Gokongwei family
John Gokongwei Jr., born in Xiamen, China, lost his family's fortune after his father's death and the outbreak of World War II. Starting at age 13 selling peanuts, he traded goods between Cebu, Manila, and Lucena during the Japanese occupation, formalizing the postwar business as Amasia Trading with his brother once the war ended.
How the fortune was built
A cornstarch plant established in 1954 became Universal Robina Corporation in 1966, built around snack brands like Jack 'n Jill; in the early 1980s Gokongwei entered real estate with the Robinsons mall chain, and in 1996 he launched budget carrier Cebu Pacific. JG Summit Holdings was incorporated in 1990 as the parent unifying these food, real estate, aviation, banking, telecom, and petrochemical interests.
Where the family invests today
Lance Gokongwei, John's son, now serves as JG Summit's President and CEO, chairing Universal Robina, Cebu Pacific, and Robinsons Land. Recent capital allocation has prioritized Cebu Pacific's aircraft refleeting and Robinsons Land's landbanking, while newer growth bets include digital bank GoTyme and logistics joint venture DHL Summit Solutions, both cited by management as gaining momentum.
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