Mercedes Gotianun and her late husband Andrew Gotianun Sr’s first business together was a finance company that focused on financing the purchases of secondhand automobiles. That was in 1955, and together they expanded the business, predominantly courtesy of partnering with foreign firms.

That company, Filinvest Development, grew into a $1.2 billion business with a diversified range of interests including banking and finance, real estate, sugar and hospitality. Andrew Gotianun died at the age of 88 in 2016. Mercedes Gotianun is chairman emeritus, while Josephine her daughter is the CEO and president.