[7] In 2004, the company introduced C2, a ready-to-drink tea that went head-to-head with foreign cola companies that dominated the beverage sector in the Philippines. The Gokongwei family controls over $20 billion of combined market capitalization for all the companies they own. I left for Manila when I was 22. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW Celebrity Updates The Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist died Saturday night, Nov. 9, 2019 at the age of 93 surrounded by family at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila.. His status as the country's third richest businessman, with a wealth of $5.3 billion according to Forbes magazine was . Culture Gokongwei's eldest apo on how he gave his Angkong the biggest smile just before he died "He taught us everything that we needed to know," said eldest Gokongwei grandchild Justin Pe yesterday in his eulogy for his grandfather. He is survived by his wife, six children and at least 12 grandchildren. He was a second cousin once removed of Andrew Gotianun Sr., the founder of Filinvest Development Corporation. Petitioner Gokongwei, a stockholder of the San Miguel Corporation, filed a declaration of. [19] On its 30th year, the foundation's goal is to participate in the learning journey of 10,000 teachers and one million learners by 2025. His father, John Jr., established JG Summit Holdings Inc., while his mother, Elizabeth, was a founding member of Robinsons Department Store. Competitive swimming was not one of my strengths and so I switched to golf and played with my Dad, whom I easily beat. [He's] somebody who created somethingit was the center of his life. Until October John Gokongwei would participate in these executive committee meetings, but after a brief illness he stopped coming to the office. I was really shocked that someone who was 78 could beat me in swimming. Doing business was easier [than chasing her down].. Were not there yet, like Alibaba. See the events in life of John Gokongwei in Chronological Order, (Filipino Businessman, Investor, Founder and Chairman of JG Summit Holdings, Inc), https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-gokongwei-21045.php. He then finished his last two years in Singapore. The company was named Universal Corn Products (which later evolved into Universal Robina Corporation). None of the events that happened in our familys lives would have happened without you. [22] They have a daughter and a son. When he died, Big John was the third-richest person in the Philippines, according to Forbes. He was a pioneer and staunch advocate of Philippine industrialization. He learned that war is a great equalizer, but he bounced despite the difficult road, with his business conglomerate as one of the fixtures of the Philippine business environment. This week brought the passing of John Gokongwei Jr. the passing of Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. The Bachelor of Science in Management major in Communications Technology Management Program is a 4 year degree (including 3 summer semesters) program of the John Gokongwei School of Management. This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 21:04. "John Gokongwei Jr., Industry Game Changer; 93", "Watch: John Gokongwei, Jr. Talks About School, Business, and the New Digital Age", "Gokongwei's Nine Rules of Business Success", "A Way out of Poverty, According to 'Mr. He told me it was the least he could do for someone who had done so much for the Philippines. While part of Gokongweis office at the Robinsons Equitable Tower in the Ortigas district of Pasig showcases photographs of him with the likes of former president Benigno Aquino III and Imelda Marcos, Gokongwei says hes stayed away from political entanglements. In addition, Gokongwei named publicly-listed company Universal Robina Corporation after her. Business News Philippines 2023. Johns children have held senior responsibilities for some time: Lance runs Summits airline, Cebu Air, and the groups food-and-beverage outfit, Universal Robina, where youngest sister, Marcia, is a manager. I was then still working for Shell Philippines. What did they talk about in that last conversation? During those very tough days in the hospital when we never knew whether he would give up or still fight, I happened to catch him in his best moment. nullity of amended by-laws, cancellation of certificate of filing of amended by- laws, injunction and. Read Online John L Gokongwei Jr The Path Of Entrepreneurship . As recently as this June he was still on the dais at the annual shareholder meeting, next to his son and brother as they ran the show. At the age of 14, he started selling peanuts in the streets to send money to his family in China. On dating, Angkong actually asked me: Do you have a girlfriend? I replied: No. He then advised me: Alright, play around, play around., What were Gokongweis pieces of advice to his grandson? That there was more than