Ongpin was born in Binondo, Manila on February 28, 1847 to Simón Ongpin and Sinfrosa Tanbensiang. His father Simón (; hispanicised as "Ongpinco", ; later shortened to become "Ongpin", )Toward a History of Chinese Burial Grounds in Manila during the Spanish Colonial Period was among those who left mainland China for the Philippines to do business, which he had learnt at a young age.
