Hidden in the quiet village of Hong Xi in Jinjiang, Fujian province, lies a modest red-brick house that holds a rich history. This is the ancestral home of the late Henry Sy, Sr., the patriarch of one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates, the SM Group.
The De Cheng Building, a two-story residence occupying around 450 square meters, is a testament to the architectural style of traditional southern Fujian and Western influences commonly found in homes built by overseas Chinese families. The restored house is now a protected cultural relic, bearing a plaque that identifies it as the ancestral home of Mr. Sy.
According to information displayed at the site, Mr. Sy left Fujian as a child to join his father in the Philippines, where he would later build the SM Group. Decades later, he returned to Hong Xi village and funded the restoration of the ancestral house in 2010. The restoration was completed in 2011 under the supervision of the Sy family, while the Hong Xi village committee erected a stone marker in 2013 documenting the building's history.
The restored residence has become both a heritage landmark and a point of interest for visitors seeking to learn more about the origins of one of the Philippines' most prominent business families. The contrast between the narrow village lanes and the scale of the SM Group today underscores how far the family's journey has taken them.
Village officials describe the Sy family's continued support for Hong Xi as an enduring connection to their ancestral hometown. The story of the De Cheng Building reflects the broader narrative of Fujian's overseas Chinese communities, whose migration throughout Southeast Asia shaped generations of entrepreneurs, traders, and business leaders.
As visitors stand before the ornate carvings and red-brick walls of the Sy ancestral home, the high-tech skyscrapers and logistics hubs of modern China feel worlds away, yet closely connected. The humble beginnings of the SM Group serve as a reminder that even the biggest enterprises have a rich history and a deep connection to their roots.