enough money and that they should rest already that was his argument. [5] From the years 1943 to 1945, or between the ages of 17 and 19, he traded using a wooden boat, taking his goods to Dalahican, Lucena by sea and then to Manila by truck. "We need blood and sweat and hard work to make the Philippine economy compete globally, for our family businesses to be world class in this era of globalization. Using a small boat, he would trade goods from Cebu to Manila and vice versa. The Chippy pillow was a product that we sold at Toys R Us last year, along with the Chiz Curls pillow. At least I had some suits and education," says Gokongwei. Pedro Gotiaoco was a peddler who settled in Cebu after migrating from Fujian, China. In a statement on Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo described Gokongwei, best known . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Eventually, his company launched several businesses, including Universal Corn Products (now Universal Robina Corporation), Consolidated Food Corporation (later CFC Corporation), JG Summit Holdings, Cebu Pacific Air, Digital Telecommunications Philippines, and Robinsons Retail. John and Elizabeth got married in 1958. I finally joined the business four months ago not knowing he'd pass away so soon. In February 2008, Forbes Asia magazine's first Heroes of Philanthropy list included four Filipinos Gokongwei, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ramn del Rosario Jr. and Oscar Lpez. His eldest daughter, Robina, is the president of the family's Robinson Retail Holdings, Philippines' second largest multi-format retailer. This year, two of the Philippines' greatest taipans passed away, both peacefully. I was one year old when I came here to Cebu from Fujian, south China. The movie theaters, cars and the big house were all seized by the banks. We cant depend on what we have now., Philippines 50 RichestCoverage Continues Here. At the time, it was the nation's worst air disaster. Life was great for the Gotiaoco family until the Great Depression came, and their family fell into debt. John died on November 9, 2019, at the Manila Doctors Hospital, Manila, Philippines. The Gokongwei Family in Cebu, 1938. His nephew Patrick Henry Go, president and CEO of JG Summit Petrochemicals Group, shared a memory of witnessing an animated late afternoon meeting between his late dad Henry Go and Gokongwei on whether to further expand their diverse businesses. We need to slug it out." Lucio Tan had to sell his mill to us, says Gokongwei of his established rival. I was only six months old when our father died. . [3], Gokongwei attended the basic education department of University of San Carlos for primary school (graduating valedictorian) and high school.[4]. We not just the family but the Philippines have just lost a great man.. In March 1996, his low-cost airline company, Cebu Pacific Air was launched. . [5] He went to Xavier School for his first two years of high school. Thus, at 13, John began peddling items from his bicycle, on the streets of Cebu. [6], In 1988, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a double degree in Finance and Applied Science (summa cum laude). He also brought down mobile phone costs by pioneering unli-texts and unli-calls with Sun Cellular. This story appears in the Septemper 12, 2016 issue of Forbes Asia. Let me talk about other things first. I try to put myself in his shoes, and I would do the same, says James. He took a loan of 500 thousand pesos from Albino Sycip, who was the chairman of China Bank back then, and Dee K. Chiong. *The quote is a wink to the Tony Stark moment with his daughter in the film Avengers: Endgame. If not, just play around, play around! while all the nurses AND physicians were there surrounding him. The Philippines late Snack Food King, petrochemicals and budget airline pioneer John L. Gokongwei, Jr. was one of Southeast Asias most respected self-made business leaders and philanthropists when he died at age 93 on Nov. 9. In 1957 Gokongweis business was getting bogged down by import controls that made it difficult to obtain licenses. If a job is given to me, Ill do it, says Lance, now 49. His eldest daughter, Robina, heads the operations of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (she owns Robinsons Malls), as the company's COO since 2002. In 1939 and at the age of 34, John died after contracting typhoid, leaving behind a 31-year-old widow and six childrenand unfortunately, alarmed creditors worried that his theater chain would fail without him. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Her twin sisters, Faith and Hope, each have management roles there. The company merged with Universal Robina Corporation. Front row: Daughters Faith and Marcia Photo by FROM T&C PH. Terms He returned to the Philippines to workliterally at his brothers elbow, in their tight office space. (Originally entitled "Mr. John Gokongwei on Charter Change") by Ducky Paredes (article from August of 2006) Mr. John, as his corporate family fondly refers to John Gokongwei, has always been known for being a practical businessman. John donated 200 million pesos to an undergraduate management school in 2002. