22/10/2025
From 20 Pesos to a Billion-Dollar Empire — The John Gokongwei Story
Before he became one of the richest men in the Philippines,
John Gokongwei Jr. was just a teenage boy who lost everything.
At 13, his father died suddenly — leaving his family bankrupt and homeless.
The mansion was gone.
The cars were gone.
Even their family business collapsed overnight.
He had two choices: give up… or grind.
He chose to grind.
With only ₱20 pesos and a bicycle, he sold peanuts, soap, and candles in the streets of Cebu.
Every day, he rode for hours, sweating under the sun — just to earn a few centavos.
But he never complained.
He just kept going.
That same boy who once sold goods on a bike…
Would later build JG Summit Holdings — the parent company of Cebu Pacific, Robinsons, URC (Jack ‘n Jill), and more.
From 20 pesos… to a billion-dollar legacy.
John Gokongwei didn’t just build businesses —
he built himself through struggle.
He proved that:
Your starting point doesn’t define your ending.
You can lose everything, but if you keep your mindset strong, you’ll recover it all — and more.
Don’t wish for easier days, build stronger grit.
Because the truth is, success doesn’t happen in comfort.
It happens when you refuse to quit.
“I’m not afraid to fail. I’m afraid not to try.”
— John Gokongwei Jr.
