We are halfway through 2021. Amid the continuous quarantine protocols to fight the pandemic, these individuals have proven that there is hope for our economy to recover.
As of writing, the Philippines is on its way to another round of extreme restrictions in mobility to contain the surge of COVID-19 cases and the threat of its stealthier new variant. Last April, the Asian Development Bank published its flagship economic publication, forecasting the country's economy to slightly recover from its deepest plunge at the onset of the year to a growth of 4.5 per cent. With our economy built around industries requiring mobility and human interaction like tourism, hospitality, and services, the upcoming Enhanced Community Quarantine in NCR might greatly affect this again. However, there is hope in businesses that have found resiliency and have been creative in adapting to our so-called "new normal".
Read More: Financial Foresight And Investment Tips From Industry Experts For 2021
We list again the current Filipino billionaires, fresh from the real-time list of Forbes, and find out more about them and their businesses.
1. Manuel Villar Jr.
Global Ranking: #420
Net Worth: $6.8B
Former senate president and 2010 presidential candidate Manuel Villar Jr was born to an impoverished family in Manila. He started his professional career as an accountant in SGV, the country's largest accounting firm. He later resigned to start a seafood delivery business in Makati and eventually tried his luck again in the corporate business as a financial analyst for the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines. He gave that up after a while, then used his savings and loans to start a business delivering sand and gravel for construction companies.
Today, his conglomerate Villar Group of Companies include businesses in real estate, leasing, retail malls, hospitality, and education. His real estate business Vista Land & Lifescapes is present in 132 cities and municipalities and 46 provinces across the country, making it the largest homebuilder in the Philippines.