Andrew Gotianun

Andrew Gotianun
Born	(1927-11-24)November 24, 1927 Republic of China
Died	March 10, 2016(2016-03-10) (aged 88) Metro Manila
Nationality	Filipino
Occupation(s)	Businessman, investor
Title	Filinvest Group of Companies Founder and Chairman Emeritus
Spouse	Mercedes Gotianun
Children	4

Andrew Lo Gotianun Sr. (Chinese: 吳天恩; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Thian-un; November 24, 1927 – March 10, 2016) was a Filipino businessman and investor. He was best known for running Filinvest Development Corporation, a major Filipino conglomerate which owns most of Filinvest Land, Inc. and East West Banking Corporation.[1] Gotianun also focused on biofuels and has acquired two sugar mills and a plantation.[2] As of 2008, his fortune had decreased sharply to $235 million, a result of the global financial downturn. However, his fortune climbed back to over $1 billion in 2014, according to Forbes.[3]

Business

Gotianun made a living from salvaging ships at the end of the Second World War. Several years later, he became involved in an automobile dealership.[1] Later, in 1955, he founded Filinvest Development Corporation a company which became engaged in real estate in 1967.[4]

Gotianun and his wife, Mercedes, temporarily retired from business activities in the 1980s but returned a short time later, with a plan to make improvements to the corporation.[5] He was among those honored at the BizNewAsia Real Estate Who is Who (BREW) awards.[6]

Private life

Gotianun is second cousins once removed with fellow Filipino magnate, John Gokongwei, Jr. and is also related to the Gaisano family, where he is first cousin once removed from Doña Modesta Singson, as members of the notable Go clan in Cebu.[7] Gotianun's grandfather (simplified Chinese: 吴文皎; traditional Chinese: 吳文皎; pinyin: Wú Wénjiǎo; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Bûn-kiáu), Hispanized as "Go Quiao Co" (simplified Chinese: 吴皎哥; traditional Chinese: 吳皎哥; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘-kiáu-ko) was a half brother of Gokongwei's great-grandfather Don Pedro Singson Gotiaoco[8] His son, Andrew Gotianun Jr., was the vice-president of Filinvest Land.[9]

References

1. "The Top 10 Richest in the Philippines". PinoyBusiness.org: Global Filipino Business and Investing Community. Tampines, Singapore: Pinoy Business Organization. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
2. "The Philippines' 40 Richest: #7 Andrew Gotianun". Forbes.com. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
3. "Sy, Tan are RP's richest - Forbes". ABS-CBN News Online Beta. October 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
4. "Filinvest Alabang: Filinvest Corporate City & Filinvest Development Corporation". JobsDB.com: Philippines. Hong Kong: Jobs Database Ltd. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
5. "Comeback couple: Andrew and Mercedes Gotianun, on their return from retirement, turned Filinvest into one of the Philippines' leading property developers". Review Publishing Company Ltd. (Hong Kong). Retrieved 2008-10-13.
6. "Honoring property titans". The Manila Times Internet Edition. December 4, 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
7. "PGMA's Speech during the Cebu Business Month Festival and the 9th Grand Chamber Awards 2004 of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc". Office of the Press Secretary Online. Manila, Philippines: Government of the Republic of the Philippines. 21 June 2004. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
8. Flores, Wilson Lee (20 June 2010). "The secret father of President Sergio Osmeña & forebear of John Gokongwei, Jr., Gaisanos, Gotianuns". Retrieved 11 October 2015.
9. "Filinvest Land to put up business hotel in Davao". Business Mirror. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-24.

External links

• Filinvest Development Corporation Website