that have stakes in almost every aspect of the economy, from energy and media to real estate and manufacturing.

For prospective investors eyeing the Philippines, it would be more than wise to examine the intricate webs these families have woven across the archipelago.

From the billionaire Chinese immigrant Henry Sy, the country’s richest person, to the homegrown Cebuano Aboitiz family, below is a list of the business elite you can’t afford not to know.

The Sy Family

Headed by the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, the Sy Family runs SM Investments, the country’s largest company, which is also the largest mall developer. The Chinese Filipino family originating from Fujian, China also has interests in management, real estate development, banking and tourism.

Net worth: $13.2 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Heads: Henry Sy

Key people: Teresita Sy-Coson (successor)

The Lopez Family

Hailing from Iloilo, the Lopez family runs the Lopez Group, the umbrella under which its flagship company Lopez Holdings acts as a major player in the country’s utilities and telecommunications sectors.

Net worth: $6.67 billion, Lopez Group of Companies (2013)

Key holdings: 

Heads: Oscar M. Lopez and Manuel M. Lopez (brothers)

Key people: Eugenio Gabby L. Lopez III, Federico Rufino Lopez

The Gongkowei Family

With origins from Fujian, China, John Gokongwei and his family have holdings in telecommunications, financial services, petrochemicals, power generation, aviation and live stock farming. Most notable of recent, Gokongwei’s Robinsons Retail Group is planning a highly anticipated IPO sometime in 2013.

Net worth: $3.2 billion (2012)

Key holdings:

Heads: John Gokongwei

Key people: Lance Gokongwei (Cebu Pacific), Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe (Robinsons Retail Group)

The Ayala Family

The Ayala’s influence in the Philippines dates back to colonial rule, when the Spanish and German Ayala, Zobel and Roxas families were united. Ayala is the country’s oldest and largest conglomerate. However, their history has resulted in the spreading out of their investments across a multitude of industries, including retail, real estate, banking, telecommunications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, and business process outsourcing.

Net income: $2.9 billion, Ayala Corporation (2012)

Key holdings:

Head: Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

Key people: Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Mercedita S. Nolledo

The Aboitiz Family

Descending from the Basque country in Spain, the Aboitiz family of Cebu is a large power producer, with stakes in renewable and conventional energy in Mindanao through its flagship Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Bukidnon Hydropower Corp. The Aboitiz family is considered the most aggressive private developer of energy on Mindanao.

Net worth: $1.52 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Head: Jon Ramon Aboitiz

Key people: Mikel Aboitiz, Roberto Aboitiz, Erramon I. Aboitiz