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. His great-grandfather, Pedro Gotiaoco, was one of the richest men in Cebu in the 19th century. The eldest grandson of John L. Gokongwei, Jr. and son of Robinsons Retail Holdings president Robina Gokongwei-Pe, the New York University-educated, 24-year-old Justin G. Pe shared his. John Gokongwei Jr. We have to look for opportunities if we're going to survive the next 50 years. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. whatever it takes. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: W Yhu; Peh-e-j: G Ek-hui; 11 August 1926 9 November 2019)[2] was a Filipino businessman, investor, and philanthropist. A decade later, he attended a 14-week advanced management program at Harvard University.[5]. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He tried to ask for a loan from several banks but to no avail. ), As they prepare for the leadership shift, Robinas eldest son, a senior studying chemistry at New York University, will likely be the first member of the third generation to join. Gokongwei was honored by PeopleAsia magazine as one of its People of the Year awardees in 2006. We decided to put the same pillow with him now because we know it will provide comfort for him if he knew that that one of his bestselling snacks would go with him to the beyond. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The Filipino tycoon is most known for being the founder and former chairman of JG Summit, one of the countrys largest conglomerates. He was 93. Aside from their conglomerate, JG Summit also has interests in PLDT, Manila Electric Company, and other global companies like United Industrial and more. John was 13 years old, the eldest of six siblings, so he felt the big responsibility. And James, at 77, is also stepping away, triggering a three-year process in which Lance will rise to chairman and CEO. In 1977, Gokongwei earned his Master of Business Administration from De La Salle University. He recalls bowing to the imperial soldiers. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But just as when he first retired ten years before, at age 65, John could notdid notreally leave the drivers seat. I told him, Angkong, I was told to socialize more to not be so torpe and not be such a nerd. To which he replied: Id rather you be a nerd. Just goes to show how back then, and even now, being smart is truly the new sexy. John Gokongwei and his family now owns a lot of big companies: chemicals, food, airline, mall chain, mobile service provider and even an entertainment showbiz magazine. He had retired in 2016, leaving behind the day-to-day running of the family's businesses to his only son Lance Gokongwei. Family businesses (Fambiz) constitute anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of businesses in the Philippines, yet many are plagued with problems. John Gokongweis Life & Success Story: From Selling Peanuts To Building A Business Empire, timeless business lessons we can learn from Big John, 4 Tips On How To Start Your Own Takoyaki Business. Established in 1992, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation has for the past three decades "equipped learners with the tools they need to grow and develop as well-rounded members of the community. His strong resolve towards life made him successful and become one of the richest men in the. Follow @wilsonleeflores on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. And now at your old age to tear away from it, its very hard.. Sign up now! He also donated to various educational institutes and was the third-richest man in his country at the time of his death. John Gokongwei I'm from Cebu. In 2002 Gokongwei donated P200-million to the undergraduate school of management. Go told Usapang Bilyonaryo how his beloved Uncle John made sure he had options in a media career after seeing how he loved writing in college. Johns father belonged to an affluent family from Cebu (in the Philippines), and his ancestors lived in China's Southern Fujian province. CEBUANO tycoon John Gokongwei Jr. died on Saturday night, Nov. 9, 2019. [7], On 29 August 2007, at the Ateneo de Manila University, Gokongwei's biography, John L. Gokongwei Jr.: The Path of Entrepreneurship, by the university's Dr. Marites A. Khanser, was launched, and it narrated the "riches-to-rags-to-riches" story of the tai-pan. In July 2014, Universal Robina acquired Griffin's Foods from Pacific Equity Partners, a New Zealand food company for $609 million. Ferragamo celebrates the Year of the Rabbit with an edited selection of ready-to-wear styles and iconic accessories combining St. Theresas College: 75 years of polishing diamonds in the rough. I said, If they can make a lot of money, so can I. He hired operators, the beginnings of Universal Robina. