A Man Of Principle

For Injap Sia, counting one’s achievements may breed complacency. So, for this self-made billionaire, it is all about unwavering dedication and focus

- Dorynna Untivero

Edgar “Injap” Sia comes off as a man of few words and precise actions; his previous interviews (on film or paper) are a testament to this. He speaks with care and weight to his intentions. As the mind behind one of the country’s most successful food chain, Mang Inasal, many look to him for inspiration. He is credited as the youngest billionaire in the Philippines, having made the 2011 Forbes magazine list of 40 richest persons in the country at the age of 34.

As a young man, Sia initially pursued architecture at the University of San Agustin in his hometown of Iloilo. Gearing to focus more on business, he jumped at the opportunity to lease a 250-metre space at Robinsons Mall Carpark-Iloilo in 2003. This was the beginning of what would grow to be a nationwide staple in less than a decade. Mang Inasal (Hiligaynon for “Mr Barbeque”) was one of the first local chains to offer unlimited rice to their customers; this, paired with their signature chicken marinade, made the restaurant an instant success.

Not long after, local fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp caught wind of the restaurant’s success and acquired a 70 per cent stake of Mang Inasal for Php3 billion—the acquisition that would catapult Sia to the exclusive