It was with sadness that I heard the news from Mr. Ramon S. Ang that Mr. Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco, Jr. passed away at the age of 85 due to pneumonia and heart failure before 11 p.m. last night at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.
As our nation pays tribute to the life of the Chairman and CEO of one of the most popular and largest corporations in our country, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), I express my sincerest condolences to Mr. Cojuangco’s family, relatives, friends and all his colleagues in the industries SMC ventured.
Owing to Mr. Cojuangco’s vision, SMC has evolved into one of the most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines with operations in food and beverage, packaging, properties, fuel or oil refining and marketing, power and energy, and infrastructure, among others, and with revenues that greatly contributed to the strength of our economy. Mr. Cojuangco’s business partnership wi Mr. Ramon Ang, who then became the President of SMC, contributed greatly to the success of Mr. Cojuangco’s business empire.
A known billionaire-philanthropist, Mr. Cojuangco, through his foundations, was able to share his resources to the underprivileged, especially in the area of education. Boss Danding, as he is fondly called by his employees, was a significant benefactor of the De La Salle University Green Archers Basketball Team and owned three teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), to wit: San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Star Hotshots.
He is well-known in the Philippone political arena, being the founder of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which serves as a stable for prominent figures in government. Prior to running for Philippine President in 1992, Mr. Cojuangco served as Tarlac’s Governor and its 1st District Representative in Congress.
Mr. Cojuangco will surely be remembered by Filipinos, particularly those he has helped and whose lives he has touched. May the Almighty grant Danding Cojuangco eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon his soul.