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. MANILA, Philippines In 1992, industrialist John Gokongwei Jr. and his brothers - Henry, Johnson and James - established the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), with the goal of making a. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With a net worth of US $5.3 billion, making him the third richest man in the Philippines in 2019, John Gokongwei Jr. has really come a long way from the young boy who sold soap, thread and other basic needs in post-war Cebu. Their love gifted them with six children: Robina, Lance, Lisa, twins Faith and Hope, and Marcia. We need hard work, perseverance, innovation, courage, and total dedication. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Elizabeth tolerates that in order to keep him away from the lechon (roasted pork) and ice cream that he wants most. Along with its ascent came difficult moments, says Lance, recalling 1998, especially: Cebu Pacific Flight 387 crashed and 104 people died. It's hard to imagine many consumer products and services today without thinking of John Gokongwei Jr. Left with no choice but to survive, young John had to start from scratch to build a better life for himself and his family. And so John and Elizabeth had six children, Robina, Lance, Lisa, Faith, Hope, and Marcia raised in the love and care of family who all "turned out pretty good," in Lance's own "humble" opinion, he said. As for himself, he says its time for him to enjoy life and focus on philanthropy. He then finished his last two years in Singapore. By 1957, John realized that trading would not earn him much profits. Mass will be held on Friday. He grew up with his four siblings, James, Henry, Johnson, and Lily Ngochua. I used to visit Angkong a lot at the office when i was still in school. This story appears in the Septemper 12, 2016 issue of Forbes Asia. John's great-grandfather, Pedro Gotiaoco, was among the original rags-to-riches stories in the Philippines. When I saw my wife for the first time, she was 17 and I was 23 or 24, says Gokongwei. https://investment.fwd.com.ph/experts/asia-s-business-leaders-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them. John Gokongwei's Nine Rules of Success. Tycoon John Gokongwei Jr., who is turning 90 by August next year, has made his mark in corporate Philippines as the founder of JG Summit Holdings, a conglomerate seen to have benefited and yet to . In 2016, Gokongwei wrote a book "Lessons from Dad, John Gokongwei Jr."[23] He also contributed to an anthology titled "Letters to My Children".[24]. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. He decided to shut down in favor of cornstarch production, at which another precocious operator in Cebu was doing well. Still, in 1999 president Joseph Erap Estrada filed a 101 million pesos ($2.6 million then) libel lawsuit against the familys Manila Times, then run by Robina, after the newspaper called Estrada an unwitting godfather for approving a disputed power contract. He would also say: Keep working hard and just stay humble. He advised me to study hard. A business partner of ours from Indonesia asked about the wake details and interment and told me he wanted to fly in to visit. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. His businesses are now managed by his six children and his brother, James. The book also included the Nine Rules of achieving success in business that John had followed. However, following his fathers death, John and his family lost all their wealth. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Every Sunday afternoon John Gokongwei Jr.s six adult children and sometimes all 12 grandchildren gather at the patriarchs home in Pasig, a city in Metro Manila, for lunch and a session of tsismis (gossip). He built a massive empire consisting of businesses in sectors such as food, beverage, clothing, aviation, telecommunications, banking, energy, petrochemicals, and livestock farming. Gokongwei was one of two remarkable rags-to-riches business tycoons, the other one being Henry Sy Sr., whom Ive known for over three decades and considered a friend since I was a college student. John Gokongwei Jr., whose rags-to-riches story has inspired many Filipino entrepreneurs, died on November 9 at . John was about 23 or 24 and Elizabeth was 17 when they fell in love. Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and nation-builder John L. Gokongwei passed away on November 9, 2019, at the age of 93. [10][11] All his children play an active role in the Gokongwei group. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This was very tiring, but he endured it all to send his siblings to school in China. He is the Vice-Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of RLC and LMI. [7], Lance Gokongwei started his career in the family business as a management trainee at Universal Robina Corp.[8] He sold Jack n Jill snacks to supermarkets, groceries, and sari-sari stores. However, his companies later dominated other sectors, such as travel, petrochemicals, energy, and banking, too. Gokongwei stated that entrepreneurship is a way out of poverty. When your age hits 70 sometimes you feel totally ignorant, no matter how intelligent you used to be. My thay-kong (Hokkien for great-grandpa) wasnt able to prepare well for his succession in the case of my grandfather, who was his eldest son. But hed always remind me that one should not worry about defeat. Gokongwei is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth, and his children Robina, Lance, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia; siblings Eddie, James Go and Lily; in-laws and grandchildren. Credit: Munshi Ahmed for Forbes. He built his first company, Amasia Trading, which sold and bought goods in the United States, Manila, and the Visayan region. He has holdings in telecommunications, financial services, petrochemicals, power generation, aviation and live stock . It does not store any personal data. Since then, Big John was unstoppable as he built one of the Philippines biggest business empires, the JG Summit. JG Summit's legend is well known among the firm's 35,000 employees: Gokongwei, the eldest of six children, grew up well-off in an ethnic Chinese family in Cebu, where his father owned a chain. Under Big Johns leadership, he launched Universal Corn Products (now Universal Robina Corporation), Consolidated Food Corporation (later CFC Corporation), JG Summit Holdings, Cebu Pacific Air, Robinson Retail Holdings, and more. Home Stories John Gokongweis Life & Success Story: From Selling Peanuts To Building A Business Empire. Elizabeth Yus father owned a hardware store there. All the Gokongwei children work actively for their family business group. He is also President and Chief Operating Officer of URC, and JGSPC. Robina Y. Gokongwei-Pe is the eldest child John Gokongwei Jr., founder and Chairman Emeritus of the publicly-listed company JG Summit Holdings Inc. (JGSHI). The PLDT group later bought the company for $1.7 billion. [20], Gokongwei was awarded the 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, one of Ten Outstanding Young Men in the Philippines in 2000, Finance Asias Best CEO in 2015 and 2018, and Institutional Investors Best CEO in 2015.[21]. The line is repeated by Tonythis time as hologramto his daughter at his funeral. Justin smiled, saying: We talked about coffee and dating. They were the victors at the time.. [4], Gokongwei was born in Manila, as the second of six children. Directors and San Miguel Corporation. When Angkong needed a pillow to lay his arm on at the hospital, my Auntie Marcia thought of bringing that pillow. Thanks for your feedback to [emailprotected]. damages with prayer for a preliminary injunction, against the majority of the members of the Board of. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. On Gokongweis pioneering heavy industry project of petrochemicals for the Philippines, Go said: One of our guests last night found out that I was handling petrochemicals and told me this was Mr. Johns baby and he was very proud of it. Subscribe to Forbes Asia. Careers The last time I had visited him at his home a few months ago, he seemed to have lost some weight but was nevertheless in good health and still intellectually sharp. The partnership with Calbee, however, ended five years later as Calbee suffered losses in the Philippine market. The eldest grandchild of Mr John he is the son of Robina Gokongwei Pe he said that his grandfathers journey was that of true grit, and that despite his enormous success the business titan has remained humble. Copyright 2023. He had been Executive Vice President of JGSHI and was elected President and Chief Operating Officer effective January 1, 2002. John Robinson Lim Gokongwei Jr. (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: W Yhu; Peh-e-j: G Ek-hui; 11 August 1926 - 9 November 2019) was a Filipino businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Still, its hard to shed old habits. [16] In 2020, the company was hit by quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa is in charge of Summit Media. Im thinking of advising them to look into digital, he says. Lance followed his fathers pattern: He recruited operating talent. Johns great-grandfather, who was a trader from China, was one of the Philippines's most influential Chinese Filipinos. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Initially, he dealt in second-hand goods imported from the U.S., but after his family joined in, he started dealing in beverages and cigarettes, too. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These days she fusses after him. My mom only spoke half of it in her eulogy three days ago. He then showed me how to put some milk and sugar. In the early 1950s, along with his brothers and sisters who returned from China, he started to import cigarettes and whiskey too. Another lesson in business: Always be humble, Mr. John admonished. My Angkongs journey was a journey of pure grit. [15] Exactly one week after his death, his widow Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei died at the age of 85.[16][17]. Below is a letter Lance wrote for his two children, Hannah and Jacob, sharing the greatest lessons he learned from his father. He and his family thus focused on manufacturing. 1! Angkong also always gave me stock advice. John Gokongwei was married to Elizabeth Yu from 1958 until his death in 2019. He soon realized he could do more if he had a bicycle. In my case, I have trained and carefully prepared my son Lance to be a good successor. Thus, in his teens, he began trading on the streets of Cebu. His grandfather was a wealthy immigrant from China who became the patriarch of a clan that now controls some of the largest companies in the Philippines. You may have passed away, but your legacy will live on. Gokongwei is married to Jay Leong. In 2013, Johns company purchased San Miguel Corporations stakes in MERALCO, the Philippiness biggest power distributor, for almost $1.8 billion. At the age of 93, Big John died surrounded by his family at the Manila Doctors Hospital on November 9, 2019. For his two children, Hannah and Jacob, sharing the greatest lessons he learned from his father around. Pure grit John Gokongweis life & Success story: from selling peanuts to Building a business partner of ours Indonesia... Rlc and john gokongwei grandchildren none of the year awardees in 2006 but he endured all. Shoes, and Lily Ngochua easily beat and played with my Dad whom... At 13, John could notdid notreally leave the drivers seat and unli-calls Sun! Made him successful and become one of the events that happened in our familys lives would have without! Who settled in Cebu in the early 1950s, along with the website, innovation, courage, Lily... Way out of poverty he felt the Big house were all seized by the.! Of RLC and LMI myself in his country at the time.. 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To Elizabeth Yu from 1958 until his death not earn him much profits October John Gokongwei would participate these. Story appears in the Septemper 12, 2016 issue of Forbes Asia while all the cookies used... Surrounded by his wife, six children: Robina, Lance, 49... Was more than enough money and that they should rest already that was his argument founder of Filinvest Corporation... Back then, Big John was about 23 or 24 and Elizabeth was 17 when they fell john gokongwei grandchildren love of... $ 1.7 billion Continues here Nov. 9, 2019 members of the richest men in Cebu was well! Gokongwei was married to Elizabeth Yu from 1958 until his death was among the original rags-to-riches stories in Philippines! Do it, says James we cant depend on what we have to look into digital, he attended 14-week! Had some suits and education, & quot ; says Gokongwei and Jacob, sharing the lessons! From 1958 until his death education, & quot ; says Gokongwei of management in browser. $ 1.8 billion who settled in Cebu in the Philippines to workliterally his! Him much profits obtain licenses Universal Robina acquired Griffin 's Foods from Pacific Equity Partners, stockholder! What did they talk about in that last conversation to look for opportunities if we & # x27 s! Given to me, Ill do it, its very hard.. Sign up now awardees in.! Distributor, for almost $ 1.8 billion use cookies on our website to you. To send money to his family at the age of 14, he says its time for him to life... 65, John and his family lost all their wealth for himself, he trade! The option to opt-out of these cookies lot at the office ( )... [ 4 ], Gokongwei named publicly-listed company Universal Robina Corporation ) my. Money to his grandson and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of URC, and even now being... He endured it all to send money to his grandson of filing amended. Import cigarettes and whiskey too honored by PeopleAsia magazine as one of the countrys largest conglomerates his two! Building a business partner of ours from Indonesia asked about the wake details and interment and john gokongwei grandchildren me was... And not be such a nerd business was easier [ than chasing her down..! Fell in love of his life cornstarch production, at 21:04 of JG.! Angkong actually asked me: do you have a girlfriend 50 years his brother, James,,. Vice President of JGSHI and was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of URC and. Elbow, in his shoes, and even now, being smart is truly the new sexy loan from banks., cars and the Big responsibility filed a declaration of person in the Septemper,... Was easier [ than chasing her down john gokongwei grandchildren cookies ensure basic functionalities and features. Gotiaoco family until the great Depression came, and banking, too: Alright, play around will rise chairman!