Latest Posts

ball 3

Taho Story and Uratex Dream Claim Victory at Red Bull Half Court National Title, Geared Up for Dubai World Final in November

deped 1

DepEd, LGUs step up disaster response to support teachers, learners

Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 11.49.12 PM

Your Dream Wedding Begins Here : Discover Elegant Wedding Packages at the Toast Wedding Fair

Bobby Ongpin’s Legacy after his Death

bobby

SHARE

Filipino billionaire Roberto “Bobby” V. Ongpin passed away peacefully in his sleep last February 4, 2023. This happened at his villa on Balesin Island, located off the quest of Polillo, Quezon. He was 86 years old and had his birthday last January 6.

His remains will be brought to Manila, according to his nephew, businessman and journalist Apa Ongpin.

Photo source: Asia Gaming Brief

The 23rd richest man in the country with an estimated $830 million net worth once served as Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, after turning down the offer multiple times prior, because he considered himself too young and lacking in experience at the age of 42 at that time.

Ongpin helped Marcos to stabilize the Philippine economy during 1979 to 1986, its darkest years. He was responsible for founding a parallel foreign exchange market called ‘Binondo Central Bank’ which strengthened the foreign exchange market.

A grandson of Roberto Ongpin, the Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur and philantrophist who helped Filipino revolutionaries during the Spanish and American colonial period, the Ateneo De Manila University bachelor’s degree holder and cum laude went on to further his knowledge after graduating and received a Harvard University master’s degree in business administration. His intellectual pursuit is not suprising given that he’s already a valedictorian at age 12.

He worked for Procter & Gamble before joining a top accounting firm in the Philippines, Sycip Gorres & Velayo, as one of its youngest employees at 20 years old, from 1964 to 1979. With the help of a colleague from Binondo Central Bank, the late Benito Tan Goat, billionaire Willy Ocier’s father, Ongpin built Belle Corp. which made Tagaytay Highlands flourish.

Photo source: ABS-CBN News Youtube (screengrab)

Eventually, Ongpin went solo and established Alphaland Corporation, The City Club in Makati, and Mountain Lodges in Baguio. He is also the owner of Atok Big Wedge and founder of Philweb.

Unofficially, as reported by Forbes, his source of income includes a covert number of private debts and assets, which includes the Tabacalera Incorporated, Asia’s premier and oldest cigar factory, as well as 14 properties internationally, which includes Paris, London, Tuscany, Saint-Tropez, and Salsburg.

However, during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s time, he suffered a loss of $360 million when the former made good with his threat to the tycoon on national television, calling him an oligarch and swearing to obliterate him as well online gaming. This impacted Philweb greatly which made him sell his 57% stake to Greggy Araneta, at a loss.

Photo source: Rappler (screengrab)

He was part of the following companies as a board member: San Miguel Corp., Petron Corp., Philex Mining, Philippine Airlines, South China Morning Post, AIA Capital, and Shangri-La Asia Hongkong. His friends called him “Bobby” while his staff refereed to him as “RVO”.

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Kahimyang.com

RELATED ARTICLES

ball 3

Taho Story and Uratex Dream Claim Victory at Red Bull Half Court National Title, Geared Up for Dubai World Final in November

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Red Bull Half Court National Finals ignited the court, capping off an epic Philippine tour by uniting top-tier teams from Davao,...
deped 1

DepEd, LGUs step up disaster response to support teachers, learners

The Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) are strengthening efforts to make education recovery faster, more coordinated, and community-driven in the aftermath...
Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 11.49.12 PM

Your Dream Wedding Begins Here : Discover Elegant Wedding Packages at the Toast Wedding Fair

Discovery Suites proudly joins the Toast Wedding Fair to bring you exclusive offers designed to make your wedding as seamless and elegant as you’ve always...
Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 8.03.29 PM

Check Out Discovery Samal

Beach Wedding Experience your dream beach wedding in Discovery Samal’s paradise resort, overlooking the majestic view of the calm seas as a witness to your...
Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 11.37.00 PM

Weddings at Manami Resort Sipalay City, Philippines

Amidst the elaborate flora and ravishing fauna, Manami Resort is a dreamy wedding destination. Through the green groves, pristine shorelines, and serene cosmos of the...
Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 11.25.35 PM

Grand Beachfront Weddings at Discovery Coron

*All Photos from Discovery Hospitality
ball 3

Taho Story and Uratex Dream Claim Victory at Red Bull Half Court National Title, Geared Up for Dubai World Final in November

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Red Bull Half Court National Finals ignited the court, capping off an epic Philippine tour by uniting top-tier teams from Davao,...
deped 1

DepEd, LGUs step up disaster response to support teachers, learners

The Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) are strengthening efforts to make education recovery faster, more coordinated, and community-driven in the aftermath...
Screen Shot 2025-10-25 at 11.49.12 PM

Your Dream Wedding Begins Here : Discover Elegant Wedding Packages at the Toast Wedding Fair

Discovery Suites proudly joins the Toast Wedding Fair to bring you exclusive offers designed to make your wedding as seamless and elegant as you’ve always...

Don't Miss

singer 3

Rapper Tom MacDonald Releases Charlie Kirk Tribute Track

trump final

Testimony of Faith and Perseverance at Trump’s Religious Liberty Event

kirk 3

Famous Faces Share Reactions to Charlie Kirk’s Death

kirk 3

Pastors, Vloggers, & Podcasters Pay tribute to Charlie Kirk