One of the recurring themes here in Pinoy Entrepreneurs, as mentioned before, is who made it big in business. Yesterday we looked at the US to see the 400 wealthiest Americans. Now, in addition to the 2008 world billionaire's list, the 5 inspiring OFW entrepreneurs, and the successful and inspiring Pinoy Entrepreneurs, let's see who are the wealthiest in the Philippines for 2008.

Looking back, Henry Sy was ranked No. 512 in the world's billionaires, with $2.6 Billion. Lucio Tan was No. 407, with $2.3 Billion. It's no surprise that they again land on top of the richest in the Philippines for 2008.

Forbes recently released "The Philippines 40 Richest" (cut-off is October 3, 2008). Henry Sy and family are No. 1 ($3.1 Billion), followed by Lucio Tan and family ($1.5 Billion). Mr. Sy controls the SM malls and Banco de Oro, the Philippines' second-largest bank, among other companies. Mr. Tan's empire includes Fortune Tobacco, the Philippines' largest cigarette maker, Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery.

The other members of the Top Ten are: Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family ($1.2 Billion), Andrew Tan ($700 Million), Tony Tan Caktiong & family ($690 Million), John Gokongwei, Jr. & family ($680 Million), Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. ($610 Million),  Enrique Razon, Jr. ($525 Million), George Ty & family ($435 Million), and Inigo and Mercedes Zobel ($430 Million).

Before you forget, those figures are in US dollars. Henry Sy's fortune, in Philippine pesos, is 145,700,000,000. Now, as mentioned before, who knows that years from now, your name will be included in that list? That may seem like an impossible dream,  as that "killer" song goes, but perhaps we should also consider that both Tan and Sy are described as "self-made". Years ago, both Tan and Sy started with the first step, from the bottom, and worked their way up the money ladder. When both started, perhaps others wouldn't have thought that Tan and Sy would be among the world's billionaires today. Same thing for any Pinoy Entrepreneurs.