What can be more rewarding to parents than having theirchildren talk about them with the highest respect and admiration? Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua must have been a very self-actualized soul watching his son D. Edgard Cabangon talk about him with so much pride and heart-felt admiration, and whose memorabilia of life are immortalized in amuseum “Antonio L. Cabangon Chua: A Saga of Success,”which is adopted from the title of his early life biography penned by National Artist for Literature, the late Nick Joaquin. Asked of the greatest advice from his dad, whom he regard as a best friend, he pointed at a set of footprints printed adjacent from his Dad’s favorite chair, which says “the best fertilizer for any business is the footprints of the owner.”
That wisdom led this writer to propose that this column be entitled “Entrepreneurs’ Footprints.” The theme of every feature shall be the marks that entrepreneurs make in their journey. Inspired by that encounter, this writer dedicated this maiden article on the footprints of fathers through the lens of their children, and the legacy they imprint upon generations beyond their mortality. Some of these fathers are gone, while some are still navigating to create more meaningful footprints with herein clustered lessons to live by.
Character. Culture. Care.
Alfredo Yaochun joined the Creator and left his family with a sari-sari store when his eldest was only 12 years old. But he was successful in teaching his son the powerful lesson that in this world, nothing is free. Then he instilled the value of hard work and honesty in building a trustworthy character. These lessons are recalled by his eldest son Ambassador Afredo M. Yao, the founder of Zest-O, Macay Holdings, and Philippine Business Bank. Similarly, Viviene Co echoes the reverberating reminder from her father that integrity is everything, and that family togetherness will overcome challenges and bring success. The founder of ICCT Colleges Dr William Co resolves that family togetherness is expressed through shared responsibility, family tradition, and mutual support. Meanwhile, the legendary Mang Inasal brothers Injap and Ferdinand Sia who grew up sharing the same bedroom got one major advice from their father Edgar Sia Sr – never to fight whatever it takes.
The lesson of character extends beyond business. Cory Quirino recalls her Lolo’s (grandfather) great lessons of forgiveness which was evident when he, as President in 1953, granted Clemency to 114 Japanese war criminals on death row. To President Elpidio Quirino, despite the fact that he lost his wife Alicia and three children in the hands of the Japanese, forgiving them was the right thing to do. He echoed to the family the lesson of integrity and the advice of protect a good name by living the life of honesty. World-class architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr got a similar advice of honesty and integrity from his father, the physician-surgeon DrFelino Palafox Sr who successfully sent all his ten children to school.
Some fathers were unassuming and were not the type toexpress their lessons verbally. Noli M. Lopez worked his own way through education to become a loyal accountant to a multinational company until retirement, and is recalled as a quiet and calm but loving father, and would only share his view when needed. His hardworking loyalty with honesty and frugality are lessons emulated by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. Word of honor being as precious as gold is the advice of Police General Enrique Atanacio to his son Emerson Atanacio, who in his early 20’s founded the National College of Science and Technology. Captain Jesus Yujuico was conscripted to the military as a graduating college student and survived the Bataan Death March. But his son Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ambassador Benedicto Yujuicorecalls his role modelling of humility, kindness, and generosity. The same lesson of generosity, to help whenever or wherever you can, was also learned by Raffy Jose from his father, the Arlington Chapel’s patriarch Nestor Lopez Jose.
Learn. Relearn. Unlearn.
Sharon Tan would share that the advice of the Kapitan, Dr Lucio Tan, will be the simple – study hard and be humble. Similarly, Eduardo Siojo Enriquez, who founded Enriquez Security, pushed his children to complete their education. His son Jun Enriquez theorizes that his father wanted all his seventeen children to achieve what he failed to accomplish in life – education. But it is different for DrErnesto Y. Sibal, a Doctor of Laws graduate of the Yale University who walked-the-talk of education and also emphasized the value of lifelong learning to his children. He believed that education is a wealth that will never be taken away from them. He taught his daughter the value of work. At the young age of 8, his daughter served as cashier at Alemar’sbookstore. He left his footprints in the volumes of Supreme Court annotated books for the lawyers and for his family, the Phoenix Publishing, Central Books, and Central Publishing. His footprints include his daughter who is now regarded as the Mother of Philippine Franchising, Ms Alegria “Bing” SibalLimjoco. On the other hand, the father of Philippine Franchising Samie Lim is cited by his son Christopher Lim as a man who will always remind him to honor the past, to humbly accept that we are who we are because we are standing on the shoulders of the giants, and to learn from the successes and the failures of the people who came before you. Toby Claudioshares the lessons from his dad Bobby Claudio, who founded Toby’s Sports, to not be afraid to make mistakes, with an assurance that the lessons learned from each and every one areinvaluable.
Feliciano Belmonte became a public personality as a three-term Chief Executive of Quezon City and as two-term Speaker of the House of Representatives. But prior to that political move, he had a long list of executive corporate engagements including The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), The Manila Hotel, San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Long-Distance Telephone (PLDT), and Philippine Airlines. He taught his children to keep the eyes on the goal, and to regard everything else as distracting noise. His daughter Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte treasures the greatest advise as having a career and try to excel in it, but warns to continue to live a simple and humble life.
Faith. Hope. Love.
Spirituality should not be missed, according to the great Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua, who is known as a man of God and a man for others. His spirituality was evident not only in his personal encounters and close associations withreligious leaders, but also in his consistent philanthropy. This value is shared by Glen Yu, who cited that his father Francis Yu modelled loving God and loving his family and his neighbor. Francis Yu, the founder of SEAOIL, is remembered for his trust in the Almighty Father. Yvette Pardo-Orbeta shares that herfather Jose T. Pardo, the former Secretary of Finance and of Trade and Industry, follows POMP, which stands for Prioritize, Organize, Manage and Pray. The current Chairman of the Philippine Stock Exchange teaches even his grandchildren that the difficult takes a while, and the impossible… a little longer.And it takes a lot of faith to be able to do that.
Federico Moreno cites that his late father seldom gave pieces of advice but was a best friend to all and generous to many. German Moreno lived his life by example and this, to his son, is his father’s best advice. This writer’s father is the retired Colonel Carlo Balita, Sr, who does not speak much, but leads a life that did not prepare the road for his family, but prepared his family for the road.
As fathers are hailed as sources of lessons in this article, it is on record that a 10-year old Antonio learned the enterprising spirit for his mother Dominga with whom he travailed the agonies of Calvary, as Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chuadescribed it. The next article shall celebrate the footprints of the mothers because it is for sure that beside the greatness of these men are women. Until then…
But wait, how will your children talk about you?
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