The late media tycoon and Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua (fourth from left) is shown here with (from left) Fortune Life president Arnold Cabangon; Fortune Life executive vice president Evelyn Carada; Education Secretary Armin Luistro; Marylinbert president and CEO Linda Legaspi and husband Albert Rosal
Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, who died on March 11 at the age of 81, will be buried on Wednesday afternoon in his hometown Mandaluyong City, where he began his legendary rise from shoeshine boy to head of the multibillion-peso ALC Group of Companies, which include several broadcasting and print media ventures.
The former ambassador to Laos recently led Nine Media Corp. in a tie-up with Turner Boardcasting to launch CNN Philippines. Among his other media companies are Aliw Broadcasting (dwIZ), Philippine Graphic weekly magazine, Business Mirror daily newspaper and the tabloid Pilipino Mirror.
He had received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) during the 23rd Golden Dove Awards in 2015.
An accountant by profession, his core businesses included insurance, preneed services, automobiles, banking and finance, security, education, hotels and real estate—Fortune Life Insurance Co. Inc., Fortune Care, Eternal Plans Inc., Citystate Savings Bank, Citystate Properties and Management Corp. (CPMC), Isuzu GenCars Inc., Brown Madonna Printing, among others.
National Artist for Literature, the late Nick Joaquin, had edited the Philippine Graphic and later penned Cabangon Chua’s biography, “A Saga of Success.” A sequel by award-winning writer Jose F. Lacaba, another Graphic editor, and Eric S. Caruncho is titled “No Dream Too Tall.”
Cabangon Chua, always one to remember his humble beginnings and the sacrifices of his mother Dominga, was a known philanthropist and supporter of church projects. He was a patron of literature, music and the arts. He helped many journalists in need.
He served as ambassador to Laos during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He was also a colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
His remains were brought to Heritage Park (Arlington Chapel). According to ALC top executive Benjamin Ramos, his remains will be transferred to the San Felipe Neri Church in Mandaluyong on Monday.
On Wednesday, he will be buried after the 2 p.m. Mass at the San Felipe Neri cemetery, where his mother is also buried, according to ALC public relations officer Lizzi Radam Lazo.
His son, D. Edgard Cabangon, issued the official statement of his father’s death on March 11.
Malacañang on Saturday expressed its condolences to the Cabangon Chua family.
“Former Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua was an exemplary business and social entrepreneur who unfailingly manifested his commitment to Philippine progress in diverse fields of endeavor,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
“Chua established print and broadcast media organizations which gained broad-based patronage and recognition. We extend our condolences to his bereaved family.”