February 2020 – InfoCebu

The Lhuilliers, Cebu’s True Gems

🔶Henry Lhuillier, a French national, came to the Philippines in the 1930s as a jewelry sales executive for Levy and Bloom Oceanic Commercial Department Stores. He eventually started his own by opening Agencia Cebuana in the busy downtown Cebu.

🔶 In 1969, Philippe Jones, the second son of Henry, opened his own pawnshop in Pasay City, and in 1987, Agencia Cebuana rebranded to become Cebuana Lhuillier.

Philippe Jones Lhuillier, the second son of Henry

🔶 Michel Lhuillier, the eldest son of Henry, went on to establish M Lhuillier in the early 80’s together with wife Amparito.

Michel, the eldest son of Henry Lhuillier

🔶Both Cebuana Lhuillier and M. Lhuillier seem to be present in every street corner in the country. In 2000, Cebuana Lhuillier opened its 700th branch and was recognized as the largest chain of pawnshops in the world by Guinness World Records.

🔶Today, Cebuana has more than 2500 branches while M. Lhuillier has more than 2000 and still growing.

🔶 They both have diversified into the money remittance business as well. M.L has Kwarta Padala while Cebuana has Pera Padala.

🔶 Cebuana Lhuillier owns Le Soliel Boracay Resort while M. Lhuillier owns Cebu Safari and Adventure Park and other beach resorts in northern Cebu.

Cebu Safari at Carmen, Cebu

🔶Monique Lhuillier, the world famous fashion designer based in the U.S. is the daughter of Michel.

References:

About Us

https://remit.com.au/m-lhuillier-a-family-business-serving-generations-of-filipinos/

AN EMPIRE BUILT ON DRIED MANGOES

✅Justin Uy, the Cebuano who conquered the world with sweet dried mangoes, and the business conglomerate he built around it.

✅Profood International (flagship company) products, is now being exported to more than 50 countries worldwide.

✅From mangoes, it ventured to retail development by opening JCentre Mall in 2011. J Centre Mall (CTTO)

✅An opportunity in tourism was too lucrative to resist when Imperial Palace Resort in Mactan was offered for sale. Renamed as JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, it is now one of the popular tourist destinations in Cebu. Jpark Resort Mactan

✅The company also owns Toyoko Inn, Mandaue, the first Philippine branch of the famous Japanese hotel chain (in partnership with Toyoko Inn Co. Ltd)

✅ Recently it opened the P8 billion JPark Island Resort Panglao, dubbed as the biggest waterpark resort in the country, a bold and ambitious move anchored in Bohol’s tourism potentials.

✅In 2019, its real estate company, Everjust Realty, launched the 40-storey J Tower Residences, beckoning the company’s entry into the condominium industry.