Aguinaldo, a businessman and civic leader from Manila, founded a commercial enterprise bearing his name, and with his wife Andrea del Rosario developed it into one of the country''s leading business firms. He was also into financing and stockbrokerage. Photoengraving of department store owner and civic leader. Lepoldo R. Aguinaldo. Born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 15, 1885, son of Anastacio Aguinaldo and Marcela Ramos, first entered a private school and later attended the intitute of Don Enrique Mendiola and the Liceo de Manila on Bagumbayan street (now Rizal Avenue) where he finished his second year high school. In 1904 he went to Japan and enrolled at the Highest Technical School of Nagoya where he graduated in 1909 as textile expert and engineer. Upon his return, Aguinaldo was named an instructor in textile weaving by the Bureau of Education in Baguio. He formed a partnership with Juan M. Ramos but when their business failed, Aguinaldo became a hat band peddler for a foreign firm for two years. He worked later with Jose M. Sampedro in establishing the Philippine Net and Braid Manufacturing Company, as general manager. In 1921 he resigned from the management of said firm and started his own business, now known as L.R. Aguinaldo & Co., Inc., which opened by selling fishing nets and twines, hatters'' supplies, bleaching materials "retazos," and beauty parlor equipment. Gradually, Aguinaldo built a formidable commercial enterprise from a P400 capital. During World War II, the House of Aguinaldo was taken over by the Japanese but Aguinaldo survived the upheaval with his business acumen. He made various sizeable donations to charitable and civic organizations. He gave P20,000 for a scholarship in the University of the Philippines. Aguinaldo has been the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and also the director, officer and member of various business and civic organizations. He married the former Andrea del Rosario in 1911 and of the union were born Daniel, Heriberto and Francisco